consider the description of edward the english king in lines 146-159 of scene 3 . why is this passage included in the play?

Question

act 4 of macbeth 

Answer 1

The Doctor mentions that King Edward has a healing touch, which is a divine gift from heaven. Malcolm proceeds to elaborate on King Edward's healing powers by saying that the king has the ability to cure people of the most strange illnesses, which cannot be remedied using modern medicine. According to the Doctor and Malcolm, King Edward can heal people by simply touching and praying over them.

While these brief passages may seem odd and irrelevant, Shakespeare wrote them to pay tribute and compliment King J James I (r. 1603–1625), ames, who was known to have made stroking motions above the abscesses of sick people.