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The Divine Right of Kings

Belief that a king could do whatever he wants because he was chosen by God. Disobeying the king was seen as disobeying God. Some kings believed they had healing powers.

The Great Chain of Being

Hierarchical structure where God is on top, followed by the king, and commoners at the bottom along with animals and plants. Regicide, the act of killing the king, was going against God.

The supernatural/witchcraft

Belief that witches are associated with the devil and practice evil magic to harm people. Anyone associated with witchcraft was sentenced to death. King James I had an obsessive hatred for witchcraft.

Women

Women were seen as submissive and delicate, with roles to marry, produce children, and look after the family. Unmarried women or those without children were considered witches and outcasts. Women were subservient to men and did not have the right to vote until women's emancipation in 1918.

Men/Masculinity

Men were considered the dominant sex, expected to work, earn money to raise a family, and had the right to own property and vote. Masculinity was important, with men expected to appear strong, brave, and loyal for respect.

Religion

England was divided into two main religions: Catholic and Protestant. King James I was Protestant, leading to conflict and violence between Catholics and Protestants.

Loyalty

Loyalty to the king was considered an important moral quality. Many people were disloyal and attempted to assassinate King James I, with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 being the most famous attempt.

Regicide

The crime of attempting to kill the king. Macbeth commits treason when murdering King Duncan.

Sacrilege

The crime of committing an offense against God. Macbeth not only commits regicide but also sacrilege by killing King Duncan, who was seen as God's representative on Earth due to the Divine Right of Kings.

Darkness

Darkness was considered a place of evil and misery, symbolizing evil and unnatural occurrences. It was associated with darkness on Earth mentioned in the Bible after Jesus was crucified.