context Flashcards
(6 cards)
King James 1
King James 1 was the king of England and Scotland and patron of Shakespeare’s work. In Macbeth, Shakespeare may have used the play to caution against regicide and aligning with Jame’s views on the sanctity of kingship.Banquo was believed to have been an ancestor of King James 1 therefore Shakespeare altered the Holished’s chronicle (a primary source of his play) in order to portray Banquo in a more favourable light.
Daemonologie
Daemonologie was a book written by King James 1 detailing the dangers of witchcraft. The witches in Macbeth mirrors the ideas presented in Daemonologie embodying the malevolent supernatural forces that James condemned. Daemonologie legitimised the persecution of Witches leading to witch hunts and executions across England and Scotland.
Great Chain of Beings
the Great Chain of Beings was a hierarchy believed to be ordained by God which placed Kings above nobles and men above women.The Macbeth family’s futile actions disrupts the natural order as they attempt to alter their status.The Great Chain of beings supported social structure and disturbances were thought to lead to chaos in the natural order.
Divine Right of Kings
the Divine Right of Kings is a belief that the monarch is chosen by God, therefore making the King a sacred and untouchable figure. Macbeth disrupts Natural order through the act of regicide thereby committing not just a moral crime but also a religious crime. This concept was relevant in Shakespeare’s time as undermining the King was viewed ad a direct attack on God’s authority
patriarchy
a societal structure where men hold authority over men and other social groups. Lady Macbeth defies the traditional patriarchy by exerting influence over Macbeth and subverting her expected role as a submissive wife. Lady Macbeth’s dominance challenges the audience’s expectations of women while her downfall cautions the consequences of female ambition.
the gunpowder plot
