KING DUNCAN
A good guy but just so naïve. King Duncan gives his “absolute trust” to the Thane of Cawdor only to have him rebel against him. To thank Macbeth for ending another rebellion he gives him the title Thane of Cawdor and invites himself round for dinner.
Before he kills him, even Macbeth says Duncan is a good king. Macbeth, the new Thane of Cawdor, plunges the dagger into Duncan as he sleeps. Clearly he was a good man, but a little too trusting.
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PIVOTAL MOMENTS
-Listening to the tales of Macbeth’s heroics in battle and appointing him Thane of Cawdor
-Arriving at Macbeth’s castle to celebrate his victory, only to be killed in his sleep by Macbeth
PURPOSE
Shakespeare gives us 3 kings of Scotland in this play. Macbeth is an evil, murderous tyrant only in it for power. Duncan is the fair and kind king who wants to look after his subjects and reward them where he can. Macbeth rules through fear, Duncan rules through love.
Given it ends badly for both, perhaps Shakespeare is suggesting that there needs to be a balance. This is shown by Malcolm at the end He vows to rule fairly but tests Macduff's loyalty before he trusts him. Duncan's shows that a king needs many traits to be successful, kindness and justness aren't enough.
STRETCH VOCAB
Naïve
Credulous
Generous
Loyal
Dedicated
Gracious
Key Quotation Analysis
LINKS WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
MACBETH
Macbeth is Duncan’s loyal warrior . He has just saved Duncan from the traitorous Thane of Cawdor who rebelled against him. Duncan gives Macbeth the now vacant title Thane of Cawdor; Macbeth begins to believe that his recent victories might even mean that Duncan chooses him to be the next king of Scotland and not his own son. This does not happen. Duncan is too trusting of Macbeth and is killed in his sleep. Macbeth killing Duncan, whilst as a guest in his castle, for no other reason than ambition shows the audience that Macbeth values power over any personal relationship.