Cultural
Context
Shakespeare didn’t write his work in a vacuum, he was, as all writers continue to be, influenced by the social, political and philosophical thinking of the age. To gain a deeper understanding of the text we must understand the culture in which Shakespeare lived.
Political Situation during the writing of Macbeth
Queen Elizabeth died in 1603 and having no children, nieces or nephews the throne was offered to James Stuart otherwise known as James VI of Scotland. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606 which was the year after the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 where Guy Fawkes tried to blow up King James and Parliament. It is clear that Shakespeare was writing at a period of immense change in England. England was transitioning from the Elizabethan Age to the Jacobean period. Macbeth is a cautionary tale warning any other potential regicides (King – Killers) of the awful fate that will inevitably overtake them, thus reflecting the treatment of Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators.
Philosophical thinking during the Elizabethan and Jacobean Age
Macbeth’s audience lived at a time when authority, order and hierarchy were implicit in day to day life. The main hierarchy of society and beliefs was the Great Chain of Being – which was Universal. The order of this was; God, angels, demons, man, woman, animal, plant and mineral. The greatest authority in this society was the Monarchy.(Perhaps Insert an Image)
It is important to note the overthrow or death of a King would not have the same impact on audiences today as it would have in the 17th century. At that time it was considered an offence against God for anyone to try to alter their station in life. After death, however, all would be raised in the kingdom of Heaven, if they respected God’s will. Since royal rank was bestowed by God, it was therefore a sin to aspire to it.
Historical basis of Macbeth
Macbeth’s plot is partly based on fact, Shakespeare read about the real Macbeth in the Chronicles of Holinshed. Macbeth was an 11th century Scottish King, but the big difference was the historical Macbeth, had a valid right to the throne amd reigned capably in Scotland from 1040 until 1057. He too succeeded Duncan, whom he had defeated in battle, but the historical Duncan was a weak man, not the respected elderly figure we meet in the play. In reality, Macbeth was succeeded by his own stepson, not by Duncan’s son, Malcolm, who came to the throne later. The Stuart kings claimed descent from Banquo and as a tribute to King James, Shakespeare presents Banquo as a wise, noble and regal figure who arouses jealousy in Macbeth as much for his own good qualities as for the promise the witches make to him of founding a dynasty.
Shakespeare and the Court
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare’s acting company was called the ‘Chamberlain’s Men’. After the accession of James they changed their name to the ‘King’s Men’ as a tribute to him. The patronage of the King and court was obviously valuable to Shakespeare. In Macbeth, Shakespeare seeks to flatter and please the King in the following ways.
- Macbeth, as a usurper of a lawful King, loses everything
- Showing Banquo in a positive light
- Portraying Malcolm as an ideal king based on characteristics from King James book Basilikon Doron
- The prevalence of the supernatural and the Weird Sister in particular was influenced by King James interest as evidenced by his treatise Daemonologie.