Holinshed’s Chronicles  Shakespeare gathered much of his source material from this.  “History of England”

Macbeth…is real?  Ruled Scotland almost a millennium ago.  Shakespeare based his play (1606) on Scotland in (1044).  His ideas, imagery, and recount of the stories and region were only a guess.

Macbeth vs. Banquo  Holinshed’s Chronicles name Macbeth and Banquo as alliances.  Banquo helped Macbeth defated Dunchann (Duncan) to become King.  Considered a traitor and portrayed really negatively.

Cue: King James I  King James was:  A ridiculous King who was very self- centered.  Very demanding/ had superiority complex.  Was Anti-Witchcraft

King James (Continued…) King James was born to Mary Queen of Scots and had a legitimate claim on the English Crown. His mother, Mary, was forced to give up the throne and James was crowned King at 13 months old.

King James ( Continued…)  James demanded that the king be an ABSOLUTE Monarch  He was chosen & ruled by DIVINE RIGHT  Believed that King should be master of Church and State.

Gunpowder Plot  Guy Fawkes Day  November 5 th, 1604  Planned to Blow up Parliament  The plan was discovered and the conspirators were tortured.

James, Banquo, Macbeth, & Shakespeare  James preferred shorter plays.  Macbeth is some 2,000 lines while Hamlet is ~ 6,000.  Banquo is a direct descendent of James… SO…Shakespeare painted him in a good light to maintain favor with him.

Macbeth’s Weird “Sisters”  AKA “The Witches”

Superstition & The Supernatural  1600’s Witch Craze  James instigated a witch hunt in  Witchcraft acts of 1596 &  All reserved harsh consequences for lawbreakers that were involved in witchcraft.

Association with Witches  Anyone who associated with witches would also be punished. Keep an eye on the characters in the play who associate with witches. - Who are they? Good or Bad?

Themes to think about:

Themes to think about…