king duncan

Question 1

DUNCAN

O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!

Answer 1

Irony - MB isn’t worthy or a gentleman. But Duncan trusts him/tries to reward him when MB isn’t deserving of any of it.

Question 2

No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive

Answer 2

Ironically the thane of Cawdor also betrays him but more heroically in war.

Question 3

“There’s no art / to find the mind’s construction in the face.”

Question 4

I have begun to plant thee, and will labour

To make thee full of growing

Answer 4

• Link it to the divine right of kings - king is God’s representative, power to make things grow/thrive, and natural order
• when Duncan is king, things are growing/thriving in the way they should be. Growth imagery suggests he is the best/right king to allow the kingdom to thrive and grow.
  Jux with Macbeth - imagery of death and decay

Question 5

Act 1, Sc.6 - Duncan repeatedly refers to the “love” he has for Macbeth and L.M professes their loyalty

Answer 5

Duncan’s fatal flaw - being too trusting/loving/ unsuspicious. MB’s fatal flaw - hubris.