History Theatre / Dunsinane

It's also worth mentioning that beside the primary [[WarIsHell anti-war]] [[AnAesop message]] the play is also intended as a ''very'' clear (although perhaps just subtle enough to avoid being truly {{Anvilicious}}) [[AuthorTract allegory]] to then-contemporary British interventionism in the UsefulNotes/WarOnTerror, suggesting that getting involved in complex foreign conflicts [[{{Understatement}} is a very bad idea]] and noting that many of the worst burdens of war [[ShellShockedVeteran are borne by the soldiers]].

* WarCrimeSubvertsHeroism: Siward, after assaulting a Scottish village, [[KillItWithFire burns every man in the community alive]] after they refuse to tell him the location of Lulach, signifying [[FallenHero just how far he has descended into brutality]]. Although, such things [[{{Justified}} weren't that unusual]] at the time since most (formal) [[UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar laws of war]] wouldn't exist for another few centuries.

* ExactWords: After Siward finds and kills two of Macbeth's soldiers hiding out in a barn, Malcolm is convinced the farmer is a rebel and urges Siward to MakeAnExampleOfThem. He refuses, suggesting that the man was probably threatened by the soldiers. Malcolm appears to concede and promises Siward he'll "help in any was I can"... And as soon as Siward's left the room, he instructs his own goons to [[FamilyExtermination kill the farmer and his entire family]]: after all, he never said exactly what the 'help' would be.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: King Malcolm presents himself as a weak and foolish ruler interested only in wine [[RoyalHarem women]], and partying, but he’s actually a [[ManipulativeBastard cunning schemer]] who realises that if the clans don’t see him as a threat, they’ll be too busy fighting each other to challenge his authority… Allowing him to enjoy his wine, women and parties in peace.

''[[DownerEnding And then there is only white.]]''

* AFatherToHisMen: {{Deconstructed}} with Siward. He cares so much about the lives of his men that he resorts to [[KnightTemplar increasingly drastic and brutal measures]] (such as [[KillItWithFire burning civilians alive]] as an intimidation tactic) to try and end the war, [[FallenHero sacrificing any semblance of morality in the process]], which of course [[EpicFail ends up getting many more of his soldiers killed]].

* ExactWords: After Siward finds and kills two of Macbeth's soldiers hiding out in a barn, Malcolm is convinced the farmer is a rebel and urges Siward to MakeAnExampleOfThem. He refuses, suggesting that the man was probably threatened by the soldiers. Malcolm appears to concede and promises Siward he'll "help you in any was I can"... And as soon as Siward's left the room, he instructs his own goons to [[FamilyExtermination kill the farmer and his entire family]]: after all, he never said exactly what the 'help' would be.

* ExactWords: After Siward finds and kills two of Macbeth's soldiers hiding out in a barn, Malcolm is convinced the farmer is a rebel and urges Siward to MakeAnExampleOfThem. He refuses, suggesting that the man was probably threatened by the soldiers. Malcolm appears to concede and promises Siward he'll "help you in any was I can"... And as soon as Siward's left the room, he instructs his own goons to [[FamilyExtermination kill the farmer and his entire family]]. After all, he never said exactly what the 'help' would be.

* ExactWords: After Siward finds and kills two of Macbeth's soldiers hiding out in a barn, Malcolm is convinced the farmer is a rebel and urges Siward to MakeAnExampleOfThem, he refuses, suggesting that the man was probably threatened by the soldiers. Malcolm appears to concede and promises Siward he'll "help you in any was I can"... And as soon as Siward's left the room, he instructs his own goons to [[FamilyExtermination kill the farmer and his entire family]]. After all, he never said exactly what the 'help' would be.