Malcolm + Kingship

• Kingship is an integral theme in Macbeth
• Macbeth, as a character, gains his kingship through immoral means
• Macbeth's act of regicide taints his reign and places him in stark contrast to Duncan, a fair king, albeit weak
• Macbeth's immorality causes corruption and his reign is one defined by brutality and murder
• Edward the Confessor, King of England, is defined by goodness and morality, virtue and piety, although he is never seen physically - perhaps an indication that these qualities cannot thrive in Macbeth's harsh and merciless world
• In Act 4, Scene 3, Malcolm lists what he believes are the qualities of a good king


  1. Justice

  2. Verity

  3. Temperance

  4. Stableness

  5. Bounty

  6. Perseverance

  7. Mercy

  8. Lowliness

  9. Devotion

  10. Patience

  11. Courage

  12. Fortitude
• Justice


  Fairness in the administration of the law
• Temperance


  Moderation and self-restraint
• Stableness


  Steadiness and reliability
• Perseverance


  Persistence and determination
• Mercy


  Compassion and leniency
• Devotion


  Dedication and commitment
• Patience


  Calmness and tolerance
• Courage


  Bravery and strength of character
• Fortitude


  Resilience and moral strength
• Luxurious


  Having or characterized by excessive self-indulgence
• Avaricious


  Excessively greedy
• False


  Deceitful and dishonest
• Deceitful


  Deliberately causing someone to believe something that is not true
• Sudden


  Happening quickly and unexpectedly
• Malicious


  Deliberately harmful or spiteful
• Smacking of every sin


  Exhibiting or suggestive of a wide range of immoral or unethical behaviour