Theme: Kingship Flashcards
Who are the 3 different Kings in Macbeth?
- Duncan
- Macbeth
- Malcom….
How is Duncan presented as a good King in Act 1?
- Rewards his men
- “valiant cousin.”
- Isn’t greedy
- Proud to see achievment of others.
- Polite to Lady Macbeth: “take my hand.”
Why does Shakespare make Duncan seem like such a good King?
- Illustrates how evil it is for Macbeth to kill him.
- Illustrates that under The Divine Right of Kings, Scotland is a good place ie. winning all the wars.
- Trying to warn audience that subverting Divine Right will lead to chaos.
How is Duncan presented as quite naive?
- “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.” and says he won’t be decieved again….
- Didn’t notice the evil from Thane of Cawdor.
- Dramatic irony!!
Why does Shakespeare show Scotland to be in chaos after Macbeth is leader?
- Reveals what happens when there is wrongful King.
Give a contrast between Macbeth and Duncan in giving titles and praising others.
- Macbeth doesn’t want to share power with anyone and hols onto it.
- Duncan gives titles to people.
What is Macbeth’s fatal flaw?
- His “vaulting ambition.”
- Leads him to kill a King.
- Leads to him subverting The Great Chain of Being (damaging natural order.)
Give 2 quotes from Macduff that show how Macbeth has damaged Scotland.
“here may you see the tyrant.” Act 5
“bleed, bleed poor country.”
When Macduff meets Malcom…
Give a quote that shows Macbeth’s paranoia to mantain his power.
- “We’ve scorched the snake, not killed it.”
Give a description that shows the unnatural nature of the world after Duncan’s murder.
- ## Falcon was killed by a mousing owl.
How is Malcom presented as different to his father?
- Isn’t naive –> doesn’t trust Macduff instantly when he comes to England.
- Doesn’t trust that they found murderers “I’ll to England.”
- Doesn’t want to end up being Killed like Duncan .
How is Malcom presented as a good King?
- Stops the evil power of Macbeth.
- Restores power in Scotland, perhaps even more powerful as leader isn’t naive.
What is Shakespeare’s message with the character of Malcom?
- He is the new King
- Must be respected
- Like James is new King and must be respected.
What is Shakespeare’s message with Kingship?
- King Duncan and Macbeth show how order of country is based on the King.
- Wrong leader = chaos.
- There are two kings that bring order: Duncan and Malcom and 1 that bring disaster–> Macbeth….
What were people’s views on Kingship in Jacobean England?
- James ascension was unexpected.
- People questioned what made a good King.
- Shakespeare shows different Kings’ approaches to their reigns and the success of them.
- Demonstrating what he thought was good in a monarch.
How are power and kingship linked in the play?
- People want to be monarchs so they can declare power.
- Kingship is driving force for the characters.
Give an example of how Shakespeare contrasts how different characters respond to the psobility of power.
Duncan gives titles to good men and praises them.
Macbeth starts his killing rampage!
