Kingship Flashcards
Analyse quote “upon my hand they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren sceptre in my grip “
-use of metaphor in “fruitless crown” and “barren sceptre” reinforces Macbeth’s greatest fear: he has gained the throne but will not establish a dynasty.
-The sceptre is a symbol of the king’s authority and power, but for Macbeth, it has no real power or purpose. It suggests a lack of control and a failure to bring prosperity to his kingdom.
-Kings in Shakespeare’s time were expected to produce heirs to secure their legacy, but Macbeth, having no children, sees his rule as doomed to end with him.
-The irony in this quotation lies in the fact that Macbeth has achieved what he once desperately desired—becoming king—but he now finds it to be utterly unsatisfying. He speaks of his crown and sceptre as though they are burdens rather than symbols of triumph.
Talk about the divine right of kings
This belief suggested that any attempt to overthrow a king was not just a crime but a sin against God, leading to disorder and divine punishment. Shakespeare’s Macbeth explores the consequences of violating this sacred order, showing how Macbeth’s usurpation of the throne leads to chaos, tyranny, and ultimately his downfall. Through the play, Shakespeare reinforces the idea that kingship must be legitimate and divinely sanctioned, warning against ambition that seeks power through unnatural means.
Analyse quote “ I have begun to plant thee and will labour to make thee full of growing “ act 1 scene 4
-Duncan’s comparison of Macbeth’s rise to planting and growth suggests that good kingship is like tending a garden—it requires patience, care, and an understanding of the natural order. The phrase “I have begun to plant thee” symbolizes that Duncan sees himself as a nurturer of Scotland, ensuring that his loyal subjects flourish under his rule.
-Instead of allowing Scotland to “grow,” Macbeth murders those who threaten him, leading to widespread suffering and disorder. By using this natural metaphor early in the play, Shakespeare establishes the idea that true leadership is about fostering life and stability, whereas tyranny brings death and decay.
-If Duncan had been more politically aware, he might have anticipated Macbeth’s growing ambition and taken precautions. However, because Duncan is kind-hearted but politically blind, he creates the conditions that allow Macbeth to seize power through murder.
Analyse quote “the king becoming graces… justice, verity temperance, stableness “
-It contrasts sharply with Macbeth, who embodies none of these qualities. Rather than justice, Macbeth rules through fear and bloodshed. Instead of temperance, he demonstrates impulsivity and unchecked ambition.
-After the chaos Macbeth has unleashed, Malcolm’s vision of kingship represents the restoration of the natural and moral order. Shakespeare uses Malcolm as a foil to Macbeth—Malcolm, though young, speaks with wisdom and restraint, while Macbeth is increasingly consumed by paranoia and violence
-James I was deeply invested in ideas of moral kingship and the Divine Right of Kings, believing that monarchs were chosen by God and should rule with integrity. By having Malcolm articulate this ethical vision of rulership, Shakespeare flatters James’s ideology while also warning against the dangers of corrupt leadership—embodied by Macbeth, the tyrant who seized power through regicide.
