The History of macbeth

Holinshed’s Chronicles Chronicled the entire history of England, Scotland, and Ireland through about 1580 Shakespeare used this for the source material for his history plays Macbeth Henry V King Lear

Macbeth is real…somewhat Scottish king named Mac Bethad Translates to Macbeth Ruled from 1040-1057 Play was written in 1606 and based on Scotland in about 1044 Some parts of the play are taken from the history of King Duffe, a king who ruled about a century before Macbeth

So who was the real Macbeth? Overthrew King Duncan, his cousin A poor king who was thought to be a military failure and a tyrant Thought to be a rebel and a tyrant Married Guach, the granddaughter of King Kenneth III She’s named Lady Macbeth in the play Killed the son of the Earl Siward in a battle

Who was Banquo? Holinshed’s Chronicles name Macbeth and Banquo as alliances Banquo helped Macbeth overthrow Duncan so he could be King Considered a traitor and portrayed really negatively

Cue: King James I A ridiculous king Very self-centered Thought he was better than everyone Anti-Witchcraft Enjoyed theater and even wrote a few books including Daemonology Influenced by Malleus Maleficarum

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 The Church was not happy with that decision so…

Gunpowder Plot Guy Fawkes Day (in charge of the explosives) November 5th, 1604 “Remember, remember, the fifth of November” Planned to blow up Parliament & assassinate King James The plan was discovered and the conspirators were tortured

King James & Shakespeare Shakespeare was a subject in the King’s court James preferred shorter plays. Macbeth is some 2,000 lines while Hamlet is ~ 6,000. Banquo (in the story) is a direct descendent of King James… SO…Shakespeare painted him in a good light to maintain favor with him.

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

Superstition & The Supernatural Remember Monty Python? That actually was common! 1600’s Witch Craze James instigated a witch hunt in 1590 Witchcraft acts of 1596 & 1604 All reserved harsh consequences for lawbreakers that were involved in witchcraft

Association with Witches Anyone who associated with witches would also be punished Think about how the witches were portrayed Keep an eye on the characters who associate with the witches Who are they? Are they good or bad characters?