Macbeth

The three kings in Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” Duncan, Malcolm, and Macbeth, have quite different ways of ruling. The three kings that reign in “Macbeth” each have a different perspective on their ambition. Macbeth is an extremely ambitious man who will do just about anything to achieve his goals. He is never satisfied even after he is given the title as Thane of Cawdor. This just makes him want the throne even more. “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’er leap, for in my way it lies.” (p. 159) After Duncan announced that his eldest son Malcolm would be heir to the throne, Macbeth decided he must kill Duncan in order to gain the throne. This is the kind of sick ambition that Macbeth shows throughout the play. Duncan is a much less ambitious man than Macbeth. He really shows little ambition during his small part in the play. In the opening act of “Macbeth” the only ambition that Duncan shows is when he finds that the Thane of Cawdor is a traitor. “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.” (p. 151) Duncan is talking about giving the title of Thane to Macbeth. He shows a bit of ambition in doing this. Malcolm is King

"We shall not spend a large expense of time before we reckon with your several loves, and make us even with you. The Thane was one of Duncan"tms most trusted advisors and he considered him a friend. In this play Macbeth is the one most often breaking trust with his close friends. "So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counseled. King Duncan is generally seen as a good king. When his father is killed he flees along with his brother. Again we see Duncan"tms blind trust when Macbeth is plotting against him. Many people leave the terror of Macbeth rather than stay in his rule. Also with King Duncan Macbeth destroyed trust. They do not like him as king and it seems as though they only obey him out of fear. "I am young; but something you may deserve of him through me. "So well thy words became thee as thy wounds; they smack of honor both. In the opening act he finds that the Thane of Cawdor is a traitor.