Context

Question 1

General Context

Answer 1

• Written by Shakespeare in 1605
• Macbeth is a man who overthrows the rightful King of Scotland
• Shakespeare wrote Macbeth at the beginning of King James I reign. James succeeded Elizabeth I

Question 2

Connections for British Society

Answer 2

In response to the Gunpowder act of treason of 1605, Shakespeare sided with the King and seemed to think that a play about treason and death would find an audience at this time

Question 3

Time and Place and Cultural Assumption Connections

Answer 3

• Shakespeares draws from cultural assumptions of the time to create a piece relevant to the time (hence the witches and supernatural)

Question 4

Witches and Witchcraft

Answer 4

• Witches were said to have diabolical powers. They could predict the future, bring on night in the daytime, kill animals, curse enemies, cause fogs and tempests, cause nightmares ans sterility, take demonic possession of any individual, raise evil spirits by concocting a brew
• It was believes witches were allowed the devil to suck their blood. Accused witches were examined for the “Devil’s Mark” - red mark on their body from which the devil had sucked blood.