Macbeth

Fleance did not become king after Macbeth's death because the play is only loosely based on history. In reality, Banquo and Fleance are fictional characters. Shakespeare crowned Malcolm to appease...

Malcolm refers to the "king-becoming graces" as qualities that a good king must possess, such as justice, verity, temperance, and courage. While he does not name a specific king, these traits most...

Malcolm means that despite appearances, true virtue remains unchanged. In Macbeth IV.iii, Malcolm expresses that angels stay bright even though Satan, once the brightest, fell. Similarly, foul things...

In act one, scene four of Macbeth, King Duncan expresses that he is so overwhelmed with joy that he begins to cry. He then calls for his nobles to witness him bestow the kingdom upon his eldest son,...

Malcolm's speech in Act 1, Scene 4 of Macbeth signifies that the Thane of Cawdor faced his death with dignity and courage. Despite his betrayal, Cawdor confessed his treasons, sought pardon, and...

Three examples of revenge in Macbeth relate to survivors or victims of murders that Macbeth or his henchmen committed. Macduff avenges the killing of his family. Young Malcolm avenges the murder of...

In act IV of Macbeth, Malcolm claims a series of vices for himself as a test of character for Macduff. In the end, Macduff rejects Malcolm as unworthy of kingship and falls into despair for the...

In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth equates manhood with boldness, hostility, and violence, urging Macbeth to kill Duncan to prove his masculinity. Malcolm also views manhood as aggressive and fearless,...

Malcolm and Donalbain react to their father's murder by fleeing the country to ensure their safety. Donalbain goes to Ireland, and Malcolm seeks refuge in England. This decision casts suspicion on...

Macbeth refers to Malcolm in his metaphor, "That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'er leap," meaning Malcolm is an obstacle to his ambition to become king. Macbeth feels slighted that...

Malcolm views Macbeth as "treacherous," "bloody," and "malicious," ultimately calling him a "dead butcher" in act 5. He labels Lady Macbeth as "fiend-like." Malcolm contrasts Macbeth's true murderous...

The theme of justice and morality in Macbeth is explored through the consequences of the characters' actions. Macbeth's immoral choices, driven by ambition and influenced by Lady Macbeth and the...

Lady Macbeth is the most compelling and influential character in Macbeth due to her pivotal role in driving Macbeth to seize the throne. Her ambition, manipulation, and eventual descent into madness...

In response to Malcolm's description of Cawdor's honorable last moments and confession, Duncan reflects on the difficulty of discerning a person's true intentions. He laments his inability to read...

In "Macbeth," Malcom suggests that Macduff avenge the death of the children:  Be comforted./Let's make us med'cines of our great revenge./To cure this deadly grief. Macduff observes that...

Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected of their father's murder because they flee, which Macbeth uses to suggest their guilt. The irony lies in that the brothers flee to save their lives, not because...

Another way to answer the question posed is to look at the two specific character from Macbeth which are enemies to Scotland. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth can be identified as enemies to...

Duncan and Malcolm display the best leadership qualities in Macbeth. Duncan is merciful and does not abuse power, while Malcolm is virtuous, inspires loyalty, and aims to restore Scotland's peace....

Three men rule as King of Scotland at different points throughout the play. Initially, King Duncan is the benevolent, just ruler of Scotland, who appoints Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor after...

Duncan and Malcolm, in Shakespeare's Macbeth, are of course father and son, and similarities do exist between the two.  I'll detail one of those similarities for you. Both are wise leaders,...

Early in the play, Malcolm flees to England seeking safety from the murderer who has killed his father.  Even though he is the rightful heir to the throne, Malcolm will not return to...

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Act Four, scene three, we see imagery (in general) and personification (specifically) used by the author to clarify the feelings of Malcolm, the Prince of Cumberland and...

Lennox lets us know that most people believe Fleance, Malcolm and Donalbain are all responsible for their father's deaths.  However, he is first nobleman to speak up and cast doubt.  He...

The significance of Malcolm being a "step" Macbeth must "fall down or else o'er leap" lies in Malcolm's position as an obstacle to Macbeth's ambition. Macbeth sees Malcolm as a hurdle in his path to...

When Malcolm tells Macbeth that he lacks all graces including "justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, / Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, / Devotion, patience, courage, [and]...

According to Lady Macbeth, Donalbain (Duncan's son) was sleeping in the second chamber in Act II, and the second person with him is assumed to be his brother Malcolm.  After killing the King,...

Malcolm, making the final speech of the whole play, says that tyranny produced ... the cruel ministers Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen, Who, as ’tis thought, by self and violent...

Macduff leaves Scotland to join Malcolm's army in England. Malcolm fled earlier when his father, King Duncan, was killed, because he was afraid that he would be next. Once Macduff realizes how...

The significance of Duncan naming Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland is that it designates Malcolm as the heir to the Scottish throne. This act creates a direct obstacle for Macbeth, who harbors...

To add to tthakar's response, the audience knows that the witches plan is to use Macbeth's arrogance and overconfidence as a means to destroy him. Up until this point, however, we don't know how....

In act four, scene three, Macduff visits Malcolm in England and offers a passionate plea for Malcolm return to Scotland and assume his rightful throne by defeating the tyrant Macbeth. Malcolm...

Malcolm addresses his "thanes and kinsmen" in the concluding speech of the play after Macbeth has been killed and Malcolm has claimed the throne as his father's rightful heir. Malcom tells them...

This is a great questions. Usually a nemesis is considered a "bad guy" but actually, Malcolm is acting as  the moral agent as well as a nemesis in this play.  First let us look at...

In Scene 3 of Act IV of Macbeth, with treachery abounding in their kingdom, while Malcom and Macduff are in England, Malcolm dissembles in order to test Macduff's loyalties.  Malcolm,...

Macbeth is a political play in that it deals with the Scotland's power structure and political intrigue. The murder of King Duncan is an act to gain political power, and Macbeth's subsequent...

Macbeth is depressed by the loss of Lady Macbeth, but he finds it difficult to mourn in view of the army advancing against him. He also feels alone, recognizing that at this stage in his life he...

In Act Four, he actually claims several vices that would make him a bad king, lust and greed two of biggest. He doesn't really believe that these are his character traits, though. He is testing...

In Act 2, Scene 3, after the discovery of Duncan's dead body, Malcolm and Donalbain agree to flee from Scotland because they fear for their own lives. Malcolm says, "I'll to England." Donalbain...

Malcolm is with his men in the wood of Birnam, getting ready to do battle with Macbeth. Malcolm tells every soldier to "hew down a bough and bear 't before him." This way, each man carrying a leafy...

Building on the last reply, this idea of "take it like a man" is repeated throughout the play.  Lady Macbeth first goads Macbeth into killing Duncan by suggesting that he is less than a...

In Macbeth, Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected of King Duncan's murder because they flee Scotland after his death. Their sudden departure is interpreted as an admission of guilt or fear of being...

Shakespeare's depiction of kingship in Macbeth revolves around the contrast between the usurper, Macbeth, and the legitimate claimant, Malcolm, opposing the immoral and corruptive influence of...

At the end of Act 2, Scene 3 in Macbeth, Malcolm and Donalbain decide to flee Scotland after their father's murder. They believe that staying would put their lives at risk, as they suspect the killer...

Malcolm's perspective on kingship contrasts sharply with Macbeth's. While Macbeth views kingship as a means to power and is willing to commit regicide to achieve it, Malcolm believes in the moral and...

Malcolm and Macduff, in Act 4, scene 3, have just learned that Macbeth had Macduff's wife and children killed. Macduff is stunned almost to being speechless.  Malcolm tells Macduff to let the...

The heir to Scotland's throne in Macbeth is Malcolm, King Duncan's eldest son. After Duncan's murder, Malcolm flees to England for safety, but later returns to overthrow Macbeth and reclaim his...

The turmoil in Scotland, as described by Macduff and Malcolm, includes widespread suffering and chaos under Macbeth's tyrannical rule. The country is plagued by violence, fear, and the loss of noble...

The evil characters in Macbeth include Macbeth himself, who becomes increasingly ruthless, and Lady Macbeth, who instigates his descent into tyranny. Leading the attack against Macbeth are characters...

Malcolm's tactical strategy in Macbeth involves using deception to gain a strategic advantage. He instructs his soldiers to cut down branches from Birnam Wood to disguise their numbers as they march...

Good question. They are all warriors, and warriors of great power. They are brave and battle-tested. They all believe in omens or signs that in part determine their fate or safeguard them from...