Co-op homework

Macbeth

By William Shakespeare

Folger Shakespeare Library

King vs. Villain

by: Patience R. Winterton

Kingly graces:

"The King becoming graces, as justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude." (4.3.107-110)

Villeins graces:

"Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin that has a name." (4.3.71-73)

A king is obligated to follow certain rules, certain virtues. Above they are listed. Now a villain has different rules and virtues. These are also listed above. In this essay I will speak of why a villain is not a king and visa-versa.

ABOUT KINGS

A king is only king when his people like him, respect him, and willingly do as he says. He must be kind and do what is best for his people, and himself at the same time. Otherwise he will have no one to be king for.

In this case Macbeth is not doing a very good job as king. As Macduff said: "Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned in evils to top Macbeth." (4.3.67-69) Form what I picked up in the story, many people felt this way about Macbeth.

ABOUT VILLAINS

You would know a villain by how he/she acts. For example: "I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproar the universal peace, confound all unity on earth." (4.3.113-116). A villain does not care. How else would they get away with and live with all the crimes they have committed.

THE CATCH

A villain can not be a king because a real king feels and cares. A King can not be a villain because, a villain feels nothing and does not care about anything. In the story Macbeth tried to a king, but the way he became king made him a villain. As I have said before, the two do not mix! Macbeth can not make his people happy, and he could not get over the fact that he murdered the last king, Duncan, to get where he is now. Well, that guilt went away some what, but you get the point! Macbeth was a villain trying to play king. He failed.

As for his wife, she wanted to be a villain. A cold blooded killer. At first she was good with throwing way her feelings. But soon, her crimes came back to haunt her. Unlike a real villain, LadyMacbeth could not brush her feelings of guilt and remorse away. She become so overwhelmed with what she did, she killed herself.

What I am trying to say is: A villain is the complete opposite of a king. It is good versus evil, they just do not go together! Macbeth tried to be a villain king, his wife a villain queen. In the end they both died and better people took up the roles. I believe my point has been made.

Thank you.