Kingship

Kingship

1. Duncan

   • Genuinely loves his people and everyone loves him
     • Good but FLAWED king - presented as too trusting and naive
       • Calls Macbeth "Valiant cousin"
         • 'cousin' - suggests a close bond between them, considers Macbeth who is of lower rank as family, places a lot of trust
           • Has just met him, doesn't know everything about him + DRAMATIC IRONY - we know Macbeth has evil intentions and isn't as good as Duncan thinks
       • a man in whom I placed utmost trust’
         • 'utmost' - his trust in the traitor was unwavering, didn't question or doubt it
           • Even after he has been betrayed once already, is still quick to trust Macbeth
   • Plant imagery
     • Very nurturing and loving
     • "I have begun to plant thee, and will labor To make thee full of growing"
       • Presents Duncan as a farmer - presents him as more similar to normal people, doesn't have a superiority complex (unlike Macbeth)
         • Opposite to Macbeth to wants to kill those in his way
       • 'Labour' - to work, manual work, representing working class - Duncan is a hard-working, loving king
   • Stars imagery
     • "But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine On all deservers"
       • Macbeth will be awarded with titles for his nobility like stars shining
       • 'stars' - created by God, nobility titles are decided/blessed by God, God-given
         • 'stars' can also mean fate - these titles are decided by fate
       • 'deservers' - titles should be earned - foreshadows Macbeth's treason
       • alliteration of 'sh' soumd - emphasises the glory
   • Duncan's death
     • "The night is unruly... strange screams of death"
       • A very supernatural atmosphere, almost like a godless world now that Duncan is gone
       • 'unruly' - wild, uncontrollable, order is gone and chaos prevails now that the Divine Right of Kings is disturbed
         • OR could reflect the lawlessness of Duncan's death
         • Connects Duncan with the land - the country reflects the King/ mourns for the King
           • A belief in Arthurian legend and pagan beliefs that country is connected to King's health
       • sibilance + harsh sounds of 'scream' and 'death' - emphasises horror
         • Entire country reflecting Duncan's screams - his life force is connected with life of the land
     • "Some say the Earth/ Was feverous and did shake"
       • Earth is personified as ill or perhaps poisoned
         • Duncan keeping the country alive - king is not just a title, but also responsibility
         • Macbeth committing regicide is compared to poisoning the country
           • Reflects the political landscape at the time where the country had been changing between Protestantism and Catholicism - a lot of religious conflict + plots to kill Elizabeth and King James (e.g. gunpowder plot)
             • Regicide is a very topical theme - warning audience of dangers of killing king - almost like the people of England weren't taking it seriously enough
     • "“Duncan’s horses… eat each other"
       • Very grotesque and horrific image, very unnatural and horror-like
       • Cannibalism of the horses reflects the metaphorical cannibalism of Macbeth's crime
         • Equating regicide to cannibalism - inhuman, unnatural, consuming Duncan's life to make it his own
         • Macbeth and Duncan should be on the same side - should be loyal
     • “It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds"

2. Macbeth

3. Malcoln