Macbeth - Context

In what era was Macbeth written?

The Jacobean era.

Approximately when was Macbeth written?

1606.

Who was the monarch when Macbeth was written?

King James I of England (James VI of Scotland).

What was the Divine Right of Kings?

The belief that monarchs received their authority from God.

What was the Great Chain of Being?

A God-given hierarchy placing all creation in a fixed order.

How does Macbeth disrupt the Great Chain of Being?

He murders the rightful king and disrupts the natural order.

What was the Gunpowder Plot?

A failed 1605 attempt to blow up Parliament and kill James I.

How is the Gunpowder Plot relevant to Macbeth?

Both involve treason against a divinely appointed monarch.

What were Jacobean attitudes towards witchcraft?

Many believed witches were real and associated them with evil.

Why would the witches interest King James I?

He was interested in witchcraft and wrote Daemonologie.

What were typical Jacobean expectations of women?

They were expected to be obedient, nurturing and subordinate to men.

How does Lady Macbeth challenge Jacobean gender expectations?

She seeks power and rejects traditional feminine qualities.

What was regicide?

The murder of a monarch.

What genre is Macbeth?

A tragedy.

What is a tragic hero, and how does Macbeth fit this role?

A high-status character whose fatal flaw contributes to their downfall; Macbeth's is ambition.