Context Flashcards
What were women like during the Jacobean era?
They were subservient to men therefore they had to obey their husbands decisions
They were expected to stay at home as a housewife and a mother
They were weak
They were religious and devout
They were dominated by their father and husband
They had no say in finer details of married life e.g money and food
How does Lady Macbeth contrast with a typical 16th century woman?
A Jacobean woman would be very weak and submissive whereas Lady Macbeth is extremely commanding and powerful, this is shown in her soliloquy saying, “fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty; make thick my blood”
A 16th century woman would also be against violence however Lady Macbeth shows signs of violence and cruelty; examples of quotes that support this are, “Look like th’innocent flower but be the serpent under’t” and “That my knife see not the wound it makes”
Lady Macbeth is very persuasive and manipulative, this is shown by “But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail” and “And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not wait upon I would Like the poor cat i’th’adage”
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
It is a way of justifying monarchies; this lasted from the 16th century to the 18th century
A King was given authority directly from God, this meant there was no need of approval from people or any representative body like Parliament.
How is James I relevant to the play Macbeth?
James I believed tat witches made a deliberate pact with the devil therefore in 1590 witchcraft became a criminal offence.
Witches were accused of plotting to kill James I
The gunpowder plot which was an explosion under parliament to kill the whole of the government including King James I links to the regicide of King Duncan
What was witchcraft like in the Jacobean era?
Witches were thought to make people ill and make livestock sicken- this links to Duncan’s horses on the night of his murder as Macbeth killing Duncan was due to the influence of the witches “tis said they eat each other”
They had familiar demons in animal form-“I come graymalkin”, “Paddock calls”
They could cause storms and sink ships
The majority of witch trials took place in Scotland
