malcolm

• "Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland in such an honour named" Malcolm act 5, scene 8

  • Restoration of order: he has an honourable lexis. He is bestowing his high regards of those who have been loyal and will continue to restore order in Scotland - a foil to Macbeth
  • Divine Right of Kings: He is the rightful king, and thus is divinely ordained. His pious nature and patriotism is a benchmark for Macbeth's self-indulgent tyranny.
• "Let us seek out some desolate spot and there weep our sad bosoms empty"

  • Malcolm is here trying to express sympathy towards Macduff, when he explains the situation occuring in Scotland.
  • The fact that Macduff is begging Malcolm for help also conveys his importance in Scotland and the battle as the son of Duncan
  • 'Weeping' and 'sad
• Malcolm deceives Macduff in order to make sure he can trust him

  • As a Jacobean audience we would feel that this is very admirable of Malcolm and that he would make a good king
  • This is significant because Jacobeans would have believed in the Divine Right of Kings, so they would have believed that Malcolm's skill at leadership came from God and would hope that he was successful
• "O by whom" (after he finds out about his fathers death)

  • First instinct is to not show sadness and mourn, but to look to avenge his father.
  • This demonstrates the social expectation of men during Jacobean era: not allowed to show sadness or tender emotions, but rather to look for violence and power.
• "Delight no less in truth than in life"

  • Malcolm is illustrated to be honest and heroic, characteristics
  • Shakespeare, King James I and Jacobean audiences would have believed to make an ideal King and leader. This makes Malcolm seem an ideal leader and places him as a hero in the story