The Kingly Graces

“A king is he that can hold his own or else his title is vain” (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion). After reading Shakespeare’s Macbeth, readers learn about multiple different male characters that would bring a different perspective to the idea of being king. Out of Macbeth, Malcolm, Duncan, and Macduff, Macduff would make the best king. This statement can be proven with a comparison of which of the twelve kingly graces each character possesses: justice, verity, temperance, stability, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, loyalty, patience, courage, and fortitude.

The first character to analyze is Macbeth himself. When compared to the twelve kingly graces, Macbeth falls at only twenty-five percent, only possessing perseverance, courage, and fortitude. There are two points in the play where Macbeth’s courage really shines through. These two points are right near the end when they are about to go into battle with the English. He first says: “I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh is hacked. Give me my armour” (V, iii, 38-39). Then later on he says: “Ring the alarum bell! – Blow wind, come wrack, at least we’ll die with harness on our back” (V, v, 58-59). These two quotations both show the courage he had when going into battle. However, one instance that proves that Macbeth could not be a good king was during the banquet scene in Act 3, Scene 4 when Macbeth is talking to Banquo’s ghost. He says to the ghost:

“What man dare, I dare. Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, the armed rhinoceros, or th’ Hyrcan tiger; take any shape but that, and my firm nerves shall never tremble. Or be alive again and dare me to the desert with thy sword. If trembling I inhabit then, protest me the baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal m...

... middle of paper ...

...-275). A third example of Macduff showing his kingly graces is in Act 5, Scene 8 when he shows loyalty to Scotland. After defeating Macbeth, Macduff brings attention to Malcom, the new king. He shows his loyalty to the country by saying: “Hail, King! For so thou art. Behold where it stands th’ usurper’s cursed head. The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl, that speak my salutation in their minds, whose voices I desire aloud with mine. Hail, King of Scotland!” (V, viii, 65-70). These three quotations prove that Macduff would make a good king.

Based on the above arguments and comparisons, it is obvious that Macduff would make the best king out of the four possible characters. He has ten of the twelve kingly graces and he does the most throughout the play to ensure things work out the way they are supposed to and order is restored to Scotland.