Power and Kingship

Start with kingship

Macbeth themes: Kingship is a useful starting point for the role of kings in the play. It outlines the murder of a good king, the rise and overthrow of a wicked king, and succession. Use those points to build a basic sequence before looking more closely at what makes a ruler good or bad.

Several maps titled Kingship approach the theme from different angles. One includes the divine right of kings and qualities such as bravery and loyalty. Another map on kingship considers how a good king rewards loyalty and punishes betrayal. Compare the qualities they list and consider how they relate to the sequence in the first map.

Follow the different kinds of power

Macbeth: Power brings together the influence of the witches and Lady Macbeth over Macbeth, as well as Macbeth's power as king. Its branches include prophecies and ambition. Look at each branch separately, then consider how the influences connect.

The Theme of Power in Macbeth and Modern Leaders introduces questions about power and responsible leadership. It offers another way to think about the qualities raised in the kingship maps. The note titled Kingship focuses on Macbeth becoming king and the question of succession; use it alongside the maps when studying that part of the theme.

Practice with maps and questions

There are no quizzes listed on this topic page, but you can turn a map's branches into questions on paper. Cover the branches, try to explain an idea from memory, then check the map for points you missed. Use a second map to see whether it presents the same idea differently.

Power and Kingship is one section of the Macbeth unit in Literature. Keep that connection in mind as you move between a map's broad ideas and its points about the play. Pick a map to explore, then make questions from the branches you want to practice.