kingship

• 'signs of nobleness like stars shine'


  A1 S4 = Duncan is willing to reward those who do good. he is saying that figure and nobility are visible traits in a person, making them different from others. simile 'stars shall shine' connotes divine power implying they will be awarded in the afterlife aswell.
• 'an absolute trust'


  A1 S4 = Duncan misplaces his trust in a man who betrayed him for forging armies (previous thane) this suggests he has a poor judge of character. there is some dramatic irony - as Macbeth is plotting to murder him
• 'theres no art / to find the minds construction in the face' 


  implies its impossible to see through someones deception. suggests the evil and treachery of others make it impossible for a king to be wholly good. Duncan is a perfect king but cannot contend with the wickedness of his peers.
• 'brave Macbeth' 'valours minion'


  A1 S2 =beginning of the play Macbeth has the ideal qualities of a king. proves how admired he is. 'brave' & 'valour' both imply he has a strength of character beyond battle, making him ideal as a leader. ironic as he later commits the cowardly act of murdering Duncan.
• what does Shakespeare explore on Macbeths time in the throne?


  how power corrupts the minds of men and how impactful a kings rein is on the whole country.
• Macbeth as king


  least successful king, his ascension to the throne is unrighteous as he gets there on the back of murder, lies & betrayal
• 'nothing in love'


  A5 S2 = reports of the soldiers, this shows how unsuccessful he has even at maintaining order and trust in his people. his country has no 'love' which is representative of his own callous nature
• 'they hailed him father to a line of kings'


  A3 S1 = he resents Banquo because his sons will be kings, and he resents the witches for 'making' him king without successors. his poor kingship is solidified by hid lack of lineage and heirs.
• how did the death of the two kings compare?

  it is reflective of how both kings ruled and how they were viewed by the country. Shakespeare believed a good monarch was needed to provide stability, security and progress.
• what did Duncans death bring and why?


  Duncans death seems to bring about apocalyptic chaos - showing how distressing his murder is. the atmosphere describes nature was also affected by his death.
• 'was feverous and did shake'


  A2 S3 = 'dire combustion', clamoured' and 'shake' reflects how Duncans murder has gone against nature. it symbolises Gods anger and wrath t being defied by Macbeth.
• 'and yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp'


  A2 S4 = Ross observes that Duncans death had a permanent effect on the weather and daylight. 'dark night' symbolises the wickedness that dominates the world.
• 'tis unnatural' 


  A2 S4 = Shakespeare suggests Duncans death disrupts the whole natural order. It implies the state of the world has altered to mirror the murder. just as a good monarch improves the health of his own country, the death of a good monarch takes the whole country into decay and despair.
• 'hell hound'


  A5 S8 = connotes the devil. Macbeths death is celebrated by his subjects. 'hound' dehumanises him suggesting he is savage and brutish. implies he was a save to violent or to his master the Devil.
• why was Malcom a good king?

  he ends the play with a speech and it shows he possess the same wisdom and compassion as his father did. though he is pure and youthful. symbolising he is not as naive or gullible as his father. However he chose to fun away after his fathers death which could be seen as a sign of cowardice.
• 'I think our country sinks beneath the yoke'


  A4 S3 = the personification of Scotland again emphasises its importance to Malcom, trading it as a loved one or a vulnerable person.