Background to MacbethMacbeth is categorized as a tragedy. It is a dark play literally and symbolically. Its central characters are evil. It reflects Shakespeare and the situation he was in at the time.
Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in about 1605 or 1606. James I had been King of England at the time for three years. He had previously been James VI of Scotland. King James was a symbol of unity between the Scottish and English. Shakespeare refers to this unity in the play. It was well known that the new king was very fascinated by witchcraft. He even wrote a book called Daemonologie (Demonology) describing witchcraft. At the time entertainment was in high demand. He also knew that witches would attract people. Shakespeare was in charge of publishing plays for James I. In this play he might have been trying to get his approval by having the three witches in Macbeth. |
Macbeth was first performed at Hampton Court Palace for James I and his guests. The storyline, like most of Shakespeare’s plays was not original. It was pretty different and based on facts. The story at the time was familiar to James. He had inherited the throne of Scotland through his ancestors Banquo and Fleance. The story of Duncan’s murder was well known. The real Macbeth reigned in Scotland from 1040 to 1057. He killed his predecessor Duncan I. He was then in turn killed by Duncan’s son Malcolm III. Such events as these were not very uncommon in the time of feudal Scotland of the eleventh century. Ten of the fourteen kings who reigned between 943 and 1097 were murdered.
Macbeth ruled well and wisely for seventeen years. During his reign the north and south of Scotland were united for the first time. He was defeated in battle by Duncan I’s son, Malcolm III. The battle was near Aberdeen. Duncan I had invaded Scotland with the help of Edward the Confessor, King of England. Malcolm killed Macbeth’s family so that he could be king. This event marked the end of the Celtic era. I ended the barbaric time of the Scottish as it led to the breaking down of barriers between England and Scotland and to the introduction of English ways/ customs.
Shakespeare never let historical fasts get in his way of writing a great play. He changed several parts of the original, historical story. It is said that he did this to either intensify the drama or to ensure political correctness. Shakespeare really couldn’t lose with Macbeth. It was the popular thing at the time. |