Duncan quotes/themes

• Duncan's characteristics/presentation shown in Act 2, S3 and S4

  A religious / Godly figure - his body is described as the 'Lord's anointed temple' - sacred and untouchable. and 'Murder' is described as acting 'sacreligious[ly]' in killing the king

  "His silver skin laced with golden blood" - inanimate imagery of value to show how he was more than just an ordinary man

  'His gashed stabs looked like a breach in nature' - simile - implies that in murdering Duncan, M has somehow murdered/disrputed Nature

  
  

  Lots of metaphorical language in murder scene of Duncan - as if his murder csnnot quite be comprehended in 'straightforward' terms.

  Not just a normal man being murdered

  Nature disrupted by duncan's death - the night was 'unruly' with 'strange screams of death' heard. An Owl kills a Falcon - disruption of food chain - symbolising M (the 'owl') killing Duncan (the 'falcon')

  Horses were 'eat[ing]' each other

  Its dark during the day 'darkness does the face of earth entomb/When living light should kiss it
• Duncan characteristics shown in Act 1, Scene 7

  A well-respected King: "so meek... that his virtue/ will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued"

  "Meek" - heavenly ( aquality referenced in the Beatitudes) - blessed are the meek. 'clear in his great office'

  Characterised as heavenly through imagery of his 'virtues' ie the way that 'heaven's Cherubins' will 'blow the horrid deed in every eye'

  Image of 'tears drown[ing] the wind' at his death jndicates how Duncan is loved by his people
• Duncan characteristics in Act 1, Scene 6

  Appreciative nature: 'This castle hath a pleasant seat'.

  Grateful - genuinely expressed gratitude to LM
• Act 1, Scene 4 - Duncan's qualities and evidence

  Leadership skills - following up on instruction for the 'execution' of Cawdor

  Kind, generous spirit: long speech of gratitude towards Macbeth

  Very trusting: "He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust"

  Fairness: thinking of M and Banquo equally

  Forward thinking: - naming Malcolm officially as his heir
• "O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman" (1,2)


  - giving praise where praise is due - appreciated qualities of others

  - caring

  - decisive on ordering death of Thane of Cawdor

  -- connotations of bravery and courage --> ironic as later, Macbeth lacks the coursge to stand up to his wife Lady Macbeth (LM)

  - Exclamatory "O" - adds emphasis to the greeting and shows how pleased Duncan is of Macbeth's (M) victory over Cawdor.

  - "worthy" - positive adjective - positive connotations which juxtapose w/ Macbeth's behaviour later in the play.

  
  

  THEMES:

  MACBETH

  DUNCAN

  APPEARANCE VS REALITY

  LOYALTY / DUTY

  KINGSHIP