Context Flashcards
‘a vaulting ambition with ov’leaps itself’
the ancient Greeks idea of a tragic hero was someone who has a character flaw or hamartia which brought about their destruction, usually born or noble birth, evokes more pity at their decent.
‘the most sacrilegious murder hath broke’
- Macbeth’s sacrilegious act linked to Satan’s rebellion against god in the bible, believed to be the work of witches.
- the divine right of kings, murdering the king is contrary to gods will. (called regicide)
- Jacobean audience would therefore condemn Macbeth to face eternal damnation for deeds
‘look not like the inhabitants of the earth’
James 1st wrote demonology a study of witchcraft because he was fascinated by it. James 1st was patron of Shakespeare’s theatre company therefore including witches was appealing to king.
‘he hath playst most foully’
Banquo portrayed as noble and virtuous lord because king james 1st could trace his noble ancestry back to banquo.
- also in Holinshed’s chronicles banquo helped to kill the king, but in Macbeth he doesn’t.
‘the dark night strangles the travelling lamp’
the play was probably first performed in daylight, (1606)constant references to darkness reinforce the setting.
‘Macbeth, Macbeth, beware macduff’
although Macbeth does not fit into the time period of the gothic genre, the castle of otranto by Horace Walpole featured prophecies that effected future events
‘like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief’
Macbeth was written at a very cautionary time for royalty, Richard 3rd seized the throne and kept it though deception and cruelty, and james 1st had experienced assassination attempts, the theme of guilt and regicide was therefore politically acceptable to the king.
‘I have seen hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night…’
the old man is significantly given the biblical lifespan of 70 years to represent the common man with wisdom and experience, the fact he grants it a horrific night exaggerates the horror.
