MACBETH: Context Flashcards
King James I
-Ruled King of Scotland as James VI and ruled England and Ireland as James I
-He was the patron (funded his plays) of Shakespeare’s company, The King’s Men, and it is for this reason many believe the play was written for him
How does King James I link to the play?
-Central themes in the play were tailored to fit his interests of treason, regicide and the supernatural and the characteristics of power
-James I was a huge believer in The DRoK and GCoB
-Banquo’s character is of Scottish nobility as James I was, his presence in the play only emphasises James’ ancient royal lineage
The Divine Right of Kings
-A monarch derived their authority from God and thus any attempt to depose or murder the king is an attempt on God
-God appoints a monarch & His will is passed down a royal family
-In modern day, we see remnants of the DRoK in the way the Pope rules over the Catholic church in divine appointment
How does The Divine Right of Kings link to the play?
-In Shakespeare’s time, the DRoK was an accepted aspect of the monarchy
-As James I was a patron of Shakespeare’s company, Shakespeare’s portrayal of Duncan’s murder as an act against God was intended to please his king and patron
The Great Chain of Being
-The belief God created the world with a clear hierarchical structure encompassing all matter and life
-The monarch held the top seat, giving religious and political significance to their choices
-Men were higher on the structure than women
-In Shakespeare’s time, the GCoB would’ve been considered a fact of life rather than just a religious belief
How does The Great Chain of Being link to the play?
-Macbeth killing Duncan violates the GCoB by betraying his superior and thus his God
-LM breaks the GCoB on a smaller scale by emasculating Macbeth and forcing him to commit regicide
Daemonologie
-A text published on witchcraft lore by King James I in 1597
-Explores James I’s belief in magic and witchcraft, aiming to prove the existence of such forces and dictate the punishment that should be given for practising them
-It is a didactic text intended to prevent readers from engaging in witchcraft
How does Daemonologie link to the play?
-James I’s influence is shown in Shakespeare’s depiction of the witches
-James looks at the ability of witches to control weather, vanish, fly and create potions along with their propensity (tendency) to chant
-Shakespeare’s depiction of the witches hits most of James’ expectations of witchcraft
Religion and the Seven Deadly Sins
-Religion played a significant role for people of the time and it is likely Shakespeare himself was religious
-His depiction of religion in his plays may just have been a response to the prevalence of religion at the time
-The 7 deadly sins are vices intended to prevent sin in Christian teachings
-Committing any of the sins was considered straying from God’s will, creating distance from God and room for the devil’s influence
How does Religion and the Seven Deadly Sins link to the play?
-Each of the 7 sins can be found in the actions of key characters
-Macbeth is guilty of wrath, pride, greed and envy and his death is seen as a punishment for this
-LM is guilty of greed and pride and she is also punished for her actions against God
-Duncan is guilty of gluttony and sloth and his murder could be seen as a punishment for this
The Patriarchy
-A social system where men held more power than women who oppress from these men in power
-The GCoB dictates that men are superior to women leading to this patriarchal structure
How does The Patriarchy link to the play?
-Macbeth was the 1st Shakespeare play written after Queen Elizabeth’s death and James I’s ascension to the throne seemed to restore patriarchal order in Britain
-Shakespeare explores patriarchy by both conforming to and subverting it
-The country is led by a male monarch and supported by male subjects but LM subverts female expectations
-Though Shakespeare challenges expectations through LM, she ultimately suffers for her actions warning women of the dangers of stepping out of their place
