Scribd
Upload
41 views2 pages

Jamesian vs. Machiavellian Kingship in Macbeth

The document discusses the themes of kingship in Shakespeare's Macbeth, contrasting Jamesian ideals of leadership, represented by Malcolm and Duncan, with Machiavellian principles embodied by Macbeth. It draws parallels between Macbeth and biblical figures King Saul and Pontius Pilate, highlighting the consequences of disobeying divine authority. Ultimately, the text suggests that Shakespeare's portrayal of kingship aligns with the moral superiority of Jamesian rulers over Machiavellian tyrants, likely to appease King James I.

Uploaded by

zachtdee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
41 views2 pages

Jamesian vs. Machiavellian Kingship in Macbeth

The document discusses the themes of kingship in Shakespeare's Macbeth, contrasting Jamesian ideals of leadership, represented by Malcolm and Duncan, with Machiavellian principles embodied by Macbeth. It draws parallels between Macbeth and biblical figures King Saul and Pontius Pilate, highlighting the consequences of disobeying divine authority. Ultimately, the text suggests that Shakespeare's portrayal of kingship aligns with the moral superiority of Jamesian rulers over Machiavellian tyrants, likely to appease King James I.

Uploaded by

zachtdee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Green=grade 9

Jamesian + Machiavellian literature


There are 2 books that sum up kingship in Macbeth:
The Basilikon Doron - a political treatise (fancy way of saying royal letter), written by KJI
The Prince, a book written by Machiavelli, an Italian renaissance-man

The Basilikon Doron is a political treatise on how to be a just, far and God-loving king.
The Prince is a book on how to rule with an iron fist, showing no mercy

The Basilikon Doron is represented in the play through Kings Malcolm and Duncan, and they
are good kings, who place God at the centre of their lives
The Prince is presented in the play through Macbeth, who displays violence throughout the play
as a means to assert himself into the Scottish Royal family

The Jamesian kings (Malcolm+Duncan) ultimately prevail over the Machiavellian king
(Macbeth). This is good for Shakespeare, because:
-> He has familial ties to the gunpowder plot’s leader - Robert Catesby
-> He was under watch by King James, and presenting Machiavellian kingship as inferior
to Jamesian kingship would’ve pleased King James and assured him that after the
gunpowder plot, Shakespeare is comfortably on King James’ side​
You need to link the Machiavellian + Jamesian ideas together, and into Macbeth to get the grade
9 level context

Biblical links - King Saul and Pontius Pilate


Note: all of this section is grade 8-9, so I won’t be highlighting it

King Saul - a tyrannical king of Judea (Israel) from the old testament of the Bible. A quick
rundown of his life story is as follows:
-> He was born poor as a shepherd
-> The most famous prophet of the Jewish God at the time, Prophet Samuel anointed (granted
him divine permission to be king) Saul to be King of Judea
-> He originally was an extremely good king, the best Judea had ever seen
-> He prayed that he would have a great victory over his house’s (royal family, they used to call
royal families houses, so Saul’s family was known as the house of Saul) greatest enemy - the
Philistines
-> God granted him that victory, but at the condition that Saul would kill the King of the
Philistines
-> Saul kept the King of the Philistines prisoner and mocked him in front of his allies like a Dog
-> Samuel, instructed by God, cursed the House of Saul and Saul went crazy and died

So Saul, anointed by Samuel, becomes King, disobeys God, and dies because of it
Macbeth, anointed by Witches, becomes King, disobeys God (Regicide) and dies because of it

You see the parallel?​


Macbeth and Saul are both characters that represent how disobeying God’s direct orders is a
death sentence

Pontius Pilate - The Roman Governor of Judea during the time of Jesus’ life
He signed off on Jesus’ execution due to pressure from his inner circle
Macbeth - Scottish thane of Glamis during the time of Duncan’s life
He killed Duncan due to pressure from his inner circle (Lady Macbeth)

Both Pilate, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth all tried to repent from what they did symbolically with
water

You might also like