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In 'Macbeth' who was the older brother Donalbain or Malcolm?

Donalbain and Malcolm were the sons of King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. Malcolm must have been the elder son. The indication of his being the older of the two brothers was his receipt of the title of Prince of Cumberland, as heir apparent to his father. Malcolm indeed ascended to the throne before his brother, under the name of King Malcolm III [d. November 13, 1093]. His brother succeeded him as King Donald III [d. 1099]


Why does Malcolm accuse himself of various vices before Macduff in the iii scene of act IV of the play 'Macbeth'?

He was testing Macduff to see if he genuinely had the interest of Scotland at heart. When Malcolm says "He hath not touched you yet" (IV, iii, 14) it means that he suspects Macduff is in league with Macbeth to take him prisoner and kill him. Malcolm then makes up all his vices to make sure that Macduff wants a good king and not just Malcolm. When Macduff responds that with his vices, Malcolm would make a terrible kind, Malcolm responds that he made the vices up and he knows that Macduff has Scotland's best interests at heart.


Malcolm refers to Macbeth as this dead butcher what does he mean?

Butchers kill animals in quantity so that their meat can be eaten by people. They don't feel any empathy for the animals while doing this (their job would drive them crazy otherwise). By likening Macbeth to a butcher, Malcolm says both that he killed a lot of people and that he didn't feel anything about it. This is not completely true, of course, as anyone who has been watching the play knows, but it helps legitimize Malcolm's claim to the throne. Oh, and why does Malcolm call Macbeth "dead"? Because shortly before he says this Macduff chopped off Macbeth's head and was showing it around.


What happens to Lady Macbeth before the final battle?

She's commits suicide. Probably. Malcolm says she does, although he would have no way of knowing that personally. He says that " 'tis said" but not by whom.


Why does Malcolm tell Macduff that he shouldn't rule Scotland?

Malcolm tells this to Macduff as a test to see if he, Macduff, is really loyal to Scotland or if he is there by request of Macbeth to retrieve Malcolm so Macbeth could kill him. This takes place when Macduff if trying to reclaim the crown of Scotland from Macbeth by force and put the rightful heir into throne. Before Macduff, many others had come to try and bring Malcolm back (or it is implied at least), so that is why Malcolm does not trust Macduff so he, like i said, tested him and his loyalty to Scotland