GCSE AQA Macbeth context notes that will ensure you that grade 9.
Includes: history of Macbeth, Jacobean era, king James 1, witchcraft, divine right of kings, great chain of being, gunpowder plot, religion, setting, the curse, literary critics.
Macbeth context
History of Macbeth:
o Macbeth is a dramatic tragedy, with the tragedy surrounding the protagonist Macbeth and the witches act as
catalysts for the play’s event
o Hamartia: an ancient Greek term, meaning fatal flaw, leading to ultimate downfall, in Macbeth’s case his
hamartia was his ambition and lust for power leading to his inevitable downfall
o Catharsis: an ancient Greek term meaning ‘purging’ or ‘cleansing’ of emotions, particularly through pity and fear,
that the audience experiences at the end of a tragedy, resulting in renewal and restoration
o Macbeth’s self-destructive actions, when he is stripped of his majesty, his wife and then his own life encourages
the audience to pity Macbeth, they experience catharsis
Jacobean era:
o Macbeth was written during the reign of King James I, who was a supporter of Shakespeare consequently
meaning Shakespeare was greatly influenced by the King
o The Jacobean era was one of uncertainty and tension due to the way that king James came to power, and so the
work which Shakespeare produced during this period tended to reflect this mood
King James I:
o The history surrounding King James I is vital for deeper understanding of the Scottish tragedy, as in some ways
the life of King James can be referred to as a Scottish tragedy
o When King James took his position of the King of Scotland he made an alliance with Elizabeth I securing his place
as her successor
Witchcraft:
o King James I had a great interest in the supernatural and witchcraft, he wrote a book called ‘daemonologie’; he
believed witchcraft was an act of Satan and the way one became one was by making a deal with the devil to
obtain supernatural powers
o The book was a dialogue which extensively explained his views on witchcraft, aiming to bring to light evidence
which would warrant the claim and also justify the death penalty as a punishment for witchcraft
o Witch-hunting was a known and accepted practice
o King James I enacted a new law in 1604, called ‘An act against conjuration, witchcraft and dealing with evil and
wicked spirits’, this act made witchcraft a felony punishable by death and removed interference from the clergy
The divine right of kings:
o James I believed in the divine right of kings, he believed he was chosen by God to be the king of England and the
righteous judge of England
o He believed in witch hunts and witch trials not only out of moral conviction but also due to the fact that he was
ordained by God, he has a supernatural duty to complete witch hunts
o Furthermore, in the great chain of being, the king is the closest being to God on earth, because of this close
relationship, it was the role of the king to enact the will of God – which James believed was to rid the earth of
witches
o When James was just the king of Scotland, he sailed to meet his betrothed, on his journey his men were attacked
by deadly weather, leaving king James to believe it was an act of witchcraft, encouraging him to launch a witch
hunt on a scale that had never been seen before, 70 suspects were tortured into confessing their use of magic
and then brutally burned at the stake
o King James I was deeply misogynistic, which can be attributed to the patriarchal times he lived in
o Evidence of this can be seen in his book ‘daemonologie’, in which he asserted that only women could be witches
as they were the ‘weaker sex’ and so could easily be entrapped by the ‘snares’ of the devil
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller meganvl. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R94,18. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
