Malcolm

• "This murderous shaft that's shot/ Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way is to avoid the aim." (Macolm, after king duncan murder)


  - when his father Duncan is murdered. He taked immediate actions to avoid being the next to be killed; he slips away to England before the 'shaft' can 'light' on him.

  - the metaphor/imagery of an arrow shows that Malcolm is fully aware of the danger he's in.

  - His actions could be interpreted two ways: WISE or COWARDLY

  - His decision to flee drives the plot as he gives freeway for M to take the crown. This adds to the drama as the audience knows that Scotland is in the hands of a proven murderer and will be anxious about what M will do next.
• "Let every solider hew him down a branch" + CONTEXT


  - Malcolm tells the soldiers to camouflage themselves with the trees from Birnam Wood.

  - These is a sense of authority in the imperative verb 'let' and also a clear display of military acument (skill) in his original idea about disguising his army.

  - Malcolm is deemed to be a better leader as Duncan kept distance from battle.

  
  

  CONTEXT:

  - In Jacobean times, kings were expected to be able to lead armies at the time of war. Shakespeare was writing at a time of great political and a social change which often led to Military conflict; Malcolm's military acumen (skill) would have been approved of.
• "By the grace of Grace/ we will perform in measure, time and place." + CONTEXT


  - Malcolm's words conclude the play; this fitted in w/ the literary convention of the time. It is significant that the final words are given to the most senior figure, acknowledging his authority.

  - this authority is further emphasised by the use of the majestoc plural pronoun 'we', which includes the man, God, the Law and the State. Jacobean society believed in a rigid social structure with the monarch as central to society.

  - They also believed in the Divine Right of Kings, and Malcolm's humble words 'by the grace of Grace' refer to God's role and remind the audience that Malcolm, as direct heir to Duncan, rules by this Divine Right

  
  

  CONTEXT:

  Shakespeare uses the classic five act play structure of the ancient Greeks which always ended w/ a resolution. There is a sense of closure at the end of the play and the audience is reassured that lessons will be learned from the tragic deaths. The rhyming couplets in this final speech help give the play this sense of resolution and conclusion.
• "black Macbeth will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state esteem as a lamb, being compared with my confineless harms"


  - "black" - colour symbolism - connotations of evilness and sin - juxtaposes w/ the white 'snow'

  - "will seem as pure as snow" - simile - to highlight how good M will seem in comparison to Malcolm - contrast to M's tyrannical behaviour and actions

  - "lamb" - a lamb is often seen as a representation of Jesus and has connotations of purity - this religious comparison contrasts drastically with M's true nature.

  - "my confineless harms" - further builds on this idea of Malcolm being a terrible King - convinces Macduff to decide that Malcolm is not fit either, thus proving his loyalty to Scotland
• I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds.'


  - scotland is suffering/sinking under the tyrannical rule of Macbeth

  - personification of Scotland as it 'weeps' and 'bleeds' as if searching out for help

  - 'gash' is a deep cut/wound