Malcolm is a character in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The character is based on the historical king Malcolm III of Scotland, and is derived largely from the account in Holinshed's Chronicles (1587), a history of Britain. He is the elder son of King Duncan, the heir to the throne, and brother to Donalbain. In the end, he regains the throne after mustering support to overthrow Macbeth.
Wardell Saunders as Malcolm in a Federal Theatre Project production of Macbeth, 1936
Malcolm leads his army on Dunsinane Castle, from a 1912 illustration
Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power. Of all the plays that Shakespeare wrote during the reign of James I, Macbeth most clearly reflects his relationship with King James, patron of Shakespeare's acting company. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book, and is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy.
Title page of the part in the First Folio.
Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches for the first time.
Macbeth consulting the Vision of the Armed Head by Johann Heinrich Füssli
Lady Macbeth sleepwalking by Johann Heinrich Füssli
