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Shakespeare's impact
Macbeth's character analysis
Macbeth's character analysis
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Shakespeare's impact
Macbeth's character analysis
Macbeth's character analysis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
King Duncan, King Edward the Confessor, and Malcolm all rose to power through just means. All three were typically acclaimed to be pious, respectful rulers. King Duncan gave respect to Macbeth at the beginning of the play, telling him, “O Valiant cousin! Worthy gentlemen” (Shakespeare 1), in regard to his selflessness fighting with the leader of the Norwegian army. Malcolm was also a respectful ruler, he has a moral value for honesty.
In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Malcolm's character is defined by his strong emotions that guide him in the play. The first one of his emotions that guides him is his pride. You can see this when he decides to come back to Scotland to take back the throne. The second emotion is fear; this is showcased when Malcolm flees to England after Macbeth takes the throne. The last emotion is grief, due to the passing of his father at the hands of Macbeth.
Was this upon myself. What I am truly, / Is thine and my poor country’s to command” (Shakespeare IV. iii. 133-135). Malcolm proves his loyalty to his country by lying to Macduff and saying he had all these horrible vices.
Macbeth 's decisions to murder changed his whole way of life negatively. His first murder was what changed it all. Duncan the ex king of Scotland, was his first victim. In order to become king, Macbeth’s final decision was that he would have to kill Duncan to become King. Decisions can have a bad or good consequence in your life.
His agnorsis could be said to occur earlier, when he becomes aware of Lady Macbeths death. His understated reaction oculd indicate his complete exhaustion and defeat together with involuntary awareness and his commentss that life is nothing more than a "tale,told by an idiot signifying nothing." In the end of the play natural order and control is restored as Macbeth is killed and Malcolm, the rightful heir to the throne according to succession and order, is crowned king of Scotland. Shakespeare successfully warns and scares the audience against thinking about
However, since Macbeth is king of all the land opposing him would be treason. Yet Malcolm continues with his plan and forms an army that goes to attack Macbeth. Macduff ends up killing Macbeth himself. Moreover, Malcolm takes the throne for himself. Power and authority shifts once again.
They begin to brainstorm solutions of how they will get Scotland back to the thriving country it was before Macbeth came into power. While talking about they types of leaders they will be, Malcolm doesn’t feel confident in what kind of leader he would have been if Macbeth didn’t come to power. While thinking this he states, “All the particulars of vice so grafted that, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state esteem him as a lamb, being compared with my confineless harms. ”(4.3.52-56) It seems that even though Malcolm thinks anyone would be a better king rather than Macbeth, he himself doesn’t think he would be a good leader.
Both Macbeth and Jack seek to rise to power over their respective states, and in doing so each pushes away others in pursuit of their own goals. In Macbeth, after learning of his fate via the Weïrd Sisters, Macbeth develops an ambition to seize power in Scotland; he proceeds to remove anyone in his path to the throne, including killing his cousin, King Duncan. However, when Duncan’s eldest son, Malcolm, is proclaimed Duncan’s successor, Macbeth recognizes Malcolm as an obstruction in his pursuit of power, saying, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step/On which I must fall down or else o’erleap,/For in my way it lies” (Shakespeare 1.4.55-57). Because Malcolm, not Macbeth, is Duncan’s successor, Macbeth describes Malcolm as a literal obstacle, saying that he will either “fall” over Malcolm or “o’erleap” the problem.
Macbeth’s thoroughly corrupt actions in the play force Malcolm and Donalbain, and Fleance to flee Scotland. Malcolm and Donalbain both flee Scotland after their father, King Duncan, is murdered. Malcolm flees to England and Donalbain flees to Ireland, because they do not feel like they are safe in Scotland anymore. Shakespeare writes, “there’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood, the nearer bloody” (II.iv.135-136). Malcolm and Donalbain feel that they cannot trust anyone in the castle because someone in the castle is guilty.
Macbeth is a tyrant during his rule, manipulating the minds of the people and using murders to clear out anyone that stood in his way, so that he can stay in power. Malcolm worries about the state of Scotland as he exclaims, “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke./ It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds. I think withal…” (Shakespeare 4.3.49-51). Malcolm notices the true state of Scotland under the rule of Macbeth, as he has forcefully gained his
For in [his] way it lies” (). At this moment, Macbeth is contemplating how he is going to become king, according to the prophecy he heard from the witches, if Malcolm is going to take the throne and is considering killing Malcolm. This is important because the fact that Macbeth even has the thought of
When Macduff arrives in England to ask Malcolm for assistance on war with Macbeth, Malcolm explains, “What [he] believe, [he’ll] wail; What know, believe, and what [he] can redress, As [he] shall find the time to friend [he] will” (Shakespeare 4.3.10-12). Malcolm expressed his passion for his country and his ability to stay true to what he believes in. This conducts the first sign of courage established by Malcolm in the entire play; testing Macduff’s loyalty to gain knowledge on his true intentions. Malcolm does not follow in his father’s footsteps to prevent the same fate upon him, revealing a new virtuous side of the character. This quote proves he will do anything to right what is wrong in the kingdom, which indicates not only character development but bravery as well, especially when he joins his army to fight against Macbeth in war.
Throughout the play, it is seen that majority of Malcolm’s decisions such as to escape Scotland, build an army, and gain support of others, are those that ensure that his family will get the throne back. Malcolm’s motivation is displayed when he builds an army against Macbeth. Once he goes to England, the “gracious England hath/ [l]ent [Malcolm] good Siward and ten thousand
Another William Shakespeare classic, Macbeth, also tells the story of a warrior whose motives were driven by jealousy. Macbeth was the greatest warrior in Scotland and most deserving of being next in line to be king, although King Duncan praises Macbeth, he chose to keep the crown in the family, "Our eldest, Malcolm, who we name hereafter The Prince of Cumberland" (I.iv.39). Macbeth had previously received prophecies from three witches which had proven to be true up to that point, the prophecies included being king. So not being selected caught him off guard and he began to envy and grow jealous of Malcolm "Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and dark desires" (I.iv.53).
“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