Macbeth

1034: Duncan I (Donnchad I). Succeeded his grandfather Malcolm II as King of the Scots.
Invaded northern England and besieged Durham in 1039, but was met with a disastrous defeat.
Duncan was killed during, or after, a battle at Bothganowan, near Elgin, on 15th August, 1040.

1040: Macbeth. Acquired the throne after defeating Duncan I in battle following years of family
feuding.

1057: Malcolm III Canmore succeeded to the throne after killing Macbeth and Macbeth’s
stepson Lulach in an English-sponsored attack.

1567: James VI and I. Became king aged just 13 months following the abdication of his mother. By his late
teens he was already beginning to demonstrate political intelligence and diplomacy in order to control
government (Jacobean Era). Also .called “the stuart/Stewart king”
In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," Malcolm III Canmore (represented as simply
"Malcolm") is not directly related to Banquo, but the historical context is important:
Malcolm is the son of King Duncan, while Banquo is a nobleman in Duncan's
court, meaning they are not family but are part of the same Scottish nobility;
however, the play cleverly connects them through the prophecy that Banquo's
descendants will become kings, which aligns with the historical lineage of James I
of England (who was believed to be descended from Banquo).

Fleance, Banquo's son, fled and thus survived the attempt to murder him.

One of his descendants founded the Stewart / Stuart line that King James VI descended from.
Not Banquo's son. Not Fleance's son. One of their later descendants became the King of
Scotland according to the traditional tales.
Most of the other prophecies come true because Macbeth makes them come true. He becomes
king because he’s been told he should, he makes an enemy of Macduff because he’s been
warned to be cautious of him. Throughout the play, we’re never supposed to be sure that the
witches are really witches, or just perceptive outsiders. Within the context of the play, this
unanswered prophecy hammers home the point that we have no idea whether the supernatural
is present in this world.
Hubris is a character trait in Macbeth that refers to the title character's excessive pride and
overconfidence. This trait leads Macbeth to take actions that ultimately result in his downfall.
Examples of hubris in Macbeth
Believing he is invincible: Macbeth believes he cannot be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to
him. However, Macbeth doesn't understand that his enemies will use branches from the forest to
hide themselves.
Wanting to conquer fate: Macbeth's hubris grows to the point where he wants to conquer fate
itself.
Taking too many risks: Macbeth's hubris leads him to take actions that are too courageous.
Disregarding Fate and Fortune: Macbeth's ambition causes him to disregard and challenge Fate
and Fortune.
In Macbeth, Macbeth's hamartia, or fatal flaw, is his unchecked ambition. This
ambition leads him to commit murder and moral decay, ultimately resulting in his
downfall.
The tragic hero has a tremendous downfall, brought about by their hamartia. The
character reaches an anagnorisis, a critical discovery that completely alters the
predicament they are in, often after they are already trapped in the situation.
Finally, a Shakespearean tragic hero will lose their life in the end of the play so the
message of what is good in the play can be reestablished. In Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, the title figure of the play can be seen as a tragic hero.
 Early on in the play, Macbeth is established as being of great stature. He has
already earned the title of Thane of Glamis, and as prophesized by the three
witches, will soon take reign as the Thane of Cawdor. These titles indicate that
Macbeth is of great political importance, and is moving up in the ranks of Scottish
nobility. In Act 1, Scene 2, Duncan addresses Macbeth as, “…valiant cousin,
worthy gentleman!” and later as a “Worthy Thane”. The manner in which the
leaders of his country speak about Macbeth truly shows his respectable and
honorable nature. Duncan speaks highly of Macbeth,; unaware of the destiny
Macbeth will later impose on him.
In Shakespeare’s time, there was widespread belief in the supernatural world.
James I wholeheartedly believed in the existence of witches and even wrote a
book on witchcraft called Daemonologie, which set about proving the existence of
witches and explained what sorts of punishments they should undergo. The book
also explored the links between witches, demons and those who made pacts with
them. James I passed laws condemning anyone found guilty of witchcraft to death.
He called witchcraft ‘high treason against God’. King James I’s fear of witches
triggered the deaths of thousands of innocent people at the time as his laws stirred
up suspicion and paranoia through England and Europe. The punishment for
witchcraft can be seen in ‘Macbeth’ through the titular character Macbeth and his
wife Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth fits every characteristic of a Greek and Shakespearean tragic hero. The
audience gets to see the full cycle of a rise to power, followed by a great demise.
His ambition leads to his degeneration as a character which resulted in his
ultimate downfall, death. Macbeth displays all the characteristics of a tragic hero,
making him an infamous character in Shakespeare’s time as well as present day.