Immediately following King Duncan's assassination, chaos ensues throughout the country as Duncan's sons flee to England and Ireland and high-ranking officials become suspicious and cautious. After Macbeth becomes King of Scotland, he rules as a bloodthirsty tyrant, who is willing to murder anyone he considers a threat to his...
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authority. A conversation between Lennox and a Scottish Lord following Duncan's assassination provides insight into the hostile environment of Scotland underMacbeth's tyrannical reign. The Lord tells Lennox,
"Thither Macduff Is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward, That by the help of these—with Him above To ratify the work—we may again Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights, Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives, Do faithful homage and receive free honors" (Shakespeare, 3.6.30-36).
The Lord's description of their country presents a grim picture of Scotland, where the citizens do not have enough food, cannot rest at night, and fear for their lives. Lennox responds by saying that their country is "suffering country Under a hand accursed!," which emphasizes the destructive, hostile environment in Scotland under Macbeth's reign. In act 4, scene 3, Macduff petitions Malcolm to return to Scotland in order to reclaim his rightful throne and restore their country to its former glory. Macduff also paints a depressing view of Scotland under Macbeth by telling Malcolm,
"Each new morn New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out Like syllable of dolor" (Shakespeare, 4.3.4-8).
Overall, one can assume that Scotland has turned into a dangerous country, where citizens live in perpetual fear and suffer under Macbeth's tyranny following King Duncan's assassination.
Immediately after King Duncan's death, the entire castle erupts into a flurry of emotion and horror. Since these responses are personal and anecdotal, it can be difficult to discern how the death of King Duncan affects the country. In order to find out how the entire country is affected, it is helpful to look at Act 4, scene 3 and the exchanges between Malcolm and Macduff.
In Act 4, scene 3, Macduff describes the state of the nation:
MACDUFF: Each new morn / New windows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows / Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds / As it felt with Scotland, and yelled out / Like syllable of dolor. (IV.iii.5-9)
Macduff has been shown to be a trustworthy character within the play, so his descriptions can be believed. It appears that Scotland has fallen apart with the death of King Duncan. The fighting has killed many of the men in the country and created "new orphans." Macduff describes Scotland as a soldier straddling a fallen comrade while also fighting the comrade's attackers ("Let us rather / Hold fast the mortal sword and, like good men, / Bestride our downfall'n birthdom," IV.iii.3-4). This image can be helpful when trying to imagine Scotland after Duncan's death.
In Macbeth, what are the conditions in Scotland after King Duncan is murdered and Macbeth has been crowned?
After Macbeth assumes the throne, he tightens his grip on Scotland and acts to destroy opposition to his rule. Malcolm and Donalbain cannot return home until they come back with an army to defeat the tyrant. Banquo has been murdered at Macbeth's order, and his son Fleance was marked to die, as well, although he managed to escape. In an act of complete depravity, Macbeth ordered the slaughter of Macduff's entire family--wife and children--along with every person who made up Macduff's household. Even before he learned of the massacre of his family and servants, Macduff knew Macbeth for the monster he was:
Not in the legions
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned
In evils to top Macbeth.
Living under Macbeth's tyranny, Scotland's only hope lies in Malcolm's attempts to gain the help of the English in overthrowing Macbeth. Malcolm was in England, living in the English court, trying to enlist the aid of Edward the Confessor, King of England. In discussing Malcom's efforts, Lennox expressed the importance of his succeeding:
Some holy angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country
Under a hand accursed!
When Malcom does raise the English army, which unites with the Scots who have rebelled against Macbeth, Macbeth is defeated and killed in battle. Malcolm regains the throne that is rightfully his, and Scotland's nightmare ends.