Trust Issues In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

In Act 4, Scene 3, lines 37-53, Malcolm demonstrates his trust issues due to Macbeth breaking his trust and worsening the state of Scotland. During this passage, Malcolm is talking to Macduff about overthrowing Macbeth. Malcolm describes Macbeth with “the tyrant’s head” (Shakespeare 4.3.45). Malcolm uses the word “tyrant”, which generally sends out a negative connotation signifies his dislike towards Macbeth. Macbeth killed King Duncan, Malcolm’s father in order to become king, despite the fact that Duncan perceived Macbeth as a loyal, trustworthy character. Thus, signifying Malcolm’s hesitancy to trust other people, such as Macduff. Furthermore, Malcolm describes to Macduff how “[Scotland] weeps, [Scotland] bleeds” (4.3.40). Scotland use to be a robust country, but after Macbeth took over it became chaotic.

Malcolm has close ties towards Scotland because he grew up there and he was eventually going to become the king, which makes him resent the way Macbeth treated his country. Also, Malcolm tells Macduff that “black Macbeth/will seem as pure as snow” (4.3.52-53). Malcolm uses a simile to describe how if he took over Scotland than Macbeth’s rule would seem morally right. However, Malcolm is lying to Macduff during this passage, in order to test his loyalty first. Malcolm knows that if he became king, his ruling would not seem bad compared to Macbeth’s. He has to test if Macduff genuinely cares about Scotland because the last time Duncan and Malcolm trusted someone, it ended in horrific murders. Malcolm lies to Macduff during this passage conveying that he developed trust issues due to