Kingship Flashcards
His virtues will plead like angels
(Simile)
Duncan is a morally good king. The heavens will react to this horror and make sure he’s discovered for the murder
Contextually, Jacobeans believes there was a divine right of kings which was appointed by god, and if distrusted there will be punishment
“The earth was feverous and did shake”
(Personification)
The murder of king Duncan negatively affects the whole country, Macbeth’s act of murder has brought moral sickness
Contextually, the gunpowder plot had just tried to murder James I and this acts as a warning for consequences of murdering a king
“Barren Sceptre…fruitless crown”
(Adjective)
Macbeth is obsessed with his own descendants becoming kings, but the witches prophecy predicts Banquo’s children will be a long line of kings. Fears he damned himself for the benefit of Banquo’s children
Contextually this flatters James I as he was one of Banquo’s children
“It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds”
(Personification)
Scotland is like a whipped slave or beast of burden suffering under Macbeths rule
Contextually, Jacobeans believed that a king should be like a father to his subjects, Macbeth is the opposite
“He was a gentlemen on whom I built absolute trust”
Duncan isn’t a perfect king
Duncan is a bad judge of character, he was betrayed by two thane of Cawdors - they both committed treason, he is too trusting
