Appearance vs Reality/Duncan

Question 1

“There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face. / He was a gentleman on whom I built / An absolute trust,”

Answer 1

It seems that Duncan is too ​trusting ​and ​dependent ​on others to be a perfect king. Rather than leading his men into battle he trusts others to do so for him, and he relies heavily on his Thanes to help maintain order​. When he reflects on the previous Thane of Cawdor’s death, he says,​ “There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face. / He was a gentleman on whom I built / An absolute trust,” (1.4)​. He had placed his confidence in a man who betrayed him to foreign armies, suggesting he has a ​poor judge of character​. There is some ​dramatic irony​ in this statement, for Macbeth is plotting to murder him.

Question 2

“valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”

​“There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face”

Answer 2

Macbeth is another one of Duncan’s trusted Thanes and is called his ​“valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” (1.2)​. This means ​the betrayal repeats itself ​and Duncan doesn’t learn from his mistakes.
However, the line ​“There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face”​ implies it is​ impossible to see through someone’s deception​. Shakespeare suggests ​the evil and treachery of others​ makes it impossible for a king to be wholly good. Kindness and respect are ​vulnerable to deceit​. In theory, Duncan would be the perfect king, but in reality ​he cannot contend with the wickedness of his peers