Macbeth A Tragedy by William Shakespeare Background Written

Macbeth A Tragedy by William Shakespeare

Background Written in 1606 Shakespeare was writing for theatre during the reigns of two monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. The plays he wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, are often seen to embody the generally happy, confident and optimistic mood of the Elizabethans. However, those he wrote during James's reign, such as Macbeth and Hamlet, are

How James became King There was no Tudor successor to the throne of England. Therefore, Elizabeth I chose James VI of Scotland to succeed her. After her death in 1603, James VI of Scotland became James I of England. Elizabeth I had been instrumental in the death of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, who was beheaded. On her deathbed, Elizabeth wanted to ease her way into Heaven, so she chose Mary’s son James to become the next King of England. The appointment of James I was a good political move, unifying England Scotland under one King.

King James I and Macbeth King James was a devout advocate of the “Divine Right of Kings. ” The setting is Scotland, King James’ homeland. Banquo was an ancestor of James and is shown in the play to be a virtuous person. James believed himself to be an expert on witchcraft. James had an interest in faith healing. King James I

Macbeth: An Appeal to Elizabethan Interests Shakespeare demonstrated the Elizabethan belief that the country is stable only if the King is good and virtuous. Elizabethans believed that evil occurs in darkness, which is a recurring theme in Macbeth. Shakespeare included a lot of blood and murder, which the Elizabethans expected to see in a play. The play was considered a thriller – a threat to an anointed King and the perceived evil behind the threat – and alluded to the Gunpowder plot

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 Guy Fawkes and his followers (Roman Catholics) planned to blow up Parliament (and King James) They wanted to bring down the British government and put a Catholic ruler on the throne The plot was discovered and the men involved were tried and killed (hung, drawn, and quartered) as traitors Shakespeare sided with the king and seemed to think that a play about

Before the Curtain Opens When the play begins, there are two wars in progress: Civil War - King Duncan vs. Macdonwald’s rebels National War - Scotland, led by King Duncan, against invading Norway, led by King Sweno

Setting of the Play King Duncan is the King of Scotland. Edward the Confessor is the King of England. The time period is the eleventh century (1000 -1099). Shakespeare used poetic license to bend some of the historical information.

The Macbeth Curse According to a theatrical superstition, called the Scottish curse, speaking the name Macbeth inside a theatre will cause disaster. A variation of the superstition also forbids quoting it within a theatre except as part of an actual rehearsal or performance of the play.

History vs. Macbeth Macdonwald’s rebellion & the invasion of Sweno took place at different times— Shakespeare combined them History makes no mention of Lady Macbeth—her character is almost wholly the creation of Shakespeare Duncan is supposed to have been killed by four hired servants—Shakespeare has Macbeth commit the murder In history, Macbeth fled before Macduff— Shakespeare shows Macbeth bravely fighting History represents Banquo as equal in guilt with Macbeth—Shakespeare whitewashes Banquo’s character as a compliment to King James Used Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, & Ireland as historical reference for his plays