Context

Divine Right of Kings

Belief that the king was chosen by God and any attempt to overthrow him (like Macbeth's regicide) was a direct sin against divine order, heightening the tragedy and horror of Macbeth’s ambition.

Gunpowder Plot of 1605

The failed Catholic plot to assassinate King James I informs the play’s theme of treason and regicide. Shakespeare uses Macbeth to reinforce loyalty to the monarchy and condemn rebellion.

James I and Witchcraft

King James had a fascination with witches and even wrote Daemonologie. Shakespeare includes the witches to reflect contemporary fears and appeal to James’s personal interests.

Great Chain of Being

A hierarchical structure of all matter and life, with God at the top. Macbeth disrupts this order by murdering Duncan, causing chaos in nature (e.g. storms, unnatural events) to reflect cosmic imbalance.

Gender Roles in Jacobean Society

Women were expected to be passive and obedient. Lady Macbeth subverts this, showing ambition and control. Her downfall reinforces traditional gender norms and warns against female power.

Equivocation and Truth

The Gunpowder Plot involved a Jesuit priest who encouraged “equivocation” (truthful lies). The witches speak in riddles, showing how language can deceive, manipulate, and lead to downfall.

The Supernatural

Belief in the supernatural was widespread. Ghosts, witches, and visions were considered real. Shakespeare uses these to dramatise Macbeth’s guilt, moral conflict, and the influence of dark forces.

Tragedy and Hamartia

As a tragic hero, Macbeth possesses a fatal flaw (ambition) that leads to his downfall. Shakespeare uses this structure to explore human weakness and the consequences of moral corruption.

Kingship and Tyranny

Duncan is portrayed as a model king — just and gracious — while Macbeth becomes a tyrant. The contrast reflects political anxieties of the time and reinforces the need for moral leadership.

Violence and Masculinity

In Jacobean culture, masculinity was linked to violence and dominance. Macbeth is manipulated through his masculinity (“when you durst do it, then you were a man”), revealing how toxic ideas of manhood drive the plot.