Macbeth - context

Question 1

Who was King James 1 ?

Answer 1

-King of England and Scotland , patron of Shakespeare’s work +
an opponent of regicide .

Question 2

How does King James link to Macbeth?

Answer 2

-Shakespeare may have used Macbeth to caution against regicide, aligning with King James’ views on the sanctity of kingship (divine rule)

Question 3

King James - Macbeth

Answer 3

-Macbeth’s rise to power through regicide illustrates the horrors of overthrowing a divinely appointed king, + warns against such ambition

Question 4

Why may Shakespeare have presented Banquo as honourable?

Answer 4

-King James 1 believed he descended from Banquo , therefore he portrays Banquo as honourable and untainted by ambition.

Question 5

Daemonologie

Answer 5

-Book by King James 1 detailing dangers of witchcraft + how to identify and punish witches.
-Witches in Macbeth mirror the ideas in Daemonologie , embodying malevolent supernatural forces James condemned
-Witches manipulation of Macbeth aligns with fears of witchcraft as outlined in Daemonologie.

Question 6

Great chain of being

Answer 6

-hierarchy believed to be ordained by God, placing kings above nobles, men above women and humans above animals
-Macbeth’s actions disrupt the natural order, while Lady Macbeth attempts to alter her own status by taking control and showing strength typically reserved for men
-Macbeth’s tyrannical reign and murder of Duncan violate this comic order leading to chaos in Scotland (nation).

Question 7

Divine Right of Kings

Answer 7

-A belief that the monarch is chosen by God, making the king a sacred and untouchable figure.
-Macbeth disrupts the Divine Right by murdering King Duncan, a king anointed by God ,thereby committing a grave moral and religious crime

Question 8

7 deadly sins

Answer 8

-Biblical sins pride, envy, wrath, sloth, lust, greed, and gluttony all lead to damnation
-Macbeth and Lady Macbeth embody these sins, particularly pride, greed and wrath which drive their actions and lead to their own downfall
-Macbeths’ hubris and greed push him to murder Duncan and claim the throne, blinding him to the consequences.

Question 9

Patriarchy

Answer 9

-societal structure where men hold authority over women 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 reinforces traditional views about the danger of women overstepping their roles.