Context

• When was Macbeth likely written?

  In 1606
• During whose reign was Macbeth likely written?

  King James I of England
• What book did King James I author regarding witchcraft?

  Daemonologie
• How does Shakespeare reflect King James I's interest in witchcraft in Macbeth?


  Through the witches in the play
• What historical event occurred a year before Macbeth was written?

  The Gunpowder Plot
• What themes does Macbeth explore that resonate with the Gunpowder Plot?

  Treason, regicide, and moral chaos
• What is the Divine Right of Kings?

  The belief that monarchs are appointed by God
• How does Macbeth reinforce the belief in the Divine Right of Kings?

  Through the consequences of Macbeth's regicide
• Where is Macbeth set?

  In Scotland
• Why is the Scottish setting relevant to King James I?

  Because he was originally from Scotland
• What historical source did Shakespeare use for Macbeth?

  Holinshed’s Chronicles
• How did Shakespeare alter his historical sources for Macbeth?

  By emphasizing Macbeth’s ambition and Lady Macbeth’s influence
• What was the societal view of gender roles in Jacobean society?

  Men were seen as leaders, women as submissive
• How does Lady Macbeth challenge traditional gender roles?

  By displaying dominance and ambition
• What beliefs did Elizabethan and Jacobean audiences hold regarding fate?

  They believed in fate, prophecy, and the supernatural
• How do the witches' prophecies affect Macbeth's downfall?

  They play on fears of predestination and dark forces