Einfhrung in die Dramen Shakespeares TUB, SoSe 2011 Donata Kasprzak d_kas@poczta.

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Macbeth-the origin and historical background

1. Introduction
1.1 Historical background

Renaissance in England had its place in the XVI and in the XVII century. It was also the time when Queen Elisabeth I ruled. After many years of war the country had finally begun to restore and develop its economy and culture. The theater was the main entertainment and it played a vast role in a social life. It was the very same period when Shakespeares works appeared on the scene. Elizabethan theater developed its own principles-it opposed the ancient pattern of drama. The classical unities had been breached. It happened very often, that the elements of tragedy and comedy were occurring in one play. Main characters were depicted as sophisticated individuals and it was common that they were emotionally unstable. The refusal of the unity of place required from the spectators imagining the space, where the action was on.

1.2

Macbeth as a book

Macbeth is one of the greatest and most known work written by Shakespeare in the Elizabethan Era. The legend about curse and bad luck connected with this book survived up to todays day. It is still present in theaters and among actors performing the play. The fact that this drama is permeated with tragedy and horror attracts directors as well as spectators and readers. Although it was written hundreds of years ago it still touches topical aspects of our present life like the problem of reign, blame and punishment. It also refers to humans fate ( destiny, coincidence or existence of some force majeure) and the source of evil in the world. Shakespeare describes a human as an individual, who serves his role in a society and in a dual world- the real and fantastic

one. Macbeth is hence complicated and many-sided work. The drama (next to Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet ) is an infinite source of quotations, literary plots and motifs.

2.

The creation and origin of Macbeth

2.1 Macbeths history by Raphael Holinshed was written in 1605 or in 1606 inspiration from the history of described in Raphael were published in 1579. The from the one depicted in the

It is believed that Macbeth and that Shakespeare took his England, Ireland and Scotland Holinsheds Chronicles. These original story varies however drama.

The historical Macbeth was a grandson of Malcolm II. The latter had no male inheritor but two daughters. The older one gave a birth to a boy named Duncan. Macbeth was a son of the younger daughter. After Malcolms death the throne was handed over to Duncan. He was however a weak and timid person, who could not fulfill the role of a king properly. Macbeth in contrast was not afraid to reach out his hand to grab what he desired. He defeated everyone who stand on his way to reign. Holinshed mentions also some fantastic event whereas Macbeth and Banquo meet three witches, who predict their future. Macbeth was told he would become a king of Scotland. He was supposed to reign properly, however he would leave no follower from his family. His ruling would also end up badly for him as the witches predicted. When it comes to Banquo he was promised to be even more successful than his friend. Three fortune tellers said he would not get to the throne by himself, but his descendants would take over the ruling one after another for long years in Scotland. At the beginning none of them treated this prediction seriously, however later (according to Holinshed) it was believed those three mysterious apparitions were some kind of nymphs or fortune tellers. The reason to believe so was all they said became true. Soon after that encounter the king (Than) of Cawdor died. Duncan entrusted all his belongings and power to his cousin. Macbeth then recalled the prediction of a third witch and tried to make everything to make it really happen. He was tempted by a thought that he could be a real, mighty and undefeated king. Meanwhile Duncan made his oldest son Malcolm the prince of Cumberland. He was however still too young to take over the reign in case of his fathers death. That gave Macbeth an incentive to

work on his career. His purpose was to kill the king before his son will reach the required age to be a new sovereign. He managed to do it with help of his friends and no one objected his violent overtaking the throne. Both sons of Duncan escaped to England as they were afraid of being murdered as well. There was no one else left, who could prevent him from achieving his target. During his reign, which lasted 16 or 17 years, he proved himself to be a just king. Especially first 10 years of his ruling were described by the chronicler as peaceful time of joy. In history of England, Ireland and Scotland we read that Macbeth brought in lots of fine laws, protected his subjects from oppression and secured prosperity to his land. Although he got what he wanted he was not satisfied with it. It was still not enough for this greedy man. He then recalled again the prediction of three nymphs and he started to be afraid of Banquo, because he was promised by one of the fortune tellers a life full of success after his death. Banquo, who was Macbeths true and loyal friend suddenly became his biggest enemy. Macbeth could not stand a thought his luck he had so far could just end. From now on he did not trust him and he started to think how to get rid of a man, who could destroy his dream about being the greatest sovereign. In order to lead his action of dismissing Banquo, he invited him for a dinner and schemed conspiracy against him. As a result his old friend lost his life. Macbeth was very suspicious about anyone, because in spite of the fact, he did not kill Banquo himself, everyone knew it was him, who commissioned it. He wanted to kill every man, who could deprive him the throne. He felt relieved and secure after the witch he trusted the most told him, he cannot be defeated by a man begotten from a woman. His ruling was supposed to come to an end when the forest approaches his castle in Dunsinan. While he was enjoying his absolute power, Macduff decided to get in touch with Malcolm in order to defeat him. They both had enough of his violent acting and greedy attitude. Hence they set a common target to free Scotland. They organized the forces and planned how to attack Macbeth's castle. Malcolm ordered his warriors to grab a branch and hold it in front to dissemble as they were approaching the place, where the battle was supposed to start. His motivation to defeat the unjust king did not last for too long as Macbeth discovered he outnumbered them. Malcolm run away leaving his ally on his own to face the tyrant. Macbeth followed Macduff on his horse and when they finally met, he shouted to him that he cannot be defeated by a man begotten from a woman. Feeling self-assure he wanted Macduff to face him and fight. Macduff answered the witches prediction was true and that he was the one, who he should be afraid of, as he was not begotten, but cut out of his mother's womb. After these

words he cut off Macbeths head and stucked it on a pile.

2.2 Shakespeares changes to Holinsheds version

Holinshed history was followed by Shakespeare quite in detail, however he introduced some variations to the original story. The chronicler mentions many ordinary events as well as pretty relevant battles, which stretch altogether for about 16 years. The dramatist gathers them in one part of his work to create a dynamic picture of the reality. Besides this, what he also changed, was the picture of some characters. For example Holinsheds weak and fearing Duncan does not appear as clumsy ruler in the drama. Indeed, he was respected by his subjects, but he was not too lenient, mild and as incompetent sovereign as the chronicler says. The reason he wanted to pass on the power to his son, was not because he could not cope with it, but simply because of his age. There was 10 years passed between Duncans and Banquos death, while Shakespeare separates those events with merely couple weeks. In opposition to chronicles, the act of killing Banquo is described in detail in the drama. Another difference or rather invention is the character of lady Macbeth. In historical sources there is not too many information about her. While Holinshed barely presents her, the dramatist shows her full picture and gives her important role to play by her husbands side. If we look closer at the scene with three witches, we will notice that both writers have a different approach to it. The chronicler cannot say exactly who they were. He is wondering and speculating. He does not call them unambiguously. We learn that they could have been witches, some kind of fairies or fortune tellers. He does not judge either, whether they were good or evil. He leaves this magic moment to be analyzed in the readers head. Shakespeare, in contrast, ascribes them an evil power from the very beginning. He does not associate them with anything positive.

Referenzen: Neis, Edgar. Knigs Erluterungen und Materialien. Hollfeld: 1988.Band 117/18. S.8-23