English Lit - Macbeth: Character Profile - Duncan

• • Duncan provides an early example of a legitimate & reasonable king (He is, however, by no means perfect)
• • He's quite naive in trusting Macbeth & Lady Macbeth when they mean him harm. could also be argued that he is too reliant on his thanes (a man who held land granted by the king) - At the time of Macbeth the thanes had a lot of power & kings of Scotland needed to rely on their support in order to rule
• • Shakespearean audience viewed the natural order of the world and society as very important, Duncan provides that natural order as the rightful king of Scotland (great chain of being) - death forshadows chaos
• "great king" ?


  • epithet
  • well respected
• "the service and loyalty i owe" (said by Macbeth) ?


  -transitive verb "owe" suggest he feels obligated to be loyal to Duncan and doesn't do it willingly. This foreshadows his betrayal
• "noble Macbeth" ?

  • epithet
  • Duncan's respect and admiration towards Macbeth is asserted here by describing the warrior with the adjective “noble”
  • Portrays Duncans kind and uplifting nature and how he is being grateful to Macbeth
  • Trusts Macbeth
  • His trustworthy nature (hamartia) foreshadows it will later lead to his demise
• "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face" ?


  • Duncan also expresses humility (a feature that Macbeth lacks)
  • comment here could link to

  "fair is foul and foul is fair" as he states how one cannot truly tell another motives. this could perhaps be foreshadowing Macbeth turning his back on his King & murdering him
• "Honour, like stars, shall shine on all deservers" ?


  • Shakespeare utilises irony here, as Macbeth murders Duncan in the night, disproving this statement
  • The comparison of honour and the stars also indicates that this honour Duncan speaks of is predetermined and is down to fate. this could suggest that Macbeth's demise was already decided and there was nothing he could do to stop it
• "He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust” ?

  • Duncan is here referring to the old Thane of Cawdor & how he was betrayed by him. this could foreshadow Macbeth's later betrayal when he commits regicide (cyclical structure)
  • also shows the audience that King Duncan is hopeful and trusting, good and admirable traits for a leader (epitome of a model king)
• "Silver skin" with "golden blood" (said by Macbeth) ?

  • Silver symbolises wealth & success and better known as a noble metal. Reflects king duncan and his rightful claim to the throne

  • Silver is believed to be a mirror to the soul, helping us to see ourselves as others see us. Conveys Duncan as honest and someone who one his heart on his sleeve

  • Silver is believed to draw negative energy out of the body and replace it with positive energy. This reaffirms Duncan was the perfect fit to be king
• "Silver skin" with "golden blood" (said by Macbeth) ?


  • gold is also associated with love, compassion, courage, passion and wisdom - the qualities of a king
  • often denotes generosity and compassion. This emphasises he was too trusting which led to his downfall
  • ancient Egyptians saw goldas eternal and indestructible. This suggests that no matter how Macbeth gets the throne it will it change the indestructible structure of

  the divine rights of the king

  and while he'll never be a true king, Duncan for eternal will be considered a rightful king