When anointed by God, monarchs were expected to serve their country and their people. Any action they took was meant to strengthen the country. Both Lear and Macbeth show they don’t serve their people and country and their actions weaken their Kingdom by bringing chaos and disorder. Initially Lear is seen as a strong ruler. When Lear enters in Scene I he appears with a lot of pomp and ceremony which gives the impression of Lear’s authority. He then puts his three daughters to the test, and asks them to tell him how much they love him in front of his court. “Which of you shall we say doth love us most?” This suggests that King Lear is more interested in himself than his people and country. King Lear comes across as a self-centred monarch who is only concerned about his own situation and his own feelings. He is child like when things don’t go his way and damns anyone who goes against him
Macbeth also doesn’t serve the people or country when he kills a King he knows is a good one.
“So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels”
Macbeth is aware that he isn’t doing what is best for the people of Scotland. He is selfish in killing Duncan to satisfy his own ego. A good monarch who serves their people and country would want to ensure their country is united and peaceful. It is ironic, that Macbeth is prepared to risk the country being engulfed by civil war when he seizes the throne, yet ultimately is prepared to die in order to stabilise the country and protect it from Macduff.
In the 17th century, Lear and Macbeth would be expected to possess wisdom. The test Lear gives his daughters shows that he is very far from being a wise king. He is a foolish and egotistical monarch. The Elizabethan audience would have been aware of how unwise Lear is in dividing up a kingdom knowing it would likely lead to civil war. His lack of wisdom is shown still more because he does not accept advice from others. He ignores the advice of those who are wise, particularly those who have loved and served him for years. Kent warns Lear against his decision;
“Reserve thy state
And in thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness”
Whilst Lear clearly seems to think that his plan is the right one, ignoring all advice against it, Macbeth appears to have wisdom before he becomes a monarch. He is clearly aware of the consequences of committing regicide yet still makes the decision; “We will proceed no further in this business”. This shows he does have the wisdom to be a monarch. However he is not wise enough to see that he is being manipulated by Lady Macbeth. “And live a coward, in thine own esteem” Macbeth has proved in battle and to the King that he is not a coward, and has been rewarded for his loyalty and bravery. Yet he allows himself to be persuaded to murder Duncan, even though his instinct tells him it is wrong because Lady Macbeth challenges his masculinity.
Lear is also manipulated and lied to by women. Gonerill and Regan persuade him to give them half his Kingdom, pretending they love him and him alone, even though they are married. In her declaration Regan says;
“I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys.”
Lear is unwise to the fact that both Gonerill and Regan are deceiving him in order to inherit the Kingdom. He fails to see that he cannot keep the name of King and give away his Kingdom. A leader should be able to recognise when he is being lied to, but he is too blinded by flattery to realise. However is it unrealistic for a father to expect loyalty from his three daughters? As a father, it would be unnatural to question the promises made by Gonerill and Regan. As the play progresses, Lear does begin to acquire some of the attributes of a good monarch. He shows wisdom too late however, when he finally sees that Gonerill and Regan have deceived him and robbed him of his power.
“O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
And thy dear judgement out”
Here King Lear is finally beginning to realise how foolish he has been by believing the false speeches of Gonerill and Regan. Although he was wise to see this, it has come far too late, and at the point where King Lear has no power left.
Whilst King Lear grows in wisdom, this is because he has the value of hindsight. He is only wise after the event. Macbeth however is wise enough to recognise potential problems before they occur. This is proven when he successfully identifies Banquo as a threat. It is important for a good leader to have the ability to see any potential dangers to his Kingdom. Macbeth says in his second soliloquy; “Our fears in Banquo” As the established King, Macbeth realises he needs to protect himself and his kingdom. He recognises in Banquo the qualities necessary for a good King and because of this he fears him. It is for this reason that he orders the assassination of Banquo.
A 17th century audience would expect their monarch to be just and merciful. Although it may have been wise to kill Banquo, Macbeth certainly wasn’t being just or merciful. This is compared to Lear who banishes his loyal friend, Kent and Cordelia, his once favourite daughter.
“In on the tenth day following,
Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions the moment is thy death”
This is Lear lacking both mercy and justice. It is clearly not fair, as all they’ve done is not pander to the King’s every whim through flattery. Lear seems far from possessing attributes expected of a 17th century monarch, and is behaving like a spoilt child. A good leader would have shown mercy towards Cordelia and Kent.
Macbeth and Lear start to lose their minds as the plays progress. Macbeth becomes mad with power, while Lear goes mad with lack of power. However, despite their madness both Lear and Macbeth realise that they haven’t been merciful or just. Macbeth says “It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood”. Here, Macbeth has recognised that justice will prevail in the end. However, this doesn’t stop him from continuing to be merciless.
“Seize upon Fife; give to the edge of the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls
That trace him in his line”
Here Macbeth has gone beyond lacking mercy and has now turned into an evil, power hungry tyrant. It is not merciful or just to kill Macduff’s wife or innocent children. Similarly, even once Lear has realised his mistakes, he continually fails to show mercy. This is demonstrated when he tells his two daughters; “I will have such revenges on you both”
Now, both leaders show that they have not learnt from their mistakes and they fail to come up with any effective means to rectify them. Instead both Kings let themselves become blinded by anger and revenge.
King Lear is by no means an ineffective or unimpressive king, but rather one who has not taken enough care of his Kingdom. He has ruled for a long time, and has inspired great loyalty from those who serve him. He becomes ineffective once he tries to remain King whilst giving away his Kingdom. Perhaps this is the point where Lear has become senile and his actions are not entirely his fault. The role of the Fool is created by Shakespeare as a clever structural divide. It provides a strong contrast for the audience who can see King Lear alone with only the Fool to rely on. The audience can also see the Fool speaking words of wisdom, while Lear is continuing to act foolishly. I believe that this is the point where we can see Lear totally stripped of power and status, and any previous effectiveness as a King gone because of the mistakes he made earlier. By the end of the extract I see King Lear, alone, powerless and bitter as a result of his egotistical, self-centred personality.
Macbeth is a strong, determined young man. He loves and serves his wife, Lady Macbeth. His thirst for power takes over his loyalties, and he kills King Duncan to satisfy his own ambition. From here we see Macbeth slowly become mad with power and he goes back to the witches for advice. By going back to the witches, not only does he go to God’s enemy for advice thus failing to love and serve God, but he also displays a total lack of wisdom. At this point in the play, the audience believe Macbeth has allowed himself to get so immersed in evil that it is impossible for him to have any kind of positive effect on his people or country. However, at the very end of the extract, I feel respect for Macbeth. Even after every hope had been lost, he continued to fight and died defending his people and country. Despite losing his mind, Macbeth still shows bravery, loyalty and love of his country and people. Macbeth is a survivor who did what was necessary to defend his Kingdom. King Lear and Macbeth are two very interesting and unpredictable characters who change a great deal throughout the two plays. Ultimately we have to consider who is the more effective monarch. Is it Lear, alone, bitter, blaming everyone around him for his mistakes and blinded by anger and revenge or Macbeth, who died in battle to protect his Kingdom?
Jamie Boughen Compare and Contrast King Lear and Macbeth’s effectiveness as Kings