Macbeth- POWER AND KINGSHIP

• Who ascended to the throne unexpectedly, leading to discussions about kingship in England?

  James I
• What was a significant topic of discussion in England following James I's ascension?

  What makes a good king
• What were the two main factions in the ongoing conflict in England during this period?

  Protestants and Catholics
• How does Shakespeare compare different characters in Macbeth regarding their reigns?

  By showing some as successful and others as unsuccessful
• What is the relationship between kingship and power in Macbeth?

  They are intrinsically linked
• Who is contrasted with Macbeth as a righteous king in the play?

  Duncan
• What qualities does Duncan possess as a king?

  Noble, nurturing, responsible, and a strong leader
• How does Duncan's successful reign emphasize Macbeth's failures as a king?

  By contrasting Duncan's virtues with Macbeth's tyranny
• What does Duncan's statement about rewarding good deeds imply about his kingship?

  • He is just and benevolent
  • He believes in virtue and nobility
  • He associates rewards with divine power
• What does Duncan's agricultural metaphor suggest about his leadership style?

  He is nurturing and invested in the success of others
• How does Macbeth describe Duncan's qualities before his murder?

  As honourable and virtuous
• What does Duncan's fair governance entail?

  Rewarding good deeds and punishing traitors
• What does the exchange of titles at the beginning of the play signify?

  A stable and balanced country
• Why was it important for Duncan to have an heir?

  To ensure political stability and security
• Who is named as Duncan's heir-apparent?

  Malcolm
• What does Duncan's trusting nature suggest about his kingship?

  He is overly dependent on others
• What dramatic irony exists in Duncan's trust in Macbeth?

  Macbeth is plotting to murder him
• How does Duncan's failure to learn from past mistakes affect his reign?

  It leads to his betrayal by Macbeth
• How is Macbeth initially described in the play?

  As brave and valiant
• What happens to Macbeth's noble traits as he approaches the throne?

  They seem to disappear
• How does Shakespeare contrast Duncan and Macbeth's rule?

  By showing Duncan as a good king and Macbeth as a tyrant
• What does Shakespeare explore through Macbeth's reign?

  How power corrupts and affects a king's rule
• What is the nature of Macbeth's leadership?

  Callous and ineffective
• How do the soldiers perceive Macbeth's leadership?

  They serve him out of constraint, not love
• What does Macbeth's acknowledgment of his violent control imply about his character?

  He is shameless and godlike in his approach to power
• How does Macbeth's lack of heirs affect his kingship?

  It solidifies his poor leadership and feelings of emasculation
• What does Macbeth resent about Banquo in relation to the Witches' prophecy?

  That Banquo's sons will be kings
• How does the reaction to Duncan's death differ from Macbeth's death?

  Duncan's death brings chaos, while Macbeth's does not
• What does the chaos following Duncan's murder suggest about his kingship?

  It reflects the importance of a good monarch for stability
• What does the description of the atmosphere before Duncan's death imply?

  That nature is affected by his murder
• What does Lennox report about the night before Duncan's death?

  It was unruly with strange sounds
• What does the semantic field of chaos and destruction in Lennox's report suggest?

  That Duncan's murder has gone against nature
• How does the imagery of darkness following Duncan's death symbolize his kingship?

  It symbolizes the wickedness that now dominates the world
• What does the phrase "dark night strangles the travelling lamp" imply about Duncan's death?

  It suggests that wickedness has overshadowed goodness
• What does Ross observe about the time of day after Duncan's death?

  That it is dark despite being daytime
• How does the unnatural darkness after Duncan's death reflect Shakespeare's views on kingship?

  It shows the need for a good monarch to maintain order
• What does the chaos following Duncan's death suggest about the consequences of tyranny?

  It leads to disorder and suffering in the kingdom
• What lexicon reflects the chaos and destruction following Duncan's murder?

  Lexis such as "dire combustion," "clamoured," and "shake"
• What does the lexicon of chaos and destruction symbolize in relation to Duncan's murder?

  It symbolizes God's anger and wrath at being defied by Macbeth
• What does the term "feverous" connote in the context of Macbeth's actions?

  It suggests that Macbeth's deed has brought sickness to the land