An introduction to…

Macbeth: The Summary

Macbeth is a dark, relentless tale of a good and brave Scottish general who, encouraged by the dark prophesies of three evil witches and by his own wife, murders Duncan, king of Scotland. Macbeth then becomes king and brings about his own destruction. Shakespeare wrote the play for James I, England's new king, who had been king of Scotland. To please James, Shakespeare set the play in Scotland, used many characters who were James' ancestors, and included witches, a subject that James had written about. The play is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, probably because King James often fell asleep during performances. Shakespeare's source for the story of Macbeth was The History and Chronicles of Scotland (1526), written by Hector Boece, a Scottish historian and humanist. (Many scholars question the factual reliability of Boece's work, and point out that Shakespeare took liberties with Macbeth's history for dramatic purposes.)

Macbeth: The Historical Background

The King of England in 1606 was James I, a Stuart. 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 and Scotland under one King.

Macbeth: a tribute to King James I Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606, during King James’ reign. 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.

Macbeth: an appeal to Elizabethan people’s 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 idea in Macbeth. Disturbance in the Great Chain of Being – which leads to chaos. 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

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Shakespeare shows Macbeth bravely fighting Used Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, & Ireland as historical reference for his plays

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

King Duncan is the King of Scotland. Setting 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.

Introduction to Macbeth Macbeth is another one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies, based on Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was written around 1605 but was not published in the first Folio until 1623. It tells about the fall of the ambitious couple, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is the tragic hero, a character who has a fatal (tragic)flaw within himself that he cannot change.