Macbeth (context) Flashcards
What were King James’ two titles?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 - 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625. The kingdoms of Scotland and England were individual sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws, though both were ruled by James in personal union.
When was the union of the Scottish and English thrones?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
The union of the Scottish and English crowns took place on 24 March 1603
How long had James been on the throne when Macbeth was performed?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
2 / 3 years - 1603 ascended to throne. 1606 Macbeth performed.
In 1606, the witches played their tricks.
When was the Gunpowder Plot?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
November 1605
What was the Gunpowder Plot? Goal (E)?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Infamous assassination attempt on King James by English Catholics - goal to get daughter Elizabeth on the throne. Plotters were upset by how James (Protestant king) was handling religious matters. 1605
Link to Gunpowder Plot from opening?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Play might have opened with it (storm). Made with gunpowder (link to the plot).
How did the Gunpowder Plot get discovered?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Anonymous letter sent to Monteagle. On 26th October Tresham sent Lord Monteagle a letter warning him not to attend Parliament on 5th November. Tresham was worried his brother in-law would be killed.
Porter’s speech mentions an equivocator being welcomed into Hell - what’s the link?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Father Henry Garnett (Jesuit Catholic priest) - wrote a paper referencing equivocation (a method of lying by avoiding speaking the whole truth out loud). Executed for involvement.
Give a late play reference to equivocation.
MACBETH - CONTEXT
When Macbeth finally sees Birnam wood advancing toward Dunsinane and understands the trick of the witches’ prophecy, he says ‘I … begin / To doubt th’equivocation of the fiend / That lies like truth.’ (5.5.41-43) The play abounds with equivocation.
How is King James different to Duncan?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Duncan thinks castle has a “pleasant air” - he’s bad at ‘sniffing out’ the truth. James claimed to have a great sense of smell.
What was one biographical reason given for James’ concern over witches?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
The storms around his travels when marrying Princess Anne of Denmark (witches involved?). Feared for his life - interrogated women.
Name James’ book.
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Daemonologie
Link Macbeth’s witches to Daemonologie.
MACBETH - CONTEXT
Body parts of animals / flight / familiars / weather control / vengeful / equivocation
Witches can “t… t.. t…., p… t… , p… f…. “
MACBETH - CONTEXT
“Tell the truth, part truth, part false.” (Daemonologie)
“Yea, he will make his schollers to creepe in credite with Princes, by fore-telling them manie greate thinges; parte true, parte false: For if all were false, he would tyne credite at all handes; but alwaies doubtsome, as his Oracles were. “ (like Banquo says)
What were the North Berwick witch trials?
MACBETH - CONTEXT
The North Berwick witch trials in 1590 of a number of people from East Lothian, Scotland, accused of witchcraft in the St Andrew’s Auld Kirk in North Berwick. They ran for two years, and implicated over seventy people. People were horribly tortured; King James oversaw (link to wedding, only well known due to involvement of the King).
