William Shakespeare’s Macbeth without doubt is a renaissance tragedy, following the typical structure and narrative of its time. Macbeth clearly falls in line with Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy,
“An imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
The drama however can be used as a tool to view the world through a political lens. The play acts as an allegorical device shining a light on contemporary issues of, succession, civil war., political and religious upheaval which characterised the Jacobean era (1567-1625)
Macbeth’s narrative cleverly intertwines the tension within Jacobean society and places it in the mid 11th century. Shakespeare’s decision was probably motivated by the political …show more content…
In act 4 Malcom and his supporters reject England as their “mother” Scotland. They reject their heritage suggesting that Scotland is poisonous and unworthy of being a parent state. They further emphasize their rejection of Scotland by changing its hierarchy forever, “Thanes and Kinsman, Henceforth, be Earls, the first that ever Scotland saw honour’d with that title.” Scotland has now lost part of what made it Scottish it is slowly becoming more and more anglicised. Malcom is historically half English on the side of his mother, characterised as an ultra-saintly woman who oft’ner upon their knees than on her feet” his uncle is the Earl of Northumberland “an older better none that Christendom gives out” . This highly religious language elevates the half English King, another subtle reference to James I who had English blood. It must be noted that Malcom does not regain the throne by himself he turns to England who provide not only a haven but an army to take back his
“An imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language; in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
The drama however can be used as a tool to view the world through a political lens. The play acts as an allegorical device shining a light on contemporary issues of, succession, civil war., political and religious upheaval which characterised the Jacobean era (1567-1625)
Macbeth’s narrative cleverly intertwines the tension within Jacobean society and places it in the mid 11th century. Shakespeare’s decision was probably motivated by the political …show more content…
In act 4 Malcom and his supporters reject England as their “mother” Scotland. They reject their heritage suggesting that Scotland is poisonous and unworthy of being a parent state. They further emphasize their rejection of Scotland by changing its hierarchy forever, “Thanes and Kinsman, Henceforth, be Earls, the first that ever Scotland saw honour’d with that title.” Scotland has now lost part of what made it Scottish it is slowly becoming more and more anglicised. Malcom is historically half English on the side of his mother, characterised as an ultra-saintly woman who oft’ner upon their knees than on her feet” his uncle is the Earl of Northumberland “an older better none that Christendom gives out” . This highly religious language elevates the half English King, another subtle reference to James I who had English blood. It must be noted that Malcom does not regain the throne by himself he turns to England who provide not only a haven but an army to take back his