context

• Context - Macbeth - Religion

  • exploring fate vs free will
  • ghosts
  • witches
  • hell/heaven
  • Christian views
  • Open to interpretation whether the ghosts wear god or hallucinations of a mad man (humanist)
  • Macbeths loss in Christian faith reflects growing doubt in religious belief
  • renaissance period
• Context - Macbeth - Great Chain of Being


  • Sacred order for all existence
  • king was seen as gods representative on earth
  • preserve this Order means peace
  • Someone disturbs this chaos
  • Order vs Chaos
• context - Macbeth - witches

  • everyone was very fearful of them
  • deal with devil
  • Said to be responsible for all bad
  • James 1 very suspicions
  • killed hundreds of witches
  • charged them with high treason
• context - political

  • James 1 recently came to power
  • gunpowder plot
  • Shakespeare wanted to warn anyone who wanted the thrown, ambition will always end in downfall
  • divine justice will always punish arrogance
  • Shakespeare wanted to suck up to king
  • Banquo said to be related to king James
• context - women in society

  • misogynistic period
  • feminine traits - passive, virtuous
  • biblical belief woman were a source of sin
  • lady M and Macbeth subvert these roles
  • Lady M discords femineity and motherly role