Malcolm

Family: Scottish court · Role: Prince of Cumberland · First appears: Macbeth · Act I, Scene IV

At Act I, Duncan names Malcolm his eldest son and heir, declaring, “Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter / The Prince of Cumberland.” His sibling Donalbain is with him when they learn that Duncan has been murdered; fearing for their safety, they flee separately—Malcolm to England—though their flight places suspicion for the deed upon them, making Macbeth his enemy.

At the English court, Edward receives Malcolm with great honor. In Act IV, Malcolm tells Macduff that the vices he had claimed were fabricated, pledging his true self to Scotland’s cause. With Edward’s support, he announces that England has lent him Siward and ten thousand men; Siward, his uncle and an elder kinsman, joins Malcolm and Macduff as allies in the advance toward Birnam wood.

At Birnam wood, Malcolm orders the soldiers to carry branches to conceal their numbers, then commands them to discard the screens before attacking. With Siward, Macduff, Menteith, Caithness, Angus, Lennox, and Ross, he advances as the castle surrenders; Siward shows him the way, and Macduff gives him fealty by acclaiming him King of Scotland. Malcolm then declares, “Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland / In such an honour nam’d,” elevating the thanes to Scotland’s first earls.