FREE ESSAY ON MACBETH

MACBETH

Macbeth was one of William Shakespeare's finest plays. Although many people have read
Macbeth, not many people know that King Macbeth of Scotland actually existed and what
influenced Shakespeare to write about him. English culture and society as well as the
historical figure Macbeth impacted Shakespeare's infamous play. 
The historical King Macbeth reigned in Scotland for 17 years from 1040-1057. He had a
wife named Coruoch and a stepson named Luloch. Although Macbeth did kill Duncan, he was
not the gentle king as described in Macbeth. Killing a king was not uncommon at this time
as, Macbeth's 7-9 predecessors were killed as well. In 1050, Macbeth went on a religious
pilgrimage to Rome to seek absolution for Duncan's death. Unlike Macbeth, Malcolm (rather
than Macduff) killed the historical Macbeth. Luloch, known as the "Idiot," reigned for
five months after Macbeth's death until Malcom overthrew him. Although there are
differences between Shakespeare's Macbeth and the historical figure Macbeth, it is
obvious that Shakespeare based his character on this Scottish king.
The person who influenced Shakespeare to write Macbeth was King James I of England, who
reigned from 1566 to 1625. King James, who was also known as King James 6 of Scotland,
succeeded the throne of Queen Elizabeth. James' mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was known as
a tragic queen since she killed James father. At age sixteen, rivals kidnapped James and
at age 20, James' mother was executed. King James was intellectual, scholarly, and an
"insatiable curiost." His ideal of heaven was the Oxford Library. In 1584, while he was
only 18 years old, James wrote Essays of Apprentice in Fine Arts of Poetry. He discussed
a new translation of the bible, The Authorized Version, which is the most popular bible
today. James also wrote in defense of the Divine Right of Kings- that kings were chosen
by God, but they must rule well. King James succeeded in ruling an authoritarian
government, but he ruled no better than today's democratic governments. He was known as
the wisest fool in Christendom. James was also eager for social reform. He wrote A
Counterblast to Tobacco, which is much like the anti-smoking campaigns of modern times.
When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, he was obviously aware of James concern with witchcraft.
King James wrote the Daemonologie, an account of his experiences with witchcraft. Once a
witch tried to melt James' image in wax, and another witch tried to poison him with toad
venom. James is skeptical of witchcraft, but does not dismiss it. One significant event
during King James' reign was the gunpowder plot. A party of Christian zealots attempted
to blow up Parliament. Henry Garnet, a Jesuit, knew of the plot but lied under
questioning sine he thought it was justifiable to conceal the truth. James resented this,
and many people sympathized with him. 
The writing of Macbeth was aimed at the head of King James. James was Scottish, like
Macbeth, and enjoyed the play. Shakespeare and his actors were known as the "King's Men"
and Grooms of the Chamber. They received increased pay and production time. King James
found an ancestor in Banquo and believed that man could ally himself with evil, but
cannot create it. Macbeth emphasized the savagery of Scotland, which was all too real for
James, who knew the throne of Scotland was worth struggling for. It was King James who
conceived the term "Great Britain" when he united England and Scotland.
Macbeth was deliberately written for King James I, who influenced many factors of the
play. While Macbeth was a real king, Shakespeare intertwined the history of Macbeth with
events of King James' life to create this masterpiece.