If you’re sitting in an English lit class or just re-watching a gritty adaptation of the Scottish Play, you might find yourself wondering: who is Malcolm in Macbeth, anyway? He starts off as this quiet teenager standing in the shadow of a king. By the end, he’s the guy wearing the crown. But the journey from point A to point B is way messier than most people realize. He isn't just a "good guy" insert. He’s actually a brilliant, slightly paranoid political strategist who learns how to lie just as well as Macbeth does—he just does it for the right reasons.
He’s the eldest son of King Duncan. That makes him the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland. When the play opens, he’s basically just a witness to his father’s generosity and, eventually, his father's murder. But Malcolm doesn’t stick around to play the victim. He flees. People often call him a coward for this, but honestly? It’s the smartest thing he does.
The Prince Who Ran Away: Cowardice or Strategy?
Let’s look at the facts. Duncan is dead. The guards are dead. Macbeth is acting weirdly "outraged." Malcolm and his brother Donalbain are standing there realizing that whoever killed their dad is probably going to come for them next. Malcolm famously says, "To show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy." He knows everyone around him is faking their grief.
He heads to England.
This is where we start to see the real answer to who is Malcolm in Macbeth. He isn't a naive kid. He understands that "there's daggers in men's smiles." By leaving, he removes Macbeth’s easiest path to a clean transition of power. If Malcolm stays and dies, Macbeth’s reign is undisputed. By living in exile at the court of Edward the Confessor, Malcolm remains a living, breathing threat to Macbeth’s legitimacy. He spends his time building an army, sure, but he also spends it learning how to lead.
The Bizarre Test of Macduff
One of the longest, weirdest scenes in the whole play happens in Act 4, Scene 3. Macduff shows up in England, begging Malcolm to come home and take the throne. Instead of saying "heck yeah," Malcolm starts listing all the reasons he’d be a terrible king. He claims he’s incredibly lustful. He says he’s greedy enough to steal everyone’s land. He even says he lacks all "king-becoming graces."
It’s a total lie.
He’s testing Macduff. He needs to know if Macduff actually cares about Scotland or if he’s just a spy for Macbeth. When Macduff finally snaps and says Scotland is doomed because Malcolm is a mess, Malcolm finally reveals his true nature. He’s a virgin, he’s never lied before (except for right now), and he’s ready to fight. This scene is vital because it proves Malcolm has what Macbeth lacks: discernment. He doesn't trust blindly. He operates with a level of cold, calculated caution that makes him a terrifying opponent for a tyrant who is slowly losing his mind.
Why Malcolm is the True "Anti-Macbeth"
Most people think Macduff is the main antagonist to Macbeth. I mean, Macduff is the one who actually does the decapitating. But narratively, Malcolm is the one who provides the structural opposite to Macbeth’s chaos.
Think about it. Macbeth takes the throne through murder, darkness, and supernatural whispers. Malcolm takes it back through diplomacy, military alliances with England, and a very literal use of nature (Birnam Wood). Macbeth isolates himself; Malcolm builds a coalition.
The Birnam Wood Gambit
We have to talk about the trees. The witches tell Macbeth he’s safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth thinks this is impossible because, well, trees don't walk. Malcolm is the one who comes up with the idea to have every soldier cut a branch and carry it in front of them to mask their numbers.
It’s a simple tactical move, but it’s symbolic. Malcolm uses the natural world to hide his strength, whereas Macbeth used the "unnatural" world to gain his. Malcolm is bringing order back to a country that has been "bleeding." When he finally gives his big speech at the end, he doesn't just celebrate. He starts handing out rewards and changing titles (making the Thanes into Earls). He’s an administrator. He’s the boring, stable leader Scotland desperately needs after years of a serial killer being in charge.
Exploring the Nuance: Is Malcolm Actually "Good"?
Scholars like A.C. Bradley have often debated whether Malcolm is a bit too cold. He’s definitely less "human" than Macbeth in terms of our emotional connection to him. We see Macbeth’s internal torture. We see Lady Macbeth’s guilt. We don't see much of Malcolm's inner life.
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Is he a bit of a manipulator? Absolutely. He’s the one who refers to Macbeth and his wife as "this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen." He knows how to use language to dehumanize his enemies and solidify his own power. But in the world of 11th-century Scotland (and 17th-century theater), that wasn't seen as a flaw. It was seen as kingship.
You also have to consider the historical context. Shakespeare wrote this for King James I, who claimed to be a descendant of Banquo. Malcolm represents the "rightful" line. He represents the return of the Divine Right of Kings. For an audience in 1606, Malcolm wasn't just a character; he was the embodiment of political stability.
How to Analyze Malcolm for Your Next Essay or Project
If you’re trying to nail a deep dive into this character, don't just call him the "rightful heir." That's the surface level. Dig into the contrast between his public persona and his private strategy.
- Look at his language: Notice how he uses "we" (the royal plural) toward the end of the play. It shows he has fully stepped into the role of a monarch before the crown is even on his head.
- Analyze the English Court: Contrast the "holy" King Edward of England, who heals people, with the "sick" Macbeth who kills them. Malcolm is the bridge between those two worlds.
- The "Falsehood" Theme: Note how many times Malcolm talks about lying. He realizes that to beat a liar, you have to be better at the game than they are.
Essential Summary for Quick Reference
To wrap your head around who is Malcolm in Macbeth, you just need to remember these core phases of his character development:
- The Traumatized Heir: He flees Scotland immediately after Duncan's murder, which looks suspicious to some but is actually a survival tactic.
- The Strategist in Exile: He secures an alliance with the English General Siward and 10,000 soldiers.
- The Moral Gatekeeper: He tests Macduff’s loyalty by pretending to be a monster, proving he values the state over his own ego.
- The Restorer of Order: He leads the camouflage tactic at Birnam Wood and ends the play by promising to "plant anew" what Macbeth destroyed.
Actionable Next Steps for Readers
If you want to truly master this character, your next step is to read Act 4, Scene 3 again—the "test" scene. Pay attention to the moment Malcolm stops lying and tells the truth. It is the only moment in the play where a character voluntarily gives up a "false" identity to serve a higher good. Compare that to Macbeth, who puts on a "false face" to hide a "false heart" until the very end.
Once you see Malcolm as a master of psychological warfare rather than just a lucky prince, the whole play changes. He isn't just the guy who wins; he's the guy who outplays the villain at his own game.