Religion/Duncan Flashcards
“Confusion now hath made his masterpiece: / Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope / The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence / The life o’th’building,” (2.3)
Duncan’s corpse is described with allusions to piety and royalty, reflecting how the death of a king is the death of God’s chosen representative on earth. Macduff describes the crime scene, “Confusion now hath made his masterpiece: / Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope / The Lord’s anointed temple and stole thence / The life o’th’building,” (2.3). The adjective “sacrilegious” alludes to the Divine Right of Kings. Duncan’s body is described as “The Lord’s anointed temple”, conveying his sanctity and importance. By presenting Duncan’s corpse as a “temple” made of “silver” and “gold”, Shakespeare implies he wasn’t human. This means the qualities of a good king go beyond his mind. A good king can be identified from his very form and essence.
“Signs of nobleness like stars shall shine / On all deservers,”
He tells his subjects, “Signs of nobleness like stars shall shine / On all deservers,” (1.4), suggesting he believes a person’s good nature is reflected in their face. The imagery of “stars” shining like a spotlight implies good people stand out in a crowd, almost as if illuminated by God. The “stars” are an allusion to Heaven and God, suggesting there is a link or connection between God and His people because the “stars” can reach down to earth.
