Macbeth Group

Question:


ciganylouie
Student
College - Freshman

In Macbeth, why does Malcolm appear almost perfect? Besides contrasting Macbeth's evil, does Malcolm have to be so perfect?

 

 

 

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Posted by ciganylouie on Saturday May 2, 2009 at 10:40 AM and tagged with macbeth, malcolm.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Really, Malcolm does have to be that perfect! He is, after all, the rightful heir to the throne, and Shakespeare's play was written in a time when that was a really big deal, so to speak. Factor in, also, that Shakespeare's plays were performed before royalty and that he lived and worked at the pleasure of the English monarch. Of all Macbeth's sins, regicide was considered to be the most abhorrent since it removed from the people a ruler whose power was ordained by God. The idea that the rightful heir was above reproach would be "a given" in Shakespeare's world; it further emphasizes the belief that natural order was restored when the crown was returned to the one who had the divine right to wear it.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/historical-background
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/malcolm-character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/summary

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    Posted by mshurn on Saturday May 2, 2009 at 4:45 PM