Shakespeare, Kingship, and the Chain of Being in Macbeth Essay

Shakespeare, Kingship, and the Chain of Being in Macbeth Shakespeares play Macbeth is largely based upon the theme of tycoonship. Macbeth was written for James the 1st, who would have been interested in kingship and believed in the chain of universe and the divine right of kings. The chain of organism is the belief that everything is connected like a chain, and is affected by anything higher up it. God was believed to be at the top of the chain, and the King was believed to be the highest on earth. The divine right was the belief that just kings were put there by God, and should non be removed. Shakespeare represents these with the prosperity when Duncan is king and the unnaturalness and evil, which is present when Macbeth becomes king by evil means. This is emphasised because James the 1st traced his ancestors to Banquo, whose desc completionents were the rightful kings of Scotland. The theme of kingship whitethorn also have been cautionary to anyon e plotting to kill James, as Macbeth was written the twelvemonth after the famous Gunpowder Plot. At the beginning of the play, Duncan is the rightful king of Scotland, there by his divine right. In his start-off appearance, King Duncan performs two of the basic duties of a king, voiceless the bad and reward the good. Upon learning of the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor and the heroism of Macbeth, he says, No more that Thane of Cawdor shall cheat on our bosom interest go pronounce his present death, and with his former human activity greet Macbeth. The chain of being is intact, and Duncan is showing good kingship by punishing the Thane of Cawdor for treason and rewarding Macbeth for his bravery. When ... ...ion, patience, courage, fortitude. This is Shakespeares idea of the perfect king. At the end of the play, Malcolm is restored to his rightful place as king of Scotland. The good deal support their king again, and they shout Hail, king of Scot land. The country is united around their king again, not separated as they were under Macbeth. Shakespeare is trying to show that when the chain of being is intact, the country is in unity. In conclusion, Shakespeare uses the theme of kingship in Macbeth to warn people about what happens if you break the chain of being. The murder and disturbance in nature, and Macbeths fury show that nothing good can come form kill the monarch, and the countries unity under Malcolm show that everything is peaceful and prosperous under a king that is on the throne by divine right.