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How Does Shakespeare Present The Theme Of Kingship In Macbeth

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In the play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare, the theme of kingship is explored through the character of Macbeth who is driven by ambition to become king of Scotland. The theme of kingship holds significance in the play due to it being dedicated to King James I and it shows the downfall of going against the divine rights of kings to warn people against treason. In Act 1, Macbeth recognises that Duncan is a good king,'his virtues will plead like angels', perhaps it's Shakespeare's intent to present Duncan this way to support the view of the divine right of kings, which basically meant that God annointed each king which makes Duncan seem more virtuous and makes his murder more horrifying to the audience. in Act 2, the theme of kingship is further …show more content…

This further reveals to the audience that Macbeth is not the right ruler for Scotland. The idea of a king murdering someone completely goes against the holiness of kings being chosen by God. Shakespeare creates this image to describe how the natural order of things has been disrupted. In Act 4, the theme of kingship continues to be explored when Macbeth goes back to the witched to recieve the 3 apparitions. this gives the audience an evil impression of macbeth. This further emphasises how it's not natural for him to be king. Moreover, Macbeth gets Macduffs family killed. the murderer describes Macduffs son as an 'egg'. This emphasises how young he is and which makes the murder even more shocking and confirms to the audience that Macbeth was not chosen by God to be king and he is an imposter. In Act 5, the theme of kingship is further developed as Macbeths tyranny and oppression eventually lead to his downfall. Through this, Shakespeare is indirectly telling the audience that by committing regicide you are ultimately going against God and that will lead to an unfortunate ending. Kingship is further developed at the end of the play when Malcom becomes king. After this, Shakespeare shows how since the king was guided by God, the natural order of things are back to

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This shows Macbeth’s desire to become king, even though he already has a high ranking position in the land. He is not content with he has and desires an even higher position. He desires it so much to the point of betraying the trust of people who are close to him just for his own greedy self gain. Macbeth betrays and backstabs many characters in the story, an example being King Duncan himself.

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Kingship In act 1 scene 4 Macbeth says “stars hide your fire, let not light see my black and deep desires”. This rhyming couplet conveys the emotion that Macbeth has at this point, he is determined to kill the king with his wife’s support. ‘Stars’ symbolise fate but if they hide his fires then it’s not his natural favour he is choosing. He wants to construct artificial fate that the witches have prophesied for him in the start of the play therefore we know that Macbeth feels that he is more powerful than a god and he can decide the outcome rather accept what he has been given to him at birth as Thane of Glamis.

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From the beginning of the play, Macbeth's ambition takes center stage. In Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth utters the famous line, "If chance has me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir" (1.3.143-144). This quote displays his willingness to let fate play its part. Macbeth's subsequent actions, such as the murder of King Duncan, are not the result of schizophrenia but rather the consequences of his unbridled ambition. The play vividly portrays how a desire for power and dominance can corrupt even the noblest individuals.

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Kingship is a central theme in Macbeth and through the use of contrasting characters such as Duncan and Macbeth, Shakespeare presents his views about the divine right of the kings. Furthermore, Shakespeare builds the theme to demonstrate to his audience the link between Gods and the monarchy; the belief in the divine right of kings is strongly established throughout the play and chaos and tragedy when Macbeth usurps Duncan. In Act 1 Scene 2, Duncan describes Macbeth as "Valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen", he does this to express his appreciation and trust to the character of Macbeth who stopped the Macdonwald rebellion. Duncan uses similar phrases as the captain when he described Macdonwald - Shakespeare does this to foreshadow the usurpation

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Act 3 opens with the tension filled soliloquy, in which Macbeth vents his frustration with reality, going on to create suspense and anticipation by foreshadowing future events. Fears of losing authority are exhausting Macbeth, as he recognizes the vain of his efforts. He states “To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus”. Macbeth voices that if he does not feel safe, he should not be king. Which sets the mood for the rest of the section which is amplified when Shakespeare builds on this tension as Macbeth exclaims “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown”, using personification referring to the witches who prophesized that Macbeth would be king, but he has no heirs, as they predicted that Banquo’s offspring would inherit the kingship.

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Shakespeare shows kingship and leadership throughout all his plays, especially Macbeth. He shows how a king should be and how they should be chosen. But every king is going to abuse the power in some way, just like Macbeth. In the very beginning, Macbeth was a leader, a hero, and everyone honored him because his fame was on the battlefield when he led them through the battle. Macbeth was honorable and loyal, but over time he becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming king which leads to his demise.

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At the beginning of the play Macbeth, the main character Macbeth learns that he will become King. When he realised he could be the leader, the power he desperately craves motivates him to alter his character. “Tis unnatural, Even like the deed that's done.” (2.4.6-14)

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The fact that Macbeth believes the witches’ prophecies are not evil nor good foreshadows how he will go on to kill any other person standing in his way to more power. His ambition blinds his mind to make him even think about ruthlessly committing a murder. This forceful way of gaining power will only lead Macbeth to become a “tyrant” in Scotland and his “fantastical” desires of killing Duncan and receiving the crown will lead Scotland to failure. Under Macbeth’s rule, Scotland seems to be in a terrible condition. With distrust among the people, there is tension all within the country, as Macbeth’s totalitarian regime had rendered the prosperity of Scotland.

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Typically the crown is a symbol of social security and power” (Hopkins 324), but for Macbeth it was the opposite. It represented all of the wrongdoing and the crimes that he committed. It was no longer a symbol of power and authority, but one of regret. The divine right of kings says that a monarch is given the kingship because it is the will of God. Although it could have been part of God’s plans for his future, he tried to play God by taking his future into his own hands because of something the witches told him that may or may not have been true in the future.

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The tragic hero demonstrates how a character in a pla, or a movie starts out with good qualities and everyone like them. Towards the end they have a tragic death. In the play Macbeth this is shown. The main character Macbeth starts out a good leader and a Scottish general, when you get further in the story he starts to show the other stages of the tragic hero.

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The king’s son, Malcolm, learns of their treachery and they suffer the ultimate price for their crimes. Shakespeare uses Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to show how honor can easily be corrupted by greed and power,

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Describing his kingship as a “fruitless crown” and “barren scepter”, Shakespeare further develops Macbeth’s understanding of the idea that

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'An uprising against the ruler of land is monstrous and unnatural, ' ' as indicated in Michelle Labbe article "Corruption and Kingship ' '.Macbeth should not have let the three witches get to him. Macbeth killed Duncan out of morbid jealousy,and temptation. A person should not kill their king just because they want their position. Macbeth is wrong for killing his king just because he could.

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William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a very famous piece of literature widely known around the world. In act one, a brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. With high hopes of taking the throne, Macbeth becomes very disappointed when he learns of the kings future plans. While in the palace discussing the royal position, King Duncan announces his decision, “we will establish our estate upon our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter the Prince of Cumberland” (I.4).

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“There is none but he whose being I do fear: and, under him, my genius is rebuked; as, it is said, Mark Antony 's was by Caesar” (III.i.57-60). Macbeth is angry about being under any of Duncan 's sons when it comes to who becomes the next king. Macbeth is being selfish and greedy, which he proves when he kills Duncan to take his place as king. Macbeth thinks about his line of succession, and thinks to himself “ No son of mine succeeding,if’t

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