Historical Context

Question 1

How was the divine right of Kings seen at the time of writing?

Answer 1

• Many contemporaries believed in the Divine Right of Kings, which was supported by the Great Chain of Being.
• This belief was challenged by the attempted regicide of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, which was seen as an affront to God’s authority.
• Shakespeare, whose patron was King James, also seemed to support these ideas in his play Macbeth.

Question 2

How was royal power erroded at the time?

Answer 2

• Throughout the sixteenth century, confidence in absolute royal power had been steadily eroding.
• This was due to conflicts ignited by Henry VIII’s Protestant Reformation and Dissolution, as well as the subsequent reversals of these policies under Mary I and Elizabeth I.
• Shakespeare’s references to equivocation (ambiguous language) in Macbeth reflect the contemporary atmosphere of confusion, anxiety, and paranoia.

Question 3

Explain the idea of ‘body politic’ in macbeth

Answer 3

• The idea of a body politic (organised group of citizens) could be used to turn against an unpopular ruler, recasting them as a disease threatening to corrupt the nation.
• This is clearly shown in the end of Macbeth where Malcome and the remaining Thanes kill and depose Macbeth

Question 4

How are supernatural forces portrayed in Macbeth and seen at the time

Answer 4

• Shakespeare’s treatment of supernatural forces in Macbeth is ambiguous, despite the strong contemporary beliefs in such powers.
• This is particularly interesting given King James’ personal interest in the topic, as seen in his involvement in witch trials and his scholarly treatise on Daemonologie.
• The Weird Sisters, who play a pivotal role in the play, are ultimately portrayed as deceitful and escape punishment.

Question 5

How did Shakespeare explore strict contemporary ideas about gender roles in Macbeth?

Answer 5

• The Macbeths are portrayed as inverted, with each taking on characteristics of the opposite gender or possessing exaggerated traits of their own gender.
• This challenges traditional expectations of men as ambitious, brave, and loyal, and women as caring and nurturing but also indecisive and prone to madness.