Macbeth Ext 4: King Duncan announces Malcolm as the heir Flashcards
(12 cards)
The following extract has been taken from Act One of ‘Macbeth’.
Macbeth begins to reveal his ambition after Duncan announces Malcolm will be king.
DUNCAN
My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to Inverness,
And bind us further to you.
MACBETH
The rest is labour, which is not used for you:
I’ll be myself the harbinger and make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So humbly take my leave.
DUNCAN
My worthy Cawdor!
MACBETH
[Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
(Exit)
What is happening in this extract (Duncan names Malcolm heir)?
Duncan announces Malcolm as the next king, and Macbeth starts thinking dark thoughts about how to get the crown for himself. This is the first clear hint that he’s willing to commit murder.
Why does Macbeth call for darkness? (use ‘to reveal the importance of’)
To reveal the importance of secrets and hidden ambition in Macbeth’s rise to power.
Why does Macbeth call for darkness? (use ‘to expose’)
To expose Macbeth’s internal conflict and dark intentions.
Why does Macbeth call for darkness? (use ‘to warn’)
To warn that unchecked ambition can lead to evil, especially when hidden behind a mask of loyalty.
What does Duncan mean by ‘signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine on all deservers’? Why is light important?
Duncan says noble people shine like stars — symbolising honesty, goodness, and honour. Light is associated with truth and morality.
What is ambition?
Ambition is a strong desire to achieve something — often power — even if it means hurting others.
How does Macbeth show ambition in his final aside?
He says Malcolm is ‘a step on which I must fall down or o’erleap,’ and calls on stars to ‘hide your fires’ so no one sees his evil thoughts.
Where else in the play does a character call for darkness?
Lady Macbeth also calls for darkness when she says ‘Come, thick night’ — both she and Macbeth want to hide their evil intentions.
Choose one theme linked to this extract and explain how.
Theme: Ambition — Macbeth is already thinking about removing Malcolm to become king.
Choose another theme linked to this extract and explain how.
Theme: Light vs Darkness — Duncan talks about shining stars, Macbeth calls for darkness. This shows the contrast between good and evil.
Extra challenge: How does Shakespeare use light and darkness in Macbeth?
Light represents truth, goodness, and kingship. Darkness hides guilt, murder, and ambition. Shakespeare uses this imagery throughout to show how Macbeth descends into evil.
