Character Malcolm

• Malcolm

  Shakespeare uses him more as a symbol than a fully fleshed-out character
• Malcolm

  • Represents order or the status quo
  • He is the true heir to Duncan and the rightful king, as appointed by God according to the Divine Right of Kings
• Malcolm

  Stands in contrast to Macbeth, who represents chaos
• What makes a good, rightful king

  1. In contrast to Macbeth, he unites the Scottish thanes to battle against Macbeth

  2. In contrast to Macbeth, he is not presented as a tyrant

  3. In Act IV, Scene III, Malcolm discusses with Macduff what makes a tyrant, and then assures Macduff he is no such thing
• With the rightful king (Malcolm) not on the throne

  The world is thrown into disorder: the Great Chain of Being has been disrupted
• Shakespeare returns Malcolm to the throne in the last scene of the play and, therefore, the order is restored to the kingdom