Kingship

Shakespeare's Macbeth
Kingship

The Elizabethans viewed their monarch as being the most important individual in the realm. They regarded him as being God's appointed representative on earth and therefore any attack on him was viewed as being, not only treason, but sacrilege.

Subsequent to the murder of Duncan we watch Scotland hurtle out of control under the usurper and tyrant, Macbeth. The sacred 'temple' has been violated and chaos reigns in the kingdom. The very violence, which had been used to protect Duncan from inside rebels and outside threats, had now been turned against him. His greatest, bravest general, whom he had recently honoured, was his 'serpent or the canker in the body politic.

What had corrupted the 'worthy' Macbeth?
Why had Duncan not learned from his previous errors of judgement?

Macbeth clearly had always been ambitious. He now knew he had it within his power to seize the throne. His wife was equally ambitious and power hungry.

Duncan, like ...