Explore the relationship between Macbeth and the witches in the play. Explain the influence they have on him.
The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of James VI of Scotland 1567–1625, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I, as Queen Elizabeth had no nephews or children to take the throne. The Jacobean era succeeds the Elizabethan era and precedes the Caroline era, and specifically denotes a style of architecture, visual arts, decorative arts, and literature that is predominant of that period. Shakespeare, wrote many of his more prominent plays during the Jacobean Era, such as, The Tempest in 1610, King Lear in 1603 and Macbeth in 1606. The plays Shakespeare wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, are often seen to embody the generally happy, confident and optimistic mood of the Elizabethans. However, those he wrote during James's reign, such as Macbeth and Hamlet, are darker and more cynical, reflecting the insecurities of the Jacobean period. Macbeth is a tragedy and denotes to a tragic hero. Macbeth was written the year after the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605, high treason was on the mind of every English subject. A small group of angry Catholics, frustrated with ongoing persecution at the hands of the Protestant monarchy, hatched an elaborate plot to destroy King James 1 and his government. However a warning letter surfaced at the last minute and James ordered a search of his Palace. The most notorious conspirator, Guy Fawkes, was discovered in the cellar. These traitors of the realm had some deep connections to Shakespeare and his family. Shakespeare's father, John, undoubtedly a covert Catholic, was friends with William Catesby, the father of the head conspirator, Robert Catesby. John Shakespeare and William Catesby shared illegal Catholic writings that eventually wound up in the attic of John's home in Stratford. Moreover, the Mermaid Tavern in London, frequented by Shakespeare and owned by his closest friend and confident, was a preferred meeting spot of the turncoats as they schemed to obliterate the government.
One of the most prevalent insecurities during the Jacobean era was witchcraft, witchcraft almost completely contradicted Christianity, which at the time was highly prominent. James 1 became interested in witchcraft after he attended the trial of the Berwick witches in 1590 where it was claimed that some of the seventy accused, attempted to sink a ship on which he was travelling. After many confessed to the act under extreme torture, James became obsessed with the idea that witchcraft was a real threat to his reign. He wrote a treatise on witchcraft and demonology based on the Malleus Maleficarum that was used to condemn hundreds of Scottish people to death under allegations of witchcraft and unchristian acts. James also wrote a book, “The Deamomology” where he approves of the practice of witch-hunting and expresses his beliefs about witchcraft. Scotland maintained belief in witches and their ability to make prophecies and affect the outcome of certain events. Christians at this time believed witches to have a strong pact with the devil. This pact gave the witch certain powers for the price of her soul. Witches were thought to make people ill, blight crops and make livestock sicken or become infertile. They had familiar demons in animal forms that carried out their bidding. They could cause storms, sink ship and had supernatural control over the weather.
King James 1 and Shakespeare were said to have a relatively strong relationship, primarily bound by their equal love of literature, it was said that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth specifically for James himself, to satisfy his obsession with witchcraft, and to outline the nobility of Kings and king’s men, In 1598, James 1 wrote Basilicon Doron as a testament to instruct his young son, Prince Henry, in manners, morals and the
Macbeth Analytical Essay Macbeth is portrayed in two different versions, in Polanski’s film version (1971) and in Shakespeare. In Shakespeare’s version Macbeth is depicted as a victim of his own actions, and in Polanski’s, Macbeth is characterized as a victim of fate. This is shown in Act Two, Scene Two and Act Three, Scene Six and Act Five, Scene Five. These scenes give a close analysis of Macbeth’s behaviour. Observing the juxtaposition in these two scenes with Polanski’s Macbeth with the influence…
Macbeth “Macbeth” By William Shakespeare is a play in which the relationship between a male and female character changes significantly. This essay will show how the relationship between the two characters changes and to what extent this illuminates a central ideas of the play which are power and ambition. “Macbeth” is about a loyal kinsman to the king of Scotland allowing his ‘vaulting ambition’ to get the better of him. He plans with his wife who turns out to be the driving force, to commit…
BAKER1 Robert Baker Mr. Favreau April 6, 2014 ! ! ! Why Shakespeare’s Macbeth Is The Best Classic Play Shakespeare’s Macbeth is by far the best classic play in existence. His writings pleased masses and he was very much ahead of his own time. Out of many great plays, Macbeth in particular stands out because of Shakespeare’s spectacular use of a supernatural essence to progress the story. Adding to it’s excellence is the writers effective use of pathos throughout the play to truly make it feel…
English Macbeth Notes PLOT At the banquet, a murderer arrives and reports to Macbeth just as the dinner guests begin to arrive. He informs Macbeth that Banquo is dead but Fleance has escaped. Shaken, Macbeth thanks him for what he has done and arranges another meeting on the following day. The murderer leaves and Macbeth returns to the feast. Looking over the table, Macbeth declares that the banquet would be perfect if only Banquo were present. At this point Banquo's ghost appears unobserved and…
Macbeth In this essay I will be discussing the main emotions within Macbeth such as Fear, Ambition and Greed, Love and Guilt. As these are the main emotions that run strongly throughout the play and some that you see up until the very end. These emotions are some of the reasons the book is so enticing you wonder how a certain character is feeling and you can put yourself in their shoes. The first emotion I am going to discuss is Fear some of the most simple of sentences or statements can show vivid…
similarities have been found between historical figures and fictional characters. The character “Macbeth” created by William Shakespeare for the play “Macbeth. One of the most easily explainable examples of this would be with previous soviet ruler, Joseph Stalin. Stalin got to power by creating a platform of trust while being the General Secretary. He was extremely close to Lenin and his supporters. As Macbeth was to King Duncan, loyalty and trust to the previous head of power, he eliminated the threats…
Macbeth Essay The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside may be two completely different things. Some may change because they fill as if they are not socially accepted, others pretend to be something they truly aren’t. No matter which way you analyze it, if you try to act like someone your not, the truth will always come out in the end. Which is exactly what happens in William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. Banquo, MacBeth, and Lady MacBeth each project a specific persona…
Macbeth Essay By Jacobus Overgaauw Suicide may be a selfish act but it is not an unacceptable one. Different people all see suicide differently. Suicide has a wide effect on family as well as friends. In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare there is a case of suicide that shows all of the issues of the touchy subject, suicide. People often see the subject of suicide to be “taboo” or a “no go” area, generally something people just don’t like to talk about understandably. In the play Macbeth when…
Use of Night and Darkness in Macbeth Shakespeare is known for his descriptively rich plays. He also ways does an excellent job of describing both the characters as well as the setting. One specific area of the play MacBeth is the use of night and darkness to show evil or happening that are not right. Examples of this are the many appearances of the witches, the murders that occur, and the conflicts that MacBeth faces with his mental health. The following three paragraphs will further discuss…
Zach Shaffer C7 June 2, 1015 Macbeth Essay Written by William Shakespeare over 400 years ago, Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish noble overcome by his own evil ambition for kingship. One of the most intense scenes comes after Macbeth has killed King Duncan, and Macbeth must act as a good liar while the other Scottish nobles discover the dead body. The transitioning of this scene from the original script to film caused only minor dialogic…