Historical Context (Macbeth)

This section explains the historical context of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600s, during the reign of King James I of England (also James VI of Scotland). Understanding the historical context of the play provides insight into its themes, characters, and audience reception.

King James I and Shakespeare

Patronage: Macbeth was likely written and performed in 1606, shortly after James I became King of England in 1603. Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, was renamed the King’s Men under James’s patronage, which suggests that Macbeth was partly designed to please the king.

James I’s Interest in Witchcraft: James I had a well-known fascination with witchcraft and the supernatural. He even wrote a book called Daemonologie (1597), which discussed witchcraft, demons, and the dangers of sorcery. Macbeth capitalises on this interest by including the witches, who play a significant role in the plot and create a dark, ominous atmosphere. The witches would have fascinated James and others in the audience who feared the supernatural.

Divine Right of Kings

The Divine Right of Kings: This was the belief that kings were chosen by God and that any attempt to usurp a king was not only treasonous but also a direct challenge to God’s will. King James strongly believed in this principle, and Macbeth reinforces it by showing the disastrous consequences of regicide (the killing of a king).

Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan upsets the natural order and leads to chaos in the kingdom, symbolising the dangers of going against God’s chosen ruler. This message would have resonated with Jacobean audiences, reinforcing loyalty to the monarch.

Gunpowder Plot of 1605

The Gunpowder Plot: The play was written shortly after the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed attempt to blow up Parliament and assassinate James I. This conspiracy shocked the nation and heightened fears about threats to the king. In Macbeth, Shakespeare explores themes of treason, conspiracy, and the overthrow of rightful rulers, which would have been relevant to a contemporary audience.

The figure of Macbeth, who commits regicide and disrupts the stability of Scotland, can be seen as a cautionary example of what happens to those who betray their king. His eventual downfall serves as a moral lesson on the dangers of ambition and treason.

Witchcraft and Superstition

Witch Trials: During Shakespeare’s time, there was widespread belief in witchcraft, and many people (mostly women) were accused of being witches and were executed. The inclusion of witches in Macbeth reflects this cultural obsession with the supernatural and the fear that witches could influence events and people’s fates.

In the play, the witches' prophecies play a key role in driving Macbeth’s actions. Their influence, though ambiguous, can be seen as the spark that ignites Macbeth’s ambition, leading him down a path of destruction.

Lady Macbeth’s invocation of evil spirits when she asks them to "unsex me here" (Act 1, Scene 5) also plays into contemporary fears about women’s association with witchcraft and unnatural behaviour.

Scotland and Succession

Scottish Setting: The play is set in Scotland, which would have been significant to audiences at the time, as James I was Scottish. The historical Macbeth was a real Scottish king, who ruled from 1040 to 1057. However, Shakespeare took creative liberties with his portrayal of Macbeth, exaggerating his tyranny and downfall to create a more compelling narrative.

Royal Lineage and Succession: The theme of succession was particularly relevant in the early 1600s, as James I had recently succeeded Elizabeth I, who died childless. Macbeth explores concerns about the transfer of power and the importance of a stable, legitimate line of kings. The play ends with Malcolm, Duncan’s rightful heir, reclaiming the throne, restoring order to Scotland.

Banquo, a key character in the play, was historically believed to be an ancestor of James I. In Macbeth, Banquo is portrayed as noble and morally upright, unlike Macbeth. The witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne is a nod to King James’s lineage and would have flattered the king by portraying his ancestry as divinely ordained.

Political Stability and the Chain of Being

Great Chain of Being: This was the belief that everything in the universe had a specific place in a hierarchical order, with God at the top, followed by angels, humans, animals, plants, and inanimate objects. Monarchs were seen as the highest human authority, directly appointed by God. Any disruption to this order, such as the murder of a king, was believed to have disastrous consequences for the entire world.

In Macbeth, the natural world reflects the chaos caused by Duncan’s murder. After the regicide, strange events occur: horses eat each other, and the day turns dark. These unnatural occurrences symbolise the breakdown of the natural order.

Tragic Hero and Renaissance Ideas

Tragic Hero: Macbeth fits the mould of a tragic hero, a concept rooted in the ideas of the classical and Renaissance periods. A tragic hero is typically a noble character who possesses a fatal flaw (hamartia) that leads to their downfall. In Macbeth’s case, his ambition drives him to commit heinous crimes, which ultimately result in his death.

Renaissance audiences were familiar with the idea of the tragic hero, and Macbeth’s character arc would have aligned with their understanding of the dangers of hubris (excessive pride or ambition).

Catholic-Protestant Tensions

Religious Conflict: England in the early 1600s was marked by tensions between Catholics and Protestants. King James I, a Protestant, faced opposition from Catholics, including those involved in the Gunpowder Plot. These religious tensions are subtly reflected in the play, particularly in the depiction of good versus evil, loyalty to the crown, and the idea of divine judgement.

Understanding the historical context of Macbeth enhances our appreciation of its themes, characters, and its original audience's reception.