is the cousin of King , which, coupled with
his heroic deeds in battle, leads him to hope that Duncan may nominate him as the next King of
Scotland. This hope is dashed when Duncan names his son, , as the future king and bestows on him
the title of Prince of Cumberland, a higher honor than Thane of Cawdor.
In
terms of their personal relationship, it seems to be excellent untilspoils it by murdering
Duncan. Macbeth is Duncan's greatest general to whom he owes his throne, since it was Macbeth
who defeated the rebel Macdonwald and the King of Norway. Macbeth, like everyone else, speaks of
Duncan with great respect and affection. When considering his course of action in act 1, scene
7, he says to himself that Duncan:
Hath borne his
faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his
virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of
his taking-off
The family relationship, warmth and
respect between Macbeth and Duncan exacerbates Macbeth's villainy in at least two ways. First,
it means that Duncan is killing not only his king but his cousin and his friend, thus making him
an even worse traitor than the average regicide. Second, Macbeth can argue no reasons of public
interest for this murder. He, along with everyone else, thought Duncan was a good king who
treated everyone, including Macbeth, decently and justly. Ambition, as Macbeth himself admits,
is the only spur he has to "prick the sides" of his intent.
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