MACBETH- Kingship possible essay plan Flashcards
Introduction
Throughout the play, Shakespeare presents what both a good king and what a bad king looks like. He does this through the characters of King Duncan, Macbeth and Malcolm as clearly shows the reader why or why not the character was successful as a king.
Big idea 1 - Duncan
-Good King -> He rewards his loyal soldiers and is religious
-Fatal Flaw -> Trusts people too much
Quotes for Duncan ‘trusting people too much’
“There’s no art/ To find the mind’s construction in the face: / He was a gentleman on whom I built/ An absolute trust”
“See, see, our honour’d hostess!”
Quotes for Duncan as a ‘Good king’
“O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman”
Context for Duncan paragraph
- Kings expected to protect their country
-Shakespeare tells the reader that they should never trust in people too easily
Big idea 2 - Macbeth
- Bad king -> everything seems to be against him because he has interrupted nature
- Doesn’t trust many people -> only really trusts the supernatural
Quotes for Macbeth as a ‘Bad King’
“Our country sinks beneath the yoke”
“fruitless crown”
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, only vaulting ambition that o’erleaps itself and falls on the other”
Quotes for Macbeth ‘trusting the wrong people’
“none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”
Context for Macbeth paragraph
- Divine Right of Kings -> Macbeth has destroyed this, and interrupted the great chain of being
- Elizabeth I had no heir -> James I became king -> There was controversy, maybe shakespeare is telling the reader that he is the rightful king because he didn’t kill for king
Big idea 3 - Malcolm
- Seems like he is going to be a good king
- Builds his trust with people
Quotes for Malcolm as a ‘good king’
“Lead our first battle : worthy Macduff and we / shall take upon’s what else remains to do, / according to our order”
Quotes for Malcolm as ‘building his trust with people’
“modest wisdom pluck me / From overcredulous haste”
Context for Malcolm paragraph
-restores the natural order as the original heir
Conclusion
Overall, Shakespeare clearly shows how Macbeth was a terrible king and how Duncan and Malcolm were good kings.
