Year 9 Homework: Macbeth Context Research

The play Macbeth was first performed in 1606. Please research the below topics during that time period

Who was Shakespeare?
Shakespeare was a British writer who
composed sonnets, poems and plays to
entertain the audience of the 17th
century. His many works are about life,
love, death, revenge, grief, jealousy,
murder, magic and mystery.
Who was on the throne at the time?
Queen Elizabeth the 1st was on the throne
of England at the time that Shakespeare
had started writing. When he started to
write, she had already been on the throne
for nearly 30 years.
After her death, in 1603, King James VI of
Scotland was named her successor. He
then became King James 1st of England.
What were the Jacobean beliefs
surrounding the supernatural?
The Jacobean people were religious and
god fearing. The supernatural concept
was one that wasn’t born during this
period, but rather passed down through
generations in the formal of verbal
communication and indoctrination.
Supernatural beings were considered to
be extremely harmful and that they can
cause mass destruction, e.g. to damage
crops.
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
The belief that kings derive their
authority from God, not their subjects.
This means that they could not be held
accountable for their actions by any
earthly authority such as parliament.
King James 1st of England was the first in
time of the concept of the Divine Right
of Kings. He reigned from 1603-1625.

People that were old or lonely were

The Book of Demonology.
Who wrote it?
What was it about?
In 1597, King James VI and I of Scotland
published a compendium on witchcraft
lore called Daemonologie. It was also
published in England in 1603.
The purpose of the book was to
convince sceptics about the reality of
witchcraft. The book is written in
dialogue and sets out an argument
demonstrating the existence of witches
regarded to be individuals who are
monsters under the disguise of a
human. Beliefs about witches and other
supernatural beings was boosted with
the release of Macbeth.
Can you list other Shakespearean Why did Shakespeare write Macbeth? Was the character of Macbeth based on
tragedies? real character? If so, state who.
Macbeth was a tribute to King James 1 st,
1. Antony and Cleopatra and its purpose was to caution against Yes, Macbeth was a Scottish warlord
2. Coriolanus abuses of power and the instability who lived from 1004 to 1057. Macbeth
3. Hamlet which follows from political violence. became king of Scotland in 1040, after
4. Julius Caesar killing the ruling King Duncan 1 in battle.
5. King Lear Macbeth also reflected concepts such as
6. Othello Feudalism and the Divine Right of Kings,
7. Romeo and Juliet and tells us that if this order is
8. Timon and Athens disturbed, then disasters will occur.
9. Titus Andronicus
It also addressed questions regarding
the reality of witches and if they are
can be proven. The book explores the truly real or not.
study on the supernatural, and the
methods that demons used to bother
troubled men.

What was the role of women in Jacobean society?
Jacobean women lived a life that was subordinate to
men, meaning that they had to work for the men, and
had to obey men. The responsibility of the women
was to take care of the household; namely the chores
such as the dishes, laundry and looking after the
children.
Elizabethan England enforced laws that restricted the
daily lives of women. Women couldn’t attend
university of school, most of the guilds did not admit
women to work for them, the profession of acting was
also prohibited to them.
The women’s father also had a large degree of control
over her marriage. The father also decided when his
daughter was ready for marriage. After the marriage,
the husband would be considered legal master.
What was the role of men during the Jacobean
period?
Men were assumed to have a dominant position in
society. The men had to work and provide protection
and food for the household. All members of the family
had to obey him and do what he says.
The men also had all ownership of the land and could
override any suggestions/decisions made by other
members of the household.
Men virtually ran all aspects of society. They held all
positions of power, in exception of the queen, and
took all higher paid positions.
Religion during the Jacobean period.
During the 1600’s, Christianity was split into
Catholicism and Protestantism. The divide between
these two religions was the catalyst for many civil
wars and destructive events such as the gunpowder
plot.
By 1603, England had secured their Protestant identity
at the end of the Queen’s reign. Henry VIII separated
England from the Roman Catholic Church which
provided a pathway for Protestantism to be exposed
to English society.

King James and witchcraft Gun Powder plot. Any other key information…

King James’ obsession with black magic sparked
Europe’s most brutal witch and supernatural hunts. In
the 1590’s, his never-ending obsession and fear of
witches resulted in the torture and death of
thousands of citizens who were considered to be
witches. 100,000 people were put on trial, and a little
under half were executed.
It was a failed attempt to blow up King James I. Robert
Catesby organised this event in order to eliminate the
persecution of Roman Catholics by the England
Government and to replace the Protestant
Government with Catholic leadership. This event took
place on November 5, 1605.

In James’ childhood, he had experienced the death of
his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots which sparked an
obsession with black magic. James had embarked on a
sail to collect ‘Anne of Denmark’ after she attempted
to seek her husband across the North Sea. On the way
back, his fleet was demolished by many storms, for
which he blamed witches that casted evil spells on his
fleet.
Around midnight on November 4-5, Sir Thomas Knyvet
found Guy Fawkes suspiciously lurking in the cellar
that was situated under the apartment building. A
search of the premises discovered 36 barrels of
gunpowder and Fawkes. was arrested. Upon being
questioned, he revealed that he took part in an
English Catholic conspiracy to eliminate the English
Protestant Government.