King Duncan was a wise and just ruler who was much loved by his people. He was a strong leader and had a great sense of justice. Macbeth, on the other hand, was a ambitious and power-hungry man who was always looking for ways to increase his own power. He was often ruthless in his quest for power and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Macbeth was also a skilled warrior and was respected by many for his bravery in battle. However, Macbeth’s ambition and thirst for power eventually led him to murder King Duncan in order to take over the throne. This act horrified many of those who had once respected Macbeth and ultimately led to his downfall.
King Duncan is a minor, yet significant character. He’s a bright, generous, trusting King who simply wants to do what is best for his people. He was the one who convinced Macbeth that he could kill the king without being tried first. His kindness endeared him to his colleagues and influenced their empathy for him.
Even Macbeth, who eventually kills Duncan, is moved by his death. Macbeth’s murder of Duncan in his sleep goes against everything Duncan represents. He is not ruthless or violent; he is merciful and just. Macbeth’s act of killing him makes Macbeth the opposite of what Duncan is.
Macbeth, on the other hand, is an incredibly ambitious man. His eagerness for power leads to his demise. From the beginning of the play, Macbeth is consumed by thoughts of being king. He has a strong desire for greatness and will do anything to achieve it. Even when he knows that what he is doing is wrong, Macbeth cannot help himself. The witches’ predictions only fuel his ambition and desire for power. Macbeth’s actions are driven by his uncontrollable ambition, which eventually leads to his downfall.
Macbeth is a brave warrior, but he is not a good man. He is controlled by his ambition and is willing to kill anyone who gets in his way. In contrast, King Duncan is a good man who is kind and just. He loves his people and only wants what is best for them. Unfortunately, his goodness leads to his death at the hands of Macbeth.
“Magnificent cousin!” (Act I, Scene 2) is Duncan’s response to a stranger who just informs him of the events of the battle and how Macbeth preserved his kingdom. It’s only natural that after hearing about a victory, Duncan would be overjoyed.
Macbeth is his valiant and courageous cousin who put his life on the line to save Duncan’s kingdom.
“Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?” (Act III, Scene 4) Macbeth says this to Duncan’s ghost, which has appeared to him covered in blood. Macbeth is surprised to see the ghost because he thought he killed him very thoroughly. He asks why the ghost appears to him looking like that, and the ghost responds by saying that Macbeth’s hands are covered in Duncan’s blood. This shows how Macbeth is feeling guilty about killing Duncan, even though he tries to rationalize it by saying that Duncan deserved it because he was a bad king.
King Duncan is a good and just ruler who is loved by his people. He is also an honorable man who values loyalty and bravery. Macbeth is a brave and courageous warrior who is loyal to King Duncan. However, Macbeth is ambitious and power-hungry, which leads him to kill Duncan in order to become king himself.
When Duncan eventually decides that Malcolm should succeed him as king after his death, Macbeth shows to the audience that he must also combat him in his own way. He believes “in my destiny it lies” (Act I Scene 4), and it is his duty to reign. However, a few lines before, he informs the king that the triumph was required of him by the king.
Macbeth’s problem is that his own vaulting ambition drives him to murder. Macbeth is not a tragic hero in the traditional sense because he chooses evil of his own free will.
King Duncan is Macbeth’s opposite in many ways. He represents all that Macbeth is not: trustworthiness, humility, and kindness. Duncan awards Macbeth for his bravery in battle, making him thane of Cawdor. He also plans to visit Macbeth at his castle in Inverness and bestow further honors upon him. Duncan trusts Macbeth implicitly, which makes his eventual murder all the more shocking. Unlike Macbeth, who is controlled by his ambitions, Duncan is content with his position as king and does not seek more power. He is also a good and just ruler, which makes Macbeth’s usurpation of his throne all the more tragic.
When Macbeth murders Duncan, he destroys everything that Duncan represents. In doing so, Macbeth seals his own fate and sets in motion the events that will lead to his downfall.
“He will not live to see the day! However, you must appear calm and cool. Your face, my dear husband, is like a book in which one may read thoughts. We can’t have Duncan figure out what we’re doing. Act normal; be the greatest host possible by treating him with respect and humility. On your mind should never arise any deception. Leave it all to me; I’ll take care of it myself! You will be king, and I shall be queen in no time;
I took in her words and Macbeth, feeling his throat constrict, managed to nod his head in agreement. Everything would be fine, he told himself. No one would find out about their plan and Macbeth would soon be the new King of Scotland.
King Duncan was an old man, respected by many but with no heirs to take his throne. Macbeth saw this as an opportunity to finally have the power he so desired. He and his wife hatched a plan to murder Duncan while he was staying at their castle.
Macbeth pretended to be the perfect host, making sure that Duncan was comfortable and had everything he needed. His wife, on the other hand, made sure that Duncan’s guards were drugged so that they would be unable to protect him.
The plan went off without a hitch and Duncan was murdered in his sleep. Macbeth became the new King of Scotland but the guilt of his actions began to eat away at him. He became paranoid and paranoid and his rule soon descended into tyranny. Macbeth’s wife also began to feel the effects of their actions, becoming more and more unstable until she eventually committed suicide.
In the end, Macbeth’s crimes caught up with him and he was killed in battle by Macduff, a nobleman who had sworn to avenge Duncan’s death. So ended the reign of one of Scotland’s most infamous kings.