Kingship Essays

Kingship Essays Kingship Essay Kingship Essay Essay Topic: Literature To be a good king, God must pick you. In Elizabethan times, everyone believed that to be a king, you had to be blessed by the Right of Kings which comes from God. The Elizabethans followed many orders, this being one of them. The murder of a king is far worse than any other kind of crime as you destroy Gods order ad also the structure of society. Confusion now hath made his master piece. Most sacrilegious murder hath broken ope The Lords anointed temple. The kings were measured on how great they were, this makes it possible for us to compare Duncan, Macbeth and Malcolm. This is the test, which Malcolm provides in Act 4 Scene 3. This play was written for King James 1 in memory of King Edward. King Edward has powers unlimited and could cure these qualities were supposed to be inherited by the next kings to come. I believe that Malcolm had these skills (as portrayed in Act 4 Scene 3). He also was witty and sharp to think of a test for Macduff. Duncan was a righteous king he was picked by God, and whoever he picked next would be righteous too. This was Malcolm, not Macbeth. The public would have agreed with Malcolm taking the throne and not Macbeth as God had picked Duncan, and then he picked Malcolm. Another good point about Duncan and then Malcolm to become king was that everyone like them as they were worthy of becoming kings. Malcolm was worthy, until after Duncans death, he fled. This turned the public against him, but it was Macbeths fault. In that way, Duncan and Malcolm were very much alike; but they were also different from one another in other ways. Duncan was a bad decision maker, as at the start of the play, we realise that Duncan has been tricked and deceived by the Thane of Cawdor, No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive Our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death, And with former title greet Macbeth. This shows that Duncan was a bit gullible, and also too loyal and trusting. He made a bad decision in making Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, as the power went to his head and he became greedy and selfish. This is the main way that Malcolm and his father were different. Malcolm was much wiser than his father and used tests; like in Act 4 Scene 3 with Macduff to test peoples loyalty and to see if they were genuine or not. This worked greatly in his and his countrys favour. King Edward is mentioned in the play in Act 4 Scene 3, but we dont actually get to see him. He represents all the good things that the king is supposed to have e.g. his powers to cure, Justice, verity, temprance, stableness etc. These are the qualities that Malcolm had they symbolised that he was gong to make a great and glorious king one day, just like Edward who sets a wonderful example for Malcolm. In comparison to Macbeth, we clearly see that Malcolm is meant to be a king, and not Macbeth. Macbeth created the worse crime possible he killed the king. This shows that he has committed crimes against God and the society in his day. As God picks the future kings (as he did with Duncan and Malcolm through Duncan), as a king, you must give thanks to God, but Macbeth didnt. Malcolm would make a good king, as he possessed the qualities of thankfulness and graciousness that every king needed. Malcolm would make a fantastic king, as he had the right to the throne, given by God, and he worshipped God, for that reason. He also was a pure man and had never told a lie, (Act 4 Scene 3), The taints and blames I laid upon myself, For strangers to my nature. I am yet Unknown to woman, never was forsworn. He also has many good qualities that a normal man would not have; But I have none. The king becoming graces, As justice, verity, temprance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, As these are the king becoming graces, every king must possess them. Duncan possessed them and now Malcolm possesses them. All these qualities show that Malcolm has the great potential to be king and is on the peoples side being picked by God. He was like his father, who was a brilliant king and who everyone adored, only better. Therefore, in conclusion, according to all the evidence that I have presented, I think that Malcolm would make a great monarch. He has all the skills and necessary qualities to be a good ruler. Comparing him to the two past kings. He is better than both of them and would lead Scotland to victory after what Macbeth had done to it.