Macbeth Group

Question:

aayush
aayush
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Explain the show of 8 kings in Act IV, scene i of "Macbeth."

Kindly tell about the kings too. What was its impact on Macbeth?

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Posted by aayush on Wednesday April 16, 2008 at 5:00 AM and tagged with act v, ghost, kings, macbeth.

Answers:


  1. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The reason the apparition shows the eight kings is to bring to fruition the prophecy the witches gave to Banquo.  Remember?  Banquo will not be king, but his children will, and so will his children's children.  This is the whole reason Macbeth wanted Banquo AND Fleance (his son) to be killed when he arranged the murderers to go after them.

    The last king in the apparition holds a mirror to reflect a never-ending line of kings descended from Banquo.  They all look like Banquo, too.  By the way, this play was written for King James I of England who was supposedly descended from Banquo.  This is why the character of Banquo is shown as such a good and honorable person, and why the never-ending line of kings is shown...King James I being one of them.

    Macbeth's reaction?  He is furious, of course.  He does not want to be deposed.  He is angry that Fleance escaped his murderers' grasp.  It makes him uneasy to think that his own children will not ascend to the throne and that their will be no Macbeth Dynasty in Scotland.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Wednesday April 16, 2008 at 5:45 AM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The procession of eight kings in the witches second prophecy which is made to calm Macbeth's fears also contains an acknowledgement to King James I.

    Shakespeare puts a mirror in the hand of the eighth apparition so that it can reflect the image of the real King James I, who was in the audience at a performance of Macbeth.

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Wednesday April 16, 2008 at 4:22 PM

  3. malenig
    malenig

    eNotes Editor

    The show of the eight kings before Macbeth would have been viewed by Shakespeare's audience as an obvious compliment to King James I.  Shortly after coming to the throne in 1603, James became the patron to Shakespeare's acting company and changed their name to the Kings's Servants.  It was believed that the Stewart family of Scotland was descended from Banquo, and the parade of eight kings represented the eight Stewart kings thus far.   In 1371 Robert II began his reign as the first Stewart monarch.  Next to the throne was Robert III, James I, James II, James III, James IV, James V and last was James VI, who became James I of England.  In the play, James I is holding a glass which reflects the many Stewart kings to follow. 

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    Posted by malenig on Sunday August 31, 2008 at 6:54 AM