Malcolm And Macbeth

Placing oneself in the role of an audience member of Macbeth during the time of Shakespeare, allows for one to see contrasts between heaven and hell, simultaneously allowing Shakespeare to advocate the audience in staying on the ‘right’ path. Knowing that his audience were primarily that of Protestant faith, the allusions as well as the language used to describe the two entities further aids in his purpose.

The main contrast Shakespeare emulates is the difference between Malcolm and Macbeth, each representing heaven and hell in their own way. One represents God, while the other represents the devil. In the final act of the play, Act 5 Scene 7, Young Siward meets with Macbeth on the battlefield, ‘beard to beard’, stating “Though call’st thyself

Malcolm, the rightful king of Scotland, flees to England after his father is slain. While Scotland is slowly deteriorating due to the rule of Macbeth, England remains a gracious, holy country, untouched by the depths of hell. Although the language that originally surrounds Malcom is foul, but as said in the very first act in the play “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (1.1.12). While speaking to Macduff in England, Malcom lists qualities of a king such as “justice, verity, temperance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude” (4.3.108-110). First, Malcolm claims that these qualities are ones that he does contain, causing Macduff to feel desperate for the sake of Scotland. Malcolm then interjects, stating that his previous statements were lies, which one can infer that Malcom does actually possess these qualities, while on the other side of the spectrum, Macbeth does not. Second, after the death of Young Siward is announced to Siward, Macduff, Malcolm and the rest of the remaining soldiers at Dunsinane, Siward exclaims “Why then, God’s solider be he!” (5.8.55). The audience is already aware of Malcolm, is being represented as God, as well as England being represented as heaven. This line enforces this representation. Being a solider under Malcolm’s army, Young Siward was already a solider of