Kingship in Macbeth

brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)

Captain · Act 1, Scene 2 · violence · kingship

At the start, Macbeth is a hero. He wins the battle for the king.

O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman!

Duncan · Act 1, Scene 2 · kingship

The king loves Macbeth. He trusts him. That is why he dies.

What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won

Duncan · Act 1, Scene 2 · kingship · fate and free will

A traitor loses his title. Macbeth gets it. He gets a traitor's name before he does anything wrong.

Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none

Witches · Act 1, Scene 3 · fate and free will · kingship

Banquo will never be king. But his children will. Macbeth cannot forget this.

There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face

Duncan · Act 1, Scene 4 · appearance and reality · kingship

You cannot read a face, says the king. Then Macbeth walks in. The king cannot read his face.

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.

His virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against The deep damnation of his taking-off

Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 7 · kingship · guilt

The king is such a good man that heaven will cry out when he dies. Macbeth knows it.

Confusion now hath made his masterpiece

Macduff · Act 2, Scene 3 · kingship · order and disorder

Macduff finds the dead king. Killing a king breaks the whole world.

Thou hast it now--king, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weird Women promised, and I fear Thou played'st most foully for 't

Banquo · Act 3, Scene 1 · kingship · fate and free will · guilt

Banquo sees it. Macbeth has everything the witches said. He got it by murder.

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my grip

Macbeth · Act 3, Scene 1 · kingship · fate and free will

Macbeth has a crown but no son to give it to. That eats him.

Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once

Lady Macbeth · Act 3, Scene 4 · kingship · order and disorder

She tells the guests to leave, no matter their rank. Order has broken down.

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.

Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love

Angus · Act 5, Scene 2 · kingship

His soldiers obey him. They do not love him. That is the difference between a king and a bully.

Now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe Upon a dwarfish thief

Angus · Act 5, Scene 2 · kingship · appearance and reality

The crown does not fit him. It is like a giant's coat on a small thief.