Kingship in Macbeth
Kingship is a central theme to Macbeth and through the use of contrasting
characters, specifically Duncan and Macbeth, Shakespeare highlights his views on
the quintessential qualities possessed by a noble and rightful ruler. To specify, these
qualities include ‘justice, verity, temperance’. Furthermore, Shakespeare builds upon
this theme to demonstrate the link between God’s will and the monarchy; the belief in
the Divine Right of Kings is strongly established as a prominent theme within the
play with chaos, disorder and tragedy being provoked once Macbeth usurps the
throne.
When the play opens, we witness Duncan sustaining a position as king, and
Shakespeare portrays our primary king as a fine ruler; he is just, fair, generous and
compassionate. When under the rule of the ‘tyrant’ Macbeth, Scotland is reported to
‘weep’ and ‘bleed’ providing a stark contrast with Duncan’s regency who Macduff
refers to as ‘a most sainted king’. Here, Shakespeare uses language to exaggerate
Duncan’s virtuous nature by employing the intensifier ‘most’ before the adjective
‘sainted’. Duncan, upon learning of the treachery of the past Thane of Cawdor says,
‘no more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest’, in which the
phrase ‘bosom interest’ signifies ‘vital interest’, yet the adjective ‘bosom’ suggests
that a relationship of love should exist between a king and his subjects, illustrating
how Duncan loves and cares for his nobles. Although Duncan possesses some flaws
as king; his naivety which allows for trusting evidently malevolent individuals,
demonstrated through the phrase ‘there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the
face’ yet he still fails to recognise Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s disloyalty. It can be
interpreted that Shakespeare constructs Duncan’s character in this manner to serve
as a warning to King James to be wary of his own associates and those he
seemingly devotes his trust to. Duncan’s own enemies recognise him as an excellent
king, as Macbeth states ‘his virtues will plead like angels’ against the atrocious acts
of regicide. His association with heavenly, angelic figures reflects his position at the
top of the natural hierarchy of being- his position as king is seen as orthodox and to
remove him would be a irrational sin against God. Here Shakespeare juxtaposes
Duncan’s position as King being rightfully chosen by God with Macbeth’s being
enthralled and incited by the witches, who in Jacobean England, were indefinitly
deemed as people who worked for the devil.
When Macbeth is informed by the witches of his possible future position as king,
Banquo is also present and simultaneously informed that his sons will be king.
Shakespeare contrasts their opposing reactions to the witches’ prophecies to give
the contemporary audience a deeper insight into what Kingship is, and what it
necessitates. Macbeth succumbs to the dark internal urges to commit murder, while
Banquo is able to ‘restrain’ the ‘cursed thoughts’ he has revolving ambition and their
its dark selfish natures. His restraint and attitude against regicide reflects the beliefs
withheld in Jacobean England- kingship wasn’t just a position granted to anybody,
the king was appointed by God and seen as God’s representative on Earth,
furthermore, King James I was essentially related to Banquo who in reality was an
accomplice to Macbeth in murdering the king; this positive presentation of Banquo
would have most definitely pleased the king.
Kingship is a central theme to Macbeth and through the use of contrasting
characters, specifically Duncan and Macbeth, Shakespeare highlights his views on
the quintessential qualities possessed by a noble and rightful ruler. To specify, these
qualities include ‘justice, verity, temperance’. Furthermore, Shakespeare builds upon
this theme to demonstrate the link between God’s will and the monarchy; the belief in
the Divine Right of Kings is strongly established as a prominent theme within the
play with chaos, disorder and tragedy being provoked once Macbeth usurps the
throne.
When the play opens, we witness Duncan sustaining a position as king, and
Shakespeare portrays our primary king as a fine ruler; he is just, fair, generous and
compassionate. When under the rule of the ‘tyrant’ Macbeth, Scotland is reported to
‘weep’ and ‘bleed’ providing a stark contrast with Duncan’s regency who Macduff
refers to as ‘a most sainted king’. Here, Shakespeare uses language to exaggerate
Duncan’s virtuous nature by employing the intensifier ‘most’ before the adjective
‘sainted’. Duncan, upon learning of the treachery of the past Thane of Cawdor says,
‘no more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest’, in which the
phrase ‘bosom interest’ signifies ‘vital interest’, yet the adjective ‘bosom’ suggests
that a relationship of love should exist between a king and his subjects, illustrating
how Duncan loves and cares for his nobles. Although Duncan possesses some flaws
as king; his naivety which allows for trusting evidently malevolent individuals,
demonstrated through the phrase ‘there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the
face’ yet he still fails to recognise Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s disloyalty. It can be
interpreted that Shakespeare constructs Duncan’s character in this manner to serve
as a warning to King James to be wary of his own associates and those he
seemingly devotes his trust to. Duncan’s own enemies recognise him as an excellent
king, as Macbeth states ‘his virtues will plead like angels’ against the atrocious acts
of regicide. His association with heavenly, angelic figures reflects his position at the
top of the natural hierarchy of being- his position as king is seen as orthodox and to
remove him would be a irrational sin against God. Here Shakespeare juxtaposes
Duncan’s position as King being rightfully chosen by God with Macbeth’s being
enthralled and incited by the witches, who in Jacobean England, were indefinitly
deemed as people who worked for the devil.
When Macbeth is informed by the witches of his possible future position as king,
Banquo is also present and simultaneously informed that his sons will be king.
Shakespeare contrasts their opposing reactions to the witches’ prophecies to give
the contemporary audience a deeper insight into what Kingship is, and what it
necessitates. Macbeth succumbs to the dark internal urges to commit murder, while
Banquo is able to ‘restrain’ the ‘cursed thoughts’ he has revolving ambition and their
its dark selfish natures. His restraint and attitude against regicide reflects the beliefs
withheld in Jacobean England- kingship wasn’t just a position granted to anybody,
the king was appointed by God and seen as God’s representative on Earth,
furthermore, King James I was essentially related to Banquo who in reality was an
accomplice to Macbeth in murdering the king; this positive presentation of Banquo
would have most definitely pleased the king.
