Duncan heir produces jacobean audience trouble monarch dying

Text	Duncan produces an Heir The Jacobean audience would have known the trouble that a monarch dying without an heir would have created. Elizabeth I died without an heir which resulted in a big change to the way Britain was ruled by her successor. By providing the country with an heir, Duncan was ensuring political stability and security. He announces that his son Malcolm will be his heir-apparent: *We will establish our estate upon / Our eldest,Malcolm," (1.4)*. Shakespeare thus establishes Duncan as a trustworthy king and provides a vision of the safe future, which is obviously ruined by Macbeth.

Text

Duncan produces an Heir

The Jacobean audience would have known the trouble that a monarch dying without an heir would have created. Elizabeth I died without an heir which resulted in a big change to the way Britain was ruled by her successor. By providing the country with an heir, Duncan was ensuring political stability and security. He announces that his son Malcolm will be his heir-apparent: We will establish our estate upon / Our eldest,Malcolm," (1.4). Shakespeare thus establishes Duncan as a trustworthy king and provides a vision of the safe future, which is obviously ruined by Macbeth.

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.