Kingship Flashcards
Fill in the quote: “He was a gentleman on whom I built an _______ trust.”
absolute
Fill in the quote: “To be thus is nothing; but to be safely thus. Our fears in _______ stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared.”
Banquo
Fill in the quote: “It is a tale told by an ________, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
idiot
Fill in the quote: “Let us seek out some ________ shade, and there weep our sad bosoms empty.”
desolate
Fill in the quote: “The night has been ________. Where we lay, our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, lamentings heard i’ the air, strange screams of death, and prophesying with accents terrible of dire combustion and confused events new hatched to the woeful time.”
unruly
Fill in the quote: “Upon my head they placed a ________ crown, and put a barren scepter in my gripe, thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, no son of mine succeeding.”
fruitless
Fill in the quote: “So, thanks to all at once and to each one, whom we invite to see us _______ at Scone.”
crown’d
How is Macbeth’s ambition for kingship presented in Macbeth?
Macbeth’s ambition is central to his downfall. Initially hesitant, he is consumed by the desire for power, shown in his soliloquy, “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well / It were done quickly” (1.7). His internal conflict highlights the moral consequences of ambition, leading to regicide and chaos. His unchecked ambition contrasts with Duncan’s virtuous rule, illustrating the destructive nature of ambition without morality.
How does Duncan embody the ideal king in the play?
Duncan is portrayed as a virtuous, benevolent king, trusted by his subjects. In Act 1, Scene 4, Malcolm calls him “A most sainted king,” reinforcing his moral authority. His death represents the destruction of Scotland’s natural and divine order. Duncan’s kingship contrasts with Macbeth’s tyrannical rule, reinforcing the theme that legitimate kingship is marked by justice, kindness, and the well-being of the nation.
How does Macbeth’s kingship contrast with Duncan’s?
Macbeth’s kingship is marked by fear and paranoia. Unlike Duncan, who is loved and respected, Macbeth rules through violence and tyranny. His reign is plagued by insecurity, shown when he says, “To be thus is nothing; / But to be safely thus” (3.2). The contrast emphasizes how Macbeth’s corrupt ambition leads to the destabilization of Scotland, while Duncan’s legitimate rule brings peace and prosperity.
How does Shakespeare present the idea of divine order and kingship in Macbeth?
Kingship in Macbeth is tied to divine right. Duncan’s reign is just and divinely sanctioned, while Macbeth’s regicide upsets the natural and divine order. After Duncan’s murder, supernatural disturbances occur, such as ‘the heavens breed / Miracles’ (2.4), illustrating how Macbeth’s unlawful rise to power leads to chaos. This reflects the belief that only a legitimate king, appointed by God, can maintain order.
How is Malcolm presented as a rightful king in contrast to Macbeth?
Malcolm embodies the qualities of a rightful king: morality, justice, and care for Scotland. In Act 4, Scene 3, his conversation with Macduff reveals his virtues and his ability to restore order to Scotland. He contrasts with Macbeth’s tyrannical and paranoid rule, and his kingship represents the restoration of divine and natural order, as well as the end of Macbeth’s destructive reign.
What role does the supernatural play in Macbeth’s kingship?
The supernatural influences Macbeth’s ambition and reign. The witches’ prophecy drives Macbeth’s actions, creating a false sense of destiny. In Act 1, Scene 3, they predict his kingship, but their cryptic language contributes to Macbeth’s paranoia. The apparitions in Act 4 further confuse him, revealing that his reign is unstable and illegitimate. The supernatural shows that Macbeth’s power is not divinely ordained, leading to his downfall.
How is blood imagery linked to Macbeth’s kingship?
Blood symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt and the violence that defines his rule. After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” (2.2). Blood represents the moral corruption of Macbeth’s kingship, highlighting how his rise to power through regicide leads to further bloodshed and the eventual collapse of his reign. The blood imagery reinforces the theme that illegitimate kingship is tainted by guilt and violence.
How does light and dark imagery represent kingship in the play?
Light and dark imagery contrasts legitimate and illegitimate kingship. Duncan’s reign is associated with light and goodness, while Macbeth’s kingship is tied to darkness, symbolizing disorder and moral decay. After Duncan’s murder, darkness pervades the play, highlighting the chaos Macbeth brings to Scotland. This imagery underscores how Macbeth’s usurpation of the throne disrupts the natural order and destroys the light of legitimate kingship.
How does Banquo’s character contrast with Macbeth in terms of kingship?
Banquo represents a virtuous alternative to Macbeth’s tyrannical ambition. While Macbeth seeks power through murder, Banquo accepts the witches’ prophecy with integrity, knowing his descendants will inherit the throne. His refusal to act on ambition contrasts with Macbeth’s moral downfall, showing that legitimate kingship is rooted in virtue, not in the pursuit of power at any cost.
How does divine right influence kingship in Macbeth?
Kingship is seen as divinely ordained. Macbeth’s regicide disrupts this divine order, leading to chaos and his downfall.
How does King James I influence the portrayal of kingship in Macbeth?
James I’s belief in divine right and his interest in witchcraft influenced the play. Macbeth’s tyranny and the supernatural reflect fears around the legitimacy of kingship and the dangers of usurpation.
How do Elizabethans view the kingship of Macbeth and Duncan?
Kings were viewed as chosen by God, with a responsibility to maintain order. Duncan embodies this ideal, while Macbeth’s regicide and tyranny show the consequences of disrupting the natural order.
What does Macbeth suggest about the moral order of kingship?
Macbeth’s murder of Duncan disrupts the moral and social order. Legitimate kingship ensures peace and prosperity, while Macbeth’s illegitimate rule brings chaos and suffering.
How does Macbeth reflect anxieties about monarchy?
The play reflects fears about succession and stability, especially after James I’s ascension. Macbeth’s illegitimate reign highlights the dangers of political instability and the consequences of illegitimate rule.
What role does the Great Chain of Being play in Macbeth?
Kingship is part of the natural hierarchy. Macbeth’s regicide disrupts this order, causing chaos in Scotland. His rise to power is unnatural, leading to his eventual downfall.
How does Macbeth reflect Renaissance views on leadership?
Renaissance beliefs held that a king’s virtues affected the state’s well-being. Duncan’s just reign contrasts with Macbeth’s corrupt leadership, showing how a bad king harms both himself and the nation.
How does Macbeth portray political instability?
The play reflects fears of political instability, showing that Macbeth’s violent rise to power leads to disorder and suffering. It highlights the importance of legitimate and stable leadership.
How does ambition affect Macbeth’s kingship?
Macbeth’s unchecked ambition leads to regicide and tyranny, causing his moral and political downfall. The play shows the destructive consequences of ambition when it challenges the natural order.
What does Duncan’s kingship represent?
Duncan embodies the ideal king and divine right, ruling justly, peacefully, and prosperously.
Reflects the belief that kings are appointed by God.
What is the significance of Macbeth’s murder of Duncan?
Macbeth’s regicide disrupts the divine order, bringing chaos and symbolizing the consequences of usurping the throne.
How does Macbeth’s kingship differ from Duncan’s?
Macbeth rules through fear and violence, marked by paranoia and bloodshed, contrasting sharply with Duncan’s just reign.
What does Macbeth’s reign illustrate about tyranny?
Macbeth’s tyranny destabilizes Scotland, showing that it leads to the collapse of both moral and political order.
What role do kings play in moral order?
Kings are seen as protectors of moral and social order; Duncan’s murder violates this responsibility.
What does Malcolm’s ascension represent?
Malcolm’s ascension restores order, symbolizing the return of legitimate kingship and moral balance to Scotland.
What is the consequence of Macbeth’s ambition?
Macbeth’s unchecked ambition leads to Duncan’s murder, causing his moral decay and self-destruction.
How does Banquo contrast with Macbeth regarding ambition?
Banquo rejects ambition, demonstrating that true kingship is about virtue, not power at any cost.
What role do the witches play in Macbeth’s ambition?
The witches’ prophecy shapes Macbeth’s ambition, suggesting that power gained through the supernatural is illegitimate and unstable.
What is the impact of the apparitions on Macbeth?
The apparitions mislead Macbeth, fueling his false sense of security and reinforcing the idea that supernatural power is unreliable.
What do the witches predict about Banquo’s lineage?
The witches predict that Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne, emphasizing that kingship is about legitimacy and heritage.
What does Malcolm’s restoration of the throne signify?
Malcolm’s kingship represents the return of rightful leadership, suggesting that peace and justice come with legitimate kingship.
