In the play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare, the theme of kingship is explored through the character of Macbeth who is driven by ambition to become king of Scotland. The theme of kingship holds significance in the play due to it being dedicated to King James I and it shows the downfall of going against the divine rights of kings to warn people against treason.
In Act 1, Macbeth recognises that Duncan is a good king,'his virtues will plead like angels', perhaps it's Shakespeare's intent to present Duncan this way to support the view of the divine right of kings, which basically meant that God annointed each king which makes Duncan seem more virtuous and makes his murder more horrifying to the audience.
in Act 2, the theme of kingship is further
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This further reveals to the audience that Macbeth is not the right ruler for Scotland. The idea of a king murdering someone completely goes against the holiness of kings being chosen by God. Shakespeare creates this image to describe how the natural order of things has been disrupted.
In Act 4, the theme of kingship continues to be explored when Macbeth goes back to the witched to recieve the 3 apparitions. this gives the audience an evil impression of macbeth. This further emphasises how it's not natural for him to be king. Moreover, Macbeth gets Macduffs family killed. the murderer describes Macduffs son as an 'egg'. This emphasises how young he is and which makes the murder even more shocking and confirms to the audience that Macbeth was not chosen by God to be king and he is an imposter.
In Act 5, the theme of kingship is further developed as Macbeths tyranny and oppression eventually lead to his downfall. Through this, Shakespeare is indirectly telling the audience that by committing regicide you are ultimately going against God and that will lead to an unfortunate ending. Kingship is further developed at the end of the play when Malcom becomes king. After this, Shakespeare shows how since the king was guided by God, the natural order of things are back to
Kingship In act 1 scene 4 Macbeth says “stars hide your fire, let not light see my black and deep desires”. This rhyming couplet conveys the emotion that Macbeth has at this point, he is determined to kill the king with his wife’s support. ‘Stars’ symbolise fate but if they hide his fires then it’s not his natural favour he is choosing. He wants to construct artificial fate that the witches have prophesied for him in the start of the play therefore we know that Macbeth feels that he is more powerful than a god and he can decide the outcome rather accept what he has been given to him at birth as Thane of Glamis.
The play entitled Macbeth by William Shakespeare portrays Macbeth, a loyal and brave thane to the king. When a prophecy reveals he will become king, Macbeth is overcome with ambition and greed. Convinced of this prophecy and the encouragement from his wife, he is able to kill the king and take the throne. Although Macbeth was able to obtain the throne, he was was overwhelmed by power and guilt leading to internal conflict, which suggests that success is not desirable through cheating and corruption and ultimately cost more than its actually worth, Macbeth`s reckless pursuit of killing and becoming the king is representative of the power he has and what he is able to do with the power he's gained; therefore. His relentless ambition for king reveals the guilt behind power.
From the beginning of the play, Macbeth's ambition takes center stage. In Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth utters the famous line, "If chance has me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir" (1.3.143-144). This quote displays his willingness to let fate play its part. Macbeth's subsequent actions, such as the murder of King Duncan, are not the result of schizophrenia but rather the consequences of his unbridled ambition. The play vividly portrays how a desire for power and dominance can corrupt even the noblest individuals.
When the story begins, Macbeth truly is a “peerless kinsman” to the king (1.4.66); however, as the story progresses others refer to him in this way only because they are oblivious to his true desire” (Balwan 3). As Balwan states, Macbeth has as significant change due to the so call “power” of being king. While Macbeth transitions to a new form of character, he isolates himself from Lady Macbeth. As the power increases, Macbeth is determined to kill.
Macbeth is becoming aware of his tyrannical behaviours, however, he is more fearful of threats to the crown and his kingship than the consequences he may face for such behaviours. This connection to kingship versus tyranny proves that kingship is honourable whereas tyranny is unjust and cruel in manner. The theme’s element of kingship is highlighted by Shakespeare’s usage of oxymoron when speaking of a “fruitless crown” (3.1.62) and “barren sceptre” (3.1.63). Fruitless and barren are terms associated with infertility while words such as crown and sceptre idealize lineage. In regards to kingship, Macbeth is hyperfocused on the fact that he has a blatant lack of heirs (which is unnatural to the throne), whereas Banquo has been prophesied to have many heirs in his bloodline.
“Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” (Shakespeare 6) Upon hearing this, Macbeth begins to spiral, transforming from a brave and well-respected Scottish nobleman to an aggressive and hostile tyrant. The witches’ prophecies
This shows Macbeth’s desire to become king, even though he already has a high ranking position in the land. He is not content with he has and desires an even higher position. He desires it so much to the point of betraying the trust of people who are close to him just for his own greedy self gain. Macbeth betrays and backstabs many characters in the story, an example being King Duncan himself.
“The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword his wife his babes, and all the unfortunate souls” (4.1. 165-167). This shows Macbeth’s complete disregard for human life and his willingness to commit crimes to maintain his power. He sees Macduff as a significant threat and is willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate him, including murdering Macduff’s wife and children. His ambition has consumed him, and he has lost touch with morality or compassion.
In the play, Macbeth attempts to control his future many times. He does things that he probably should not have done, which then causes many more issues; he feels the need to try and correct them. Throughout the play, Macbeth involves many people in things that he forces them into doing by scaring and threatening them. Throughout the play Macbeth has many people killed in order to benefit him. He doesn’t believe that anyone knows what he is doing, but as people find out he begins to send murderers after them.
The fact that Macbeth believes the witches’ prophecies are not evil nor good foreshadows how he will go on to kill any other person standing in his way to more power. His ambition blinds his mind to make him even think about ruthlessly committing a murder. This forceful way of gaining power will only lead Macbeth to become a “tyrant” in Scotland and his “fantastical” desires of killing Duncan and receiving the crown will lead Scotland to failure. Under Macbeth’s rule, Scotland seems to be in a terrible condition. With distrust among the people, there is tension all within the country, as Macbeth’s totalitarian regime had rendered the prosperity of Scotland.
At the beginning of the play Macbeth, the main character Macbeth learns that he will become King. When he realised he could be the leader, the power he desperately craves motivates him to alter his character. “Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done.” (2.4.6-14)
The tragic hero demonstrates how a character in a pla, or a movie starts out with good qualities and everyone like them. Towards the end they have a tragic death. In the play Macbeth this is shown. The main character Macbeth starts out a good leader and a Scottish general, when you get further in the story he starts to show the other stages of the tragic hero.
Describing his kingship as a “fruitless crown” and “barren scepter”, Shakespeare further develops Macbeth’s understanding of the idea that
Kingship is a central theme in Macbeth and through the use of contrasting characters such as Duncan and Macbeth, Shakespeare presents his views about the divine right of the kings. Furthermore, Shakespeare builds the theme to demonstrate to his audience the link between Gods and the monarchy; the belief in the divine right of kings is strongly established throughout the play and chaos and tragedy when Macbeth usurps Duncan. In Act 1 Scene 2, Duncan describes Macbeth as "Valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen", he does this to express his appreciation and trust to the character of Macbeth who stopped the Macdonwald rebellion. Duncan uses similar phrases as the captain when he described Macdonwald - Shakespeare does this to foreshadow the usurpation
be so, for Banquo’s issue have i filled my mind: For them the gracious Duncan have i murder’d” (III.i.67-69). This is stating that Macbeth killed Duncan because he knew his kids would become kings after him, and Macbeth didn’t like this. Macbeth killed Duncan for his petty ways to get what he wants and to become king. Being angry and killing innocent Duncan are a way of being seen as the villain, which Macbeth had been proven to be. Macduff son thinks out loud to his mom “Young fry of treachery he has