Context Flashcards
When was Macbeth written?
King James I – Macbeth was written in 1606, early in the reign of James I, who succeeded to the English throne in 1603 after being King of Scotland.
What was the divine right of king?
the idea that kings got their power from God and not from their subject.
Only a century earlier, England had suffered under the massive disorder of
the Wars of the Roses, so many supported the idea to avoid civil unrest.
Did James believe the divine rights of king?
James I was a believer in this, and the idea meant that any treasonous activity was a crime against God.
What is patriarchy?
patriarchal societies are those in which men dominate, and inheritance passes
through male heirs.
How is Gender portrayed?
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth switch between having masculine and feminine
characteristics. In the play, gender is often linked to ambition and a willingness to do anything to achieve power.
What was the role of a women?
Women were expected to follow social expectations with their behaviour towards
men. They were meant to obey all men, be faithful and respectful, not be violent and be religious. Women were considered the delicate, ‘fairer’ sex and
they should be submissive and reserved, always respecting the wishes and opinions of the males in their lives.
How does lady Macbeth go against what women were supposed to be like?
Lady Macbeth subverts these expectations in the play to manipulate Macbeth in
getting what she wants.
How were women shown as weak?
They would have been regarded as a possession, first owned by the father, then
given to and owned by the husband.
Give contest for Adam,Eve and the serpent?
in the bible, Adam and Eve live peacefully in the Garden of Eden until Eve is tempted by the serpent and eats the forbidden fruit from the tree of
knowledge. She convinces Adam to eat as well, and God curses them and banishes them to
Earth.The serpent is their ambition which makes them both fall and eve is Lady Macbeth making him fall for ambition
When were people being accused for witchcraft?
In Elizabethan England, hundreds of thousands of women were tortured and executed in Europe because they were accused of witchcraft.
How did witches come about?
In Shakespeare’s time there was no scientific knowledge to explain natural
disasters such as earthquakes, floods and droughts. One of the ways they accounted for the unexplained was the idea of witches.
Why did the witches frighten the audience?
At the time Shakespeare was writing, many people thought that witches were real, so the weird sisters would have seemed believable and frightening to an audience in the 1600s.
What did King James publish?
The King wrote a book on the subject entitled ‘Daemonologie’ and appealed to parliament to pass the following act in 1563 which was still a part of English law until 1951.
Who is the real Macbeth?
Macbeth is loosely based on true events in feudal Scotland in the 11th
Century and would have been known to King James. King James inherited the throne through his ancestors Banquo and Fleance who appear in the play.
How does the play link to Banquo?
The play pays homage to the king’s
Scottish lineage and hatred of witches. Additionally, the witches’ prophecy that Banquo will found a line of kings is a nod to James’ family’s claim to have descended from the historical Banquo.
