Introduction

Synopsis

Macbeth is a play about a Scottish nobleman who learns, from a prophecy given to him by three witches, that he is to become king. When Macbeth's ambition overcomes his moral judgement, he assassinates the reigning king and fulfils the prophecy. In doing so, however, he undermines his own rule with insecurity - insecurity he created when he upset the natural succession to the throne. Beheaded in battle, Macbeth's death allows the rightful heir to reclaim the throne and order is restored.

Historical background

The play is set in Scotland and the characters' names, including Duncan, Macbeth, Malcolm and Siward, are based on the names of real 11th century British figures. Although Duncan and Macbeth were both kings in life as in the play, Shakespeare did not directly base his narrative on fact, but instead used historical events as a frame for the action in the play.

The real Macbeth, ruler of the Moray region of Scotland, was elected to the Scottish throne when the previous king, Duncan, died in battle. Whether Macbeth killed Duncan in the battle remains unknown. Historical opinions suggest that Macbeth was a charitable king who brought peace and prosperity to Scotland during his reign of 17 years. During this time, he made advances into northern England, which displeased Siward, Earl of Northumberland. Siward then campaigned to depose Macbeth and reinstate Malcolm Canmore, Duncan's son. Malcolm eventually beheaded Macbeth in a duel at Lumphanan to become Malcolm III, King of Scotland.

Some sources say that the Battle of Dunsinane, and the concept of Birnam Wood encroaching on Dunsinane, refers to an earlier battle during Macbeth's reign, while others dismiss it as part-myth ascribed to Macbeth by Shakespeare.

Historical context

William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth I, at the time when King James I's ascendancy united the throne of England with the throne of Scotland. Knowing that James' lineage included Banquo, Thane of Lachaber, Shakespeare may have tried to ingratiate himself with his new ruler by emphasising that Banquo and his heirs were the rightful rulers of Scotland.

Scotland and England have a brutal history of fighting so the final battle in the play, where the combined Scottish and English army win back the throne, serves as a metaphor for the new union of Scotland and England under King James.

King James also had an obsession with demonology and a serious concern that witchcraft would undermine his rule. Shakespeare's use of witches and apparitions is therefore no accident. There is speculation, however, that Thomas Middleton may have added many of the scenes involving Hecate and the witches in a later revision of Macbeth, inserting passages from his own play, The Witch.

Macbeth's curse

Macbeth is also known as 'The Scottish Play' due to a long-held superstition that the play has a curse upon it and that if anyone utters the word 'Macbeth' in a theatre, outside the context of a rehearsal or performance, tragedy will befall the production. The characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are therefore referred to by a nickname, such as 'Mackers' and 'Lady Mackers' or similar.

To remedy the curse, the offender needs to leave the theatre, turn around three times in a clockwise direction and spit over his or her left shoulder before knocking on the theatre door to be admitted back into the vicinity. Some theatres practise variations on this ritual, such as recitation of the 'Angels and ministers of grace defend us!' speech from Hamlet (I.iv).

There are a number of theories about how the superstition originated. From the beginning there were rumours that Shakespeare had used real incantations for the witches' scenes, which could have been enough to perpetuate the idea of a curse.
Even without real incantations, the supernatural concepts could have been enough to suggest a curse.

Historians have also documented a number of accidents that have occurred in the staging of the play, from prop daggers switched with real daggers to cast illnesses and venue-related catastrophes. Other productions have suffered crippling reviews, or critics have savaged the actor playing Macbeth.

The most enduring reason, however, is that because Macbeth is the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies and popular with audiences, a theatre would stage the play if it were in financial trouble. A production of Macbeth therefore meant that it was a last-ditch effort to save an ailing venue or company, an indication of impending misfortune.