Abuse of kingship and power

• Macduff:

  • a loyal statesman and the only one who can kill Macbeth
  • is able to speak out out how the country should be run.
  • He is unapologetic in his criticism of Macbeth and only wants the best for his country
  • . Though he kills Macbeth, he doesn't take the crown for himself, instead respecting God's will and giving it back to the heir-apparent.
• • Patriotic Shakespeare portrays Malcolm as the epitome of a pure, honest, and dedicated king.
  • Like Macduff, he worries for Scotland's future, saying, "It weeps, it bleeds
  • The personification of Scotland again emphasises its importance to Malcolm, treating it as a loved one or vulnerable person, and reflects how a country can suffer in the same way a person can.
• he idea of kingship and what it takes to be king is introduced as soon as the Witches give leir prophecy to Macbeth. Kingship can be seen as the destination or goal of all the action 1 the play.
• T The chaos and unrest of Scotland therefore unfolds in the foreground of England's stable peace. To a certain degree, each king is an archetype of a certain kind of ruler. Shakespeare's messages about kingship are as evident in the differences between them as they are in the actions of the kings themselves