Duncan
Duncan was a kind and just leader. He rewarded those who followed him loyalty and punished the ones that would betray him. Duncan's chief failing appears to be trusting his thanes too much, a fault that ultimately lead to his death. The original Thane of Cawdor betrayed Duncan. The king ordered him to hanged: "No more the Thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his present death," (1.3.63-64) however afterward he reflected; "He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust." (1.4.13-14) Duncan recognized Macbeth's bravery on the battlefield: "O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman" (1.1.24) and promoted him for it; "With his [Thane of Cawdor's] former title greet Macbeth." (1.3.65) King Duncan was revered by his subjects; Lennox referred to him as "The gracious Duncan..."(3.6.4) and Macbeth thought highly of him "Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office..." (1.7.16-18) Unfortunately Duncan was to trusting of Macbeth, who murdered him as he slept. This was Duncan's ultimate failing, and the reason for his death.
Macbeth
Macbeth's rule was established through an act of murder, Machiavelli would justify this with is quote: "The ends justify the means." Macbeth also adhered to the quote "A prince never lacks a legitimate reason to lie" by killing Duncan's servants, and saying "O, yet I do repent me of my fury that I did kill kill them." (2.3.102-103) Claiming that the servants killed Duncan, though in reality he killed them to cover his tracks. "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him." Macbeth followed this quote too, evaluating Banquo to be a threat and sending murderers to eliminate him: "Both of you know Banquo was your enemy." He reveals that he has soies in the households of all his lords: "There's not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee'd" (3.4.135) Overall Macbeth is a dishonest and mistrustful ruler, but by Machiavelli's standards he was an effective and powerful leader.
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