Historical Criticism In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Power until death: that’s the phrase that sums up the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare performed in 1606. With Macbeth being infamous for violence, betrayal, and tragedy, it makes one fascinate how Shakespeare wrote such a twisted play. The historical criticism lens by the definition of Do Yeon Paik, Sung Jun Kim, and Chelsea Yangirefil “show how literary works reflect ideas and attitudes of the time in which they were written,” with the purpose to “provide context of the background information necessary for understanding how literary works were perceived in their time.” With a historical lens on, one recognizes how history affects Macbeth as a character; Shakespeare fuses the pair of the real life King Macbeth and King James I’s personalities …show more content…
In the article “James I and Witchcraft” by History Learning, James “considered himself to be an intellect. In particular James saw himself as an expert on witchcraft.” Witchcraft was an attraction to King James I and he considered them a source of knowledge, which is seen when the witches present him prophecies. In addition, the relationship between King James I and witches was complicated, considering many of the witches were on trial and killed for their witchcraft. Shakespeare also paints the witches in a bad light and writes Macbeth having a fight within himself if the witches are good or evil. There are two instances Macbeth gains knowledge from the witches one with the initial prophecy with each of the three witches say, “First Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!/ Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth, Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!/ Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare I.iii.51-53). While the second time occured after Macbeth becomes paranoid about being dethroned, he seeks the knowledge of the witches which they say, “First Witch: The power of man, for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth…/ Second Witch: Beware the thane of Fife./ Dismiss me…/ Third Witch: Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill” (Shakespeare IV.i.82-107). It starts with the witches being the source of knowledge for the future, then the fight if they’re good or evil. Shakespeare adding the good or evil theme shows that Shakespeare specifically wrote this with King James I in mind. Again with the source “James I and Witchcraft,” witchcraft at that time had a “wholesale persecution of witches started in Scotland in 1590 when James VI was king – the future James I of England.” Shakespeare having