Macbeth

Macbeth

Macbeth is one of the darkest most powerful tragedies. It was set in Scotland and was believed to be written between 1603 and 1607.


PLOT

• Macbeth fought well in the war against the forces of Norway and the disloyal thane of Cawdor that King Duncan won.
• Macbeth and Banquo encounter witches where they were told that Macbeth will first become Thane of Cawdor and then King. They also say that Banquo's sons will be king. Macbeth gets excited and starts scheming.
• Duncan names his son Malcolm heir to the throne and announces he is visiting
  Macbeth’s castle.
• Lady Macbeth finds out that Macbeth heard about the prediction of him being King. He plans to murder the King while he is staying at their castle as a guest.  

Cultural Background of Macbeth

Cultural background

Alba – A Celtic Kingdom

 Scotland in Macbeth’s time comprised five different peoples distinguished by their culture and language. The Picts and the Britons were indigenous, to be joined over time by Vikings from the north and west, Angles from the south and Scots, a Celtic people, from Ireland.

By the beginning of the 11th century it was the Scots with their Gaelic culture and language who were in the ascendancy. Indeed some have described Macbeth as the last of the Celtic Kings. After his death and that of his stepson and successor Lulach, Alba - or Scotland as it was to become - the Celtic world was in retreat.

A Time of Heroes

The world of Macbeth was a profoundly Celtic one, a culture and society that united Ireland and Alba. This Gaelic culture celebrated its heroes - Kings were war leaders whose prestige depended on their prowess and success - while at the same time requiring its heroes to look after the interests of the extended families that made up the tribe.

Kingship was not hereditary. In the Gaelic culture of the time the royal succession alternated between collateral lines, a practice known as tanistry. The designated king-in-waiting was drawn from a pool of candidates, ensuring that only the most vigorous became King.

Historical Background of Macbeth

James I was king of England for three years when Shakespeare wrote this play in 1606. He had previously been James VI of Scotland. King James symbolised the togetherness of the England and Scottish crowns. A union which in Macbeth is referred to. It was well known that King James was fascinated in witchcraft, which Shakespeare introduces in the play with the three witches. Macbeth was first performed at Hampton Court Palace in front of James I and his guests in 1606. The storyline was not original, and was based on fact. The story was familiar to King James, because he inherited the throne of Scotland through his Ancestors, Banquo and Fleance. And also the story of King Duncan's death was also well known.  The real Macbeth was King in the period of  1040-1057.

He killed his predecessor Duncan I, and was in turn killed by Duncan’s, son Malcolm III. These events was not uncommon in Scotland in the eleventh century. Of the fourteen kings who reigned between 943 and 1097, ten were murdered.

In 1606, James I was King of England for three years when Macbeth was written. Before, he was James VI of Scotland. King James symbolised togetherness of the England and Scottish Kingdoms. King James had a fascinated in witchcraft, which was shown in the play with the three witches. The first performance of Macbeth was at Hampton Court Palace in front of James I and guests in 1606. The play was based on fact. When he watched the play, he knew the story because he gained inheritance of the throne of Scotland through Fleance and Banquo, his ancestors. He even knew about the story of King Duncan's death.
The real Macbeth was king of Scotland in the period of 1040-1057.
The real Macbeth killed Duncan I, his predecessor, and then was killed by Duncan's son, Malcom III. These things that happened were not common in the eleventh century Scotland. Of the fourteen kings that took the throne between 943 and 1097, ten of them were murdered.

When Macbeth was king, he ruled well for seventeen years. While he was king, the north and the south of Scotland were united for the first time. He lost the battle in Aberdeen by Macolm III which is Duncan's son. Malcolm invaded Scotland with help from Edward the Confessor, who was king of England. Malcolm slaughtered the whole of Macbeth's family so that his kingship can be stabilised. This resulted in the end of the purely Celtic, which led to the break down of the barriers put up between England and Scotland.
The original story has aspects which was changed to intensify the drama within the piece and ensure that it had political correctness in the play when i