Rebecca Currence

In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, a fairly simple political system has been set up:
the king, Duncan, rules over Scotland with the Lords (such as Lennox, Ross, and Angus)
and his generals (Macbeth and Banquo) supporting him. The king’s sons, Malcolm and
Donalbain are set to inherit the throne from their father on his death. A simple enough
system.

The complication comes in with the prophecies of the Weird Sisters and the resulting
assassination of King Duncan by Macbeth. Duncan’s sons flee the country and we are left
with Macbeth as Scotland’s king. Not long after, Macbeth tries to have Banquo and his
son assassinated and only succeeds in killing the father. Fleance survived, though it’s not
said whether or not he stayed in Scotland.

All seems well for Macbeth in his rule of Scotland (his guilt over the assassination aside),
but Macduff had fled Scotland to join Malcolm in England, and there they raised an army
they used to attack Macbeth. After Macbeth’s death, Malcolm (the rightful heir) took his
place on the throne of Scotland. It is said that Fleance began a race of Scottish kings and
that the last, James VI of Scotland, also ruled the English throne as James I.

All told, Macbeth’s world was filled with monarchy and intrigue, and far too much
assassination (but such are the dangers of being a king at that time).