English resources/Macbeth/Malcolm
Malcolm
The king's son. He runs away. He comes back with an army carrying branches. He gets the last word.
5 key quotes by and about Malcolm in Macbeth, in the order they happen, from Act 1, Scene 4 to Act 5, Scene 8. Learn this one first: “this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen” (Malcolm, Act 5, Scene 8).
Who Malcolm is
Malcolm is King Duncan's elder son. In Act 1, Scene 4 Duncan names him Prince of Cumberland, the next king, which puts him directly in Macbeth's way.
After the murder Malcolm runs to England and his brother Donalbain to Ireland, and running makes them look guilty, so Macbeth is crowned. In Act 4, Scene 3 Malcolm tests Macduff by pretending to be greedy, lustful and worse than Macbeth. When Macduff gives up on Scotland in despair, Malcolm knows he is loyal and admits he was lying.
He comes back with an English army under Siward, has his soldiers carry branches cut from Birnam Wood so the witches' prophecy comes true, and is crowned at the end, where he makes his thanes earls.
Why he matters: Malcolm is the play's picture of a good king, careful, honest and willing to listen, and everything Macbeth is not.
The quotes
5 quotes by or about Malcolm, in the order they happen.
The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down or else o'erleap
Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 4 · ambition · kingship
The king picks his son to be next. Now that son is in Macbeth's way.
There's daggers in men's smiles
Donalbain · Act 2, Scene 3 · appearance and reality · violence
The king's sons run away. Any smile could hide a knife.
But I must also feel it as a man
Macduff · Act 4, Scene 3 · gender and manhood
Malcolm says take it like a man. Macduff says a man feels it too.
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell
Malcolm · Act 4, Scene 3 · kingship · appearance and reality
Even the devil was an angel once. Malcolm tests Macduff. He trusts no one.
this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen
Malcolm · Act 5, Scene 8 · kingship · violence
Malcolm's last word on them. A butcher and his devil queen.
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