We will establish our estate upon / Our eldest, Malcolm; whom we name hereafter / The Prince of Cumberland: which honour must / Not unaccompanied invest him only, / But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine / On all deservers.—
Act I, Scene 4 · Duncan
Context
Duncan announces that he is naming his eldest son, Malcolm, as Prince of Cumberland and heir to the throne, and declares that honors will be distributed to all who deserve them. Macbeth is present and listening.
Analysis
Duncan compares future honors to stars that 'shine / On all deservers,' using celestial imagery to present his power as naturally radiant and generous. This frames legitimate kingship as a source of light that spreads outward to others—a image Macbeth will invert moments later when he begs the stars to hide their fires so darkness can cover his ambitions.
Essay Tip
Use this to show how Shakespeare gives Duncan and Macbeth competing metaphors of light: Duncan imagines his rule as starlight that illuminates the worthy, while Macbeth will need darkness to act, revealing that their visions of power are fundamentally incompatible before any murder occurs.