That Scottish Play

Background Written in 1606, early in the reign of James I Previously James VI of Scotland The only Shakespearean play set in Scotland King James was said to have been a descendant of the real Banquo Based on political events of the time period Witchcraft was a hot topic King James wrote a book about it and studied it extensively, then later in life took the opposite stand and worked hard to exonerate those accused of witchcraft First lines of Macbeth are stage directions: Enter three witches Written in 1606 when King James I had just been King of England for 3 years He had previously been King of Scotland – How’d he get the job? Queen Elizabeth I came before him and did not have children of her own (refused to get married) and appointed her heir to the throne – James He was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots and great-great grandson of Henry VII of England and Lord of Ireland which put him in a position to claim all three thrones. Queen Elizabeth had beheaded Mary, Queen of Scots for a rebellion in Scotland after a conspiracy was discovered in removing Elizabeth from the throne (Various Scottish-English plots) and was tried and beheaded Some say that 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 and Scotland under one King. Sponsored the translation of the Bible that is named after him. Macbeth was first performed at Hampton Court Palace before James I and his guests in 1606. The storyline, like that of most of Shakespeare's plays, was not original, and in this case was based on fact. The story was familiar to James: he had inherited the throne of Scotland through his ancestors Banquo and Fleance, and the story of Duncan's murder was well known. The real Macbeth reigned in Scotland from 1040 to 1057. He killed his predecessor Duncan I, and was in turn killed by Duncan’s, son Malcolm III. Events such as these were not uncommon in the 'barbaric' feudal Scotland of the eleventh century. Of the fourteen kings who reigned between 943 and 1097, ten were murdered. – Holinsbrook’s Chronicles King James interested in witchraft First lines of Macbeth are stage directions: Enter three witches

Themes

Setting Scotland Civil War: - King Duncan vs. Macdonwald’s rebels from Ireland National War - Scotland, led by King Duncan, against invading Norway, led by King Sweno Inverness = Macbeth’s castle Dunsinane = Macduff’s castle (until Macbeth takes it) Colmekill = burial place of the Scottish kings Forres is a castle in Scotland where Duncan lives. They are battling near his castle to ward off the Norwegian invaders. When Macbeth becomes king, he will live at Forres and Banquo will be murdered only a mile from the castle.