However, he might be considered a less than perfect king in other respects. Duncan is not a very good judge of character. For example Duncan believes that Macbeth is a good and loyal person, yet it is Macbeth who actually kills Duncan. The Thane of Cawdor also misleads Duncan by taking the title of Thane (Duncan trusted Thane’s and relied on them a great deal). He later betrays his country by swapping sides in battle. Duncan also has the disadvantage of being quite old. He is too weak to lead his army into war and has to rely on the Thanes. He doesn’t give his plans a lot of thought. Duncan approves of violence and in Macbeth’s case, rewards it.
The other characters in Macbeth greatly respect Duncan. Even Macbeth talks highly of Duncan both before and after Duncan’s death. People know that Duncan is a ‘great king’ and hence he is treated with utmost respect. In Act 1 Scene 2 Ross says, ‘god save the king’. I believe that Duncan is also liked because when he speaks to people he speaks with dignity and respect for them and he is not patronizing. A good example of this can be found in Act 1 Scene 2 line 24 when says to the sergeant, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!”. It is must be remembered however that at that time people believed in the divine right of king. The king was seen to be God’s representative on earth and therefore the king was almost sacred in people’s eyes. Macduff in Act 4 Scene 3 line 109 refers to Duncan as “a most sainted king”. Even Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 6 respects Duncan by saying to him, “at your highnesses pleasure”.
Overall I believe that Shakespeare wants to portray Duncan as a good king. He bestows on Duncan the virtues of being gracious, open, honest and sincere. He is also portrayed as a fair, loyal and appreciative king. If Duncan has a weakness it is usually a consequence of his innate goodness – his trust.
Our first impression of Macbeth is that of a hero, a brave warrior and a man loyal to both king and country. As the play progresses, however, this favourable image of Macbeth rapidly disappears and with it the audience’s sympathy and respect for him. This is because Macbeth allows his ambition to be king to suppress his good qualities. As Macbeth murdered Duncan so as to be king Macbeth rules by force and not by divine right.
Macbeth committed heinous crimes. He murdered his king Duncan. He massacred women and children. He murdered his friend, Banquo.
Macbeth is shown to be quite weak in character as he comes under the influence of the witches. In fact Macbeth’s first words, in this play, echo those of the witches, “Fair if foul, and foul is fair” (scene 1 act 1 line 11 and act 1 scene 3 line 38). I think that the influence of the witches is probably the worst thing that happens to Macbeth. I think this because they prophesise that Macbeth will become king and this makes Macbeth more ambitious which leads Macbeth to do the awful deed of killing Duncan. Macbeth also allows his wife’s ambition for him, to undermine his integrity (act 1 scene 5).
Once this ambition overtakes Macbeth there is no possibility that his kingship will include any sanctity. Macbeth can definitely be proven as being a murderer as he murders both his king and women and children. In act 4 scene 3, Ross tells Macduff that his children and wife have been “Savagely slaughter’d” under the instructions of Macbeth.
Through allowing his ambition to suppress his good qualities he becomes ‘this tyrant’ (act 4 scene 3 line 12), and this “dwarfish thief” (act 5 scene 2 line 22).
A dominant feature of Macbeth is that Shakespeare wants to get across to the audience is that when Macbeth (or a bad king) rules, the country suffers. Many of the characters in the play talk of how Scotland is suffering under the reign of Macbeth. For example in act 4 scene 3 lines 401-41 Malcolm is talking about Scotland and says, “ It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds”.
People don’t talk highly of Macbeth unlike Duncan and in act 4 scene 3 Malcolm says, “I grant him bloody, / Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, /sudden, malicious, smacking of ever sin/That has a name.” Malcolm is possibly using this for propaganda, however, so as to make out Macbeth worse than he actually is although there are some elements of truth in what Malcolm says.
The idea of king being a good healer is expressed in act 4 scene 3 when the powers of King Edward are related to Malcolm and Macduff by the doctor and in comparison Macbeth doesn’t have these powers
Macbeth is also deceitful and a good example of this is when he talks to Banquo as if he were a dear friend while behind his back Macbeth is preparing to have him killed.
Malcolm, in Act 4 Scene 3 lists the qualities that a king should possess. Namely, “Justice, verity, temperance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage and fortitude”. A good king should not come to the throne by murder, but by divine right.
In Macbeth Shakespeare presents his views on what virtues a king should and should not possess. Shakespeare also underlines what can happen if a king doesn’t possess the necessary virtues to rule - it can bring war and destruction to the country. Shakespeare uses Macbeth to show this. Shakespeare also alleges that kings that gain the throne through divine right have god’s blessing to rule and hence will rule well. This is in contrast to Macbeth’s rule, which brings havoc to Scotland. In summary I conclude that Shakespeare upholds the accepted idealised vision of kingship. He outlines the catastrophes that can happen if the throne falls into the wrong hands.
