Background A little bit of history to understand Macbeth

James I .. became the King of England after Elizabeth. .. was James VI of Scotland, a country regarded as a small,3 rd rate, backward land  England had become a superpower under Elizabeth I .. was a descendant of Banquo and a distant cousin of Elizabeth’s .. was entertaining the King of Denmark (his father-in-law)..so ..he needed a play.. and fast ..ascend the throne 1604 ..inherited a Protestant nation  As king of England he became richer and more powerful than he could imagine ..believed in witches and demons and wrote books on the subject  MacBeth really was a warrior/king /of Scotland reigned

The Gunpowder Plot  The Pope was ultimately behind the plot  A cell of papists put kegs of gunpowder in a vault under parliament  Gunpowder was believed to be the “devil’s invention”  The potential of the plot was to destroy the king/family/Parliament  Papists saw the plot as apocalyptic  Believed James I was the antichrist  Guy Fawkes was a munitions expert  Guy Fawkes’ signature is in the Tower of London while he was tortured on the rack.  Henry Garnet and 8 other laymen were hanged, drawn, and quartered on May 1, 1606  Catholics thought they were martyred, and sought relics, taking their fingers after they died.  People believed the plot was hatched at a Black Mass  Guy Fawkes Day Festivals on Nov 5  Treason was evil and diabolical

MacBeth…..the play 1606 Shakespeare had to write it in a hurry Shakespeare had to write it in a hurry Many inconsistencies: IIiv/IIIvi Many inconsistencies: IIiv/IIIvi Not always his style: IIIv/IVi Not always his style: IIIv/IVi Critics believe he had help in the witch scenes Critics believe he had help in the witch scenes Someone may have even finished it Someone may have even finished it The true story comes from Hollinshed’s Chronicles The true story comes from Hollinshed’s Chronicles Shakespeare knew his history and his audience Shakespeare knew his history and his audience He was probably paid 10Ls for the play He was probably paid 10Ls for the play Shakespeare combines 2 stories: the murder of Duncan and the story of King MacBeth Shakespeare combines 2 stories: the murder of Duncan and the story of King MacBeth Then he integrates elements and themes from the Gunpowder plot that was in the news. Then he integrates elements and themes from the Gunpowder plot that was in the news. Shakespeare “plays” with a new idea: a hero as villain or the villain as hero Shakespeare “plays” with a new idea: a hero as villain or the villain as hero Shakespeare knew he had a strong boy actor so he wrote a strong female part Shakespeare knew he had a strong boy actor so he wrote a strong female part Shakespeare was a member of The King’s men, the most powerful acting company in England Shakespeare was a member of The King’s men, the most powerful acting company in England

The “rules” of the Supernatural Ghosts can only walk the earth from midnight to dawn Not every one can see the apparition Divine people wrote with their right hands; left handed people were cursed Elizabethans believed all of the above and thought Jesuits and Turks to be sorcerers. Jesuit priests were believed to know magic, idolatry, and witchcraft b/c of icons, healing, and exorcisms. Elizabethans loved the supernatural, so Shakespeare made a point of pleasing his audiences by usually including a bit in most plays. On April 30 you would scare off the fairies and witches that roam the earth by setting fire to the gorse and blowing horns If you are “fatidical” you can predict the future

“rules” …..continued To conjure, you must create the circle first; this is the dangerous area of the devil Witches dance in a ring….backwards to conjure Witches cannot fly by day. They need the thick humors of the night to bear them up. Demons can thicken the air To cast a spell, you need DNA, thus the witches hang out in the battlefield and graveyards Some ingredients for the spell must be gathered in night Sometimes witches need a starless night or an eclipse to work their spells Necromancy: the art of communication with the spirits of the dead to predict the future. A bone-orchard is Elizabethan slang for a cemetery Witches have limited powers