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.
