Macbeth

• who was king when the play was written and what was interest?

  king James

  he was interested in the supernatural and fate - he wrote a book -
• what era was the play written?

  Jacobean era
• what were the beliefs surrounding women?

  property of their male superiors with no power. they were stereotyped as weak
• what character does Shakespeare use to challenge sterotypes?

  Lady Macbeth - she pushes the boundaries of gender norms and believe they are just as capable
• what is the divine right of kings?

  the kings were chosen by god
• what is the great chain of being?

  the hierarchal structure with god at the top and animals at the bottom.

  if disrupted the world would fall into chaos with animals acting strange
• Sleep is a symbol of peace and innocence but without shows a troubled mind
• Jacobean britain were very religious - Christian. They believed god could see into every sin and crime someone acts
• The play pleases James as it shows anyone who trys to usurp the thrown ends in down fall - this relates to him as people conspired against him in the gunpowder plot and warns the audience to not do the same
• What were the views on witches?


  they were evil, associated with the devil and made chaos. many women were convicted for witchcraft which lead to lots of executions