GCSE Macbeth Kingship
Exemplary Grade 9 Essay
PREVIEW PARAGRAPH
A prime example of kingship is set by Duncan in the beginning act of the play. He treats his subjects
as equals and respects them just as he’d expect them to respect him. Duncan’s character goes by the
rule of ‘treat others how you want to be treated’, as he greets Macbeth as his ‘valiant cousin’ and
‘worthy gentleman’. This use of ‘worthy’ by Duncan further emphasises his belief that those around
him are just as deserving of power as he is, granting them his absolute trust, which unfortunately
leads to his downfall as he is ironically taken advantage of by Macbeth, whom he greatly respected
after his battle with the Norwegian army. Duncan’s kind-hearted idea of leadership is swiftly
overturned by Macbeth, who ‘doth murder sleep’, suggesting he has ‘murdered’ not only the former
king himself, but also the peaceful ideals by which he ruled. This imagery of Duncan as rightful and
just culminates when ‘his golden blood laces his silver skin’ as he lays peacefully in his death, despite
being abruptly murdered. Shakespeare does this to reveal the divinity and faultlessness of Duncan’s
character in order to enforce the audience’s belief in the Divine Right of Kings, reinstating the
magnitude of Macbeth’s wrongdoings as he envies Duncan even after he ruthlessly ended his life,
knowing his blood will never be as pure and ‘golden’ as Duncan’s was.
Exemplary Grade 9 Essay
PREVIEW PARAGRAPH
A prime example of kingship is set by Duncan in the beginning act of the play. He treats his subjects
as equals and respects them just as he’d expect them to respect him. Duncan’s character goes by the
rule of ‘treat others how you want to be treated’, as he greets Macbeth as his ‘valiant cousin’ and
‘worthy gentleman’. This use of ‘worthy’ by Duncan further emphasises his belief that those around
him are just as deserving of power as he is, granting them his absolute trust, which unfortunately
leads to his downfall as he is ironically taken advantage of by Macbeth, whom he greatly respected
after his battle with the Norwegian army. Duncan’s kind-hearted idea of leadership is swiftly
overturned by Macbeth, who ‘doth murder sleep’, suggesting he has ‘murdered’ not only the former
king himself, but also the peaceful ideals by which he ruled. This imagery of Duncan as rightful and
just culminates when ‘his golden blood laces his silver skin’ as he lays peacefully in his death, despite
being abruptly murdered. Shakespeare does this to reveal the divinity and faultlessness of Duncan’s
character in order to enforce the audience’s belief in the Divine Right of Kings, reinstating the
magnitude of Macbeth’s wrongdoings as he envies Duncan even after he ruthlessly ended his life,
knowing his blood will never be as pure and ‘golden’ as Duncan’s was.
