Macbeth - Kingship Flashcards
Macbeth Kingship introduction - Thesis
In Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the concept of kingship through the juxtaposition of the characters: Macbeth and Duncan. Shakespeare contrasts Macbeth’s tyrannical ruling with Duncan, who embodies virtuousness, fairness, and order in the Jacobean era. Macbeth subverts the divine right of kings and represents virtues that directly contrast with Duncan’s benevolence. Shakespeare’s message is that regicide leads to turmoil and violence and forewarns the Jacobean audience of treachery while asserting the power of the Jacobean monarch: King James.
Key quotes
Almost afraid to know itself our hounoured hostess Will pleed like angels Made the heaven 'strike' on its 'face'. Most sacrilegious murder
1st paragraph:
Duncan embodies the characteristics of being king - Link to representative of God - Subservient monarch - treating subjects respectfully - regardless of gender - our honoured hostess - Ultimately portrays him as a monarch who puts the welfare of his country above his own.
In Act 1, Duncan embodies the key characteristics of being a king. Duncan is the representative of God on earth, ruling by divine right—a feature of kingship strongly endorsed by King James. Duncan is a subservient monarch, treating his subjects with respect – regardless of gender. King Duncan describes Lady Macbeth as “our honoured hostess”, Duncan is excessively thanking Lady Macbeth for playing hostess. Shakespeare portrays Duncan’s virtues to show he is a monarch who puts the welfare of his country above his own, reminding the audience of what a king should be.
1st paragraph, 2nd part : Duncan’s virtuousness further expressed - Macbeth recognises virtues - plead like angels - symbolising god’s servant - reminding audience of what a good king is - assert power of King James
Furthermore, Duncan’s virtuousness is expressed by Macbeth’s recognising Duncan’s virtues’ will plead like angels’, symbolising and representing him as God’s servant. Ultimately, raising awareness to the Jacobean audience of the key virtues and harmony a good king has to offer-further expressing the power of King James.
2nd Paragraph: Later on in the play - In act 4 - Scotland becomes a country - ‘to afraid to know itself’ - Macbeth’s wickedness and tyranny infects the land. The regicide he has committed makes - the heaven ‘ strike on its ‘face’ - Intention to show the effect of Duncan’s death - Heavens echo the cry of the ‘orphans’
Later on in the play, Shakespeare portrays the disruption of natural harmony due to Macbeth’s tyrannical rule. In Act 4, Scotland has become a country ‘ almost afraid to know itself’. Shakespeare shows Scotland becoming infected with Macbeth’s unlawful virtues and tyranny. Additionally, Macbeth’s act of regicide has made heaven ‘strike’ on its ‘face’. Shakespeare’s intention was perhaps to show the turmoil and chaos that has become due to Duncan’s ‘Most sacrilegious murder”-further expressing him as God’s representative.
3rd Paragraph: Shakespeare intentions - use antithesis between Duncan : Representative of God - and the treachery of Macbeth - remind the audience of disseminating the order of the Divine Right of King - Antidote to the Gunpowder plot in 1606 - threatened to kill King James - Ultimately uses downfall of the Macbeth - uplift King James diving right
Ultimately, Shakespeare uses the antithesis between Duncan, who is God’s representative, and the treachery of Macbeth to remind the audience of the consequences of disseminating the order of the Divine right of kings. Macbeth is perhaps best seen as an antidote to the Gunpowder Plot of 1606, which threatened to disrupt order by killing King James. Conclusively, Shakespeare intended to use the downfall of the tragic hero, Macbeth, to uplift King James’ ruling by divine right.
