6.1.10

King Duncan

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King Duncan

King Duncan is a wise and noble king. He seems to have the qualities that an admirable ruler should have. This shows a contrast between him and Macbeth, who (when he becomes King of Scotland) rules like a tyrant.

<b>‘There’s no art...'

‘There’s no art...'

  • ‘There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face’ (1,4)
  • King Duncan says he failed to consider that his close friends could ever betray him – he is a good and trusting king.
  • When King Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle, he greets Lady Macbeth in a polite way and thanks her for her trouble.
  • The very fact that King Duncan happily stays at his subject’s home shows how much trust he places in those close to him.
<b>‘His faculties so meek'

‘His faculties so meek'

  • ‘This Duncan / Hath borne in his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues / Will plead like angels’ (1,7).
  • These are King Duncan`s qualities listed by Macbeth when he thinks about the reasons why he shouldn’t murder the King.
  • Duncan is a great man with excellent moral standards.
  • He compares Duncan’s morals to those of an angel, showing how much he admires him.

Quotations - King Duncan

<b>‘Valiant cousin'

‘Valiant cousin'

  • ‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’. (1,2)
  • This is how King Duncan refers to Macbeth after a bleeding captain has brought the king news of the battle.
  • Macbeth has fought well and killed Macdonald (sometimes spelt Macdonwald), who had betrayed King Duncan: ‘unseam’d him from nave to th’ chaps / And fix’d his head upon our battlements’.
    • N.B. In some versions of the text, 'chaps' is spelt 'chops'.
<b>‘Noble Macbeth hath won’

‘Noble Macbeth hath won’

  • ‘What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won’. (1,2)
  • With these words, King Duncan sends Ross to tell Macbeth about his new title, Thane of Cawdor.
  • King Duncan also sentences the Thane of Cawdor to death for his betrayal.
Jump to other topics
1

Literary & Cultural Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy1.1.2The Supernatural & Gender1.1.3Politics & Monarchy1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1

2.1.1Scenes 1 & 22.1.2Scene 32.1.3Scenes 4-52.1.4Scenes 6-72.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 1
2.2

Acts 2-4

2.2.1Act 22.2.2Act 32.2.3Act 4
2.3

Act 5

2.3.1Scenes 1-32.3.2Scenes 4-82.3.3End of Topic Test - Acts 2-52.3.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ambiguous Ending2.3.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Jacobean
3

Characters

3.1

Macbeth

3.1.1Hero vs Villain3.1.2Ambition & Fate3.1.3Relationship3.1.4Unstable3.1.5End of Topic Test - Macbeth3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cowardice3.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Madness3.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Power
3.2

Lady Macbeth

3.2.1Masculine & Ruthless3.2.2Manipulative & Disturbed3.2.3Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT a Man3.2.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Villain
3.3

Other Characters

3.3.1Banquo3.3.2The Witches3.3.3Exam-Style Questions - The Witches3.3.4King Duncan3.3.5Macduff3.3.6End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo3.3.7End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff3.3.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banquo
3.4

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions
4

Themes

4.1

Themes

4.1.1Power & Ambition4.1.2Power & Ambition HyperLearning4.1.3Violence4.1.4The Supernatural4.1.5Masculinity4.1.6Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order4.1.7Appearances & Deception4.1.8Madness & Blood4.1.9Women, Children & Sleep4.1.10End of Topic Test - Themes4.1.11End of Topic Test - Themes 2
4.2

Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1Grade 9 - Themes4.2.2Extract Analysis
5

Writer's Techniques

5.1

Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony5.1.2Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism5.1.3End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Macbeth6.1.2Macbeth 26.1.3Macbeth 36.1.4Macbeth 46.1.5Lady Macbeth6.1.6Lady Macbeth 26.1.7Banquo6.1.8Banquo 26.1.9The Witches6.1.10King Duncan6.1.11Macduff
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Violence6.2.2The Supernatural6.2.3Ambition6.2.4Armour, Kingship & the Natural Order6.2.5Appearances & Deception6.2.6Lady Macbeth's Masculinity6.2.7Madness & Blood6.2.8Men, Children & Sleep

Practice questions on King Duncan

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  1. 1
    Quotes portraying Duncan as a good and trusting ruler:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Who is King Duncan praising when he says the following quote?<br> <b>‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’</b>Multiple choice
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The Witches

Macduff