Macbeth Historical Context: Gunpowder Plot, James I & Jacobean England
17 pieces of Macbeth context that can be reused for any character or theme essay.
Don’t learn pointless dates, facts and figures!
Newsflash! No one really cares when Shakespeare was born! Your examiners certainly don’t!
What matters are the events, belief and social customs that influenced him to write Macbeth and spread the message that warns of the dangers of selfish ambition.
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What’s in this guide?
Macbeth Context Idea 1:
Ambition and greed are tests of temptation laid down by evil that is present on earth after Adam, considered the original tragic hero, gave into temptation in the biblical story of Adam and Eve.
Macbeth Context Idea 2:
Christian society believed that it should not challenge the Chain of Being – the idea that authority flows from God to the king and down through the status levels of society. Therefore society should be content with their status and never challenge those above them. By attacking Duncan, Macbeth attacks God.
Macbeth Context Idea 3:
Generous King Duncan is the epitome of a good king and a good choice by God.
Macbeth Context Idea 4:
When the witches tempt Macbeth to challenge the Chain of Being he commits a sin against God and pays the ultimate price of his life.
Macbeth Context Idea 5:
Messaging like this helps King James to maintain peace because it encourages his Christian society to view dissatisfaction and suffering as a test that must be passed to gain entry to heaven.
Macbeth Context Idea 6:
In Shakespeare’s world, King James recently became King of England; there was tension because he was a Scottish King (the English and Scottish had a long history of war).
Macbeth Context Idea 7:
Guy Fawkes had recently failed to assassinate King James I who now also sponsored Shakespeare. Therefore, because of King James’ influence, the play warns society against attacking kings and selfish ambition.
Macbeth Context Idea 8:
Though Banquo’s children are not crowned in the play, audiences know that King James is a real-life descendant of Banquo which helps reinforce his right to rule.
Macbeth Context Idea 9:
England was a Christian country and King James wrote a dissertation condemning witches as evil. He was also involved in witch trials where 70 people were found guilty in Scotland.
Macbeth Context Idea 10:
During that time in England, people were very scared of witchcraft. Many were punished or killed because they were thought to be witches. King James I, who Shakespeare wrote Macbeth for, believed witches were real and harmful.
Macbeth Context Idea 11:
Where it was acceptable for men to be leaders and even kill in battle, women were expected to be obedient to men as well as value and nurture life – not commit murder.
Macbeth Context Idea 12:
Women were not allowed to study, have jobs, or own property; therefore, they could only express ambition through the success of their husbands.
Macbeth Context Idea 13:
King James sponsored Shakespeare’s company, and therefore it is unlikely that Macbeth could ever have been a play about the successful murder of a king.
Macbeth Context Idea 14:
Duncan should have been protected by many moral laws such as guest rights, his family ties to Macbeth, and the religious laws around the Divine Right of Kings.
Macbeth Context Idea 15:
Shakespeare’s society believed in Fate – God’s plan – that has already been decided and cannot be changed.
Macbeth Context Idea 16:
Shakespeare’s negative presentation of ambition reflects Christian values that required society to accept the lives they were given as a test of patience which could lead to heaven.
Macbeth Context Idea 17:
Therefore, the prophecy may have been uttered by evil beings, but what it predicts is the good outcome (Macbeth’s death) that God intended.
Macbeth Context Multiple-Choice Quiz
Here’s a multiple-choice quiz to help you learn the context ideas above.
You decide how hard you want to make it.
Easy difficulty: use the notes above to help you answer the questions.
Hard difficulty: answer the questions without looking at the info above.
Grade 9 difficulty: Try the direct quiz without multiple choice underneath this one!
You can always begin with easy and then come back and try the hard and then the grade 9 difficulty on different days as you improve…
1. What is the connection between ambition, greed, and temptation in the context of Macbeth?
a) They are natural desires that everyone should follow
b) They are tests of temptation laid down by evil after Adam’s fall
c) They are rewards for those who achieve great things
d) They are challenges that God gives to kings
2. What was the Chain of Being, and why was it important in Christian society?
a) A belief that people should move up in status
b) The idea that authority flows from God to the king and down
c) A system that allowed people to change their status
d) The belief that everyone is equal under God
3. How does Macbeth challenge the Chain of Being?
a) By ignoring his friends
b) By questioning his role as a soldier
c) By attacking King Duncan
d) By refusing to listen to the witches
4. How is King Duncan portrayed in Macbeth?
a) As a weak king
b) As a king chosen by the people
c) As the epitome of a good king
d) As a king who lacks courage
d) As a king who lacks courage
5. What sin does Macbeth commit when he listens to the witches?
a) He sins against his family
b) He sins against the law
c) He sins against God
d) He sins against his conscience
6. How does Macbeth help King James maintain peace?
a) By showing that violence solves problems
b) By encouraging society to see dissatisfaction as a test
c) By promoting rebellion when necessary
d) By suggesting that only strong kings should rule
7. Why was there tension when King James became King of England?
a) Because he was young and inexperienced
b) Because he was Scottish, and England and Scotland had a history of conflict
c) Because he was unpopular with nobles
d) Because he refused to live in England
8. How did the failed assassination attempt on King James influence Macbeth?
a) The play promotes revenge against enemies
b) The play warns against attacking kings
c) The play encourages questioning rulers
d) The play suggests assassination is justified
9. How does Banquo’s lineage relate to King James?
a) Banquo’s children are crowned in the play
b) King James is a descendant of Banquo
c) Banquo is shown as a weak character
d) Banquo’s family is cursed
10. What were King James’s views on witches, and how did this influence Macbeth?
a) He believed witches were harmless
b) He believed witches were real and harmful
c) He thought witches were wise women
d) He believed witches could predict the future
11. What were the societal expectations for men and women during Shakespeare’s time?
a) Men were expected to be gentle
b) Men were expected to lead, women to be obedient
c) Both men and women were equal
d) Women were expected to be silent
12. How were women limited in expressing ambition during Shakespeare’s time?
a) Women could study and work in secret
b) Women could express ambition through their husbands’ success
c) Women could own property but not study or work
d) Women could express ambition by becoming warriors
13. Why is it unlikely that Macbeth could have been about a successful murder of a king?
a) Because Shakespeare didn’t believe in violence
b) Because King James sponsored Shakespeare
c) Because audiences preferred happy endings
d) Because Macbeth was fictional
14. How was King Duncan supposed to be protected?
a) By his own strength
b) By guest rights, family ties, and religious laws
c) By his guards alone
d) By the witches’ prophecy
15. What did Shakespeare’s society believe about Fate?
a) That Fate was random
b) That Fate was controlled by the stars
c) That Fate was God’s plan
d) That Fate could be altered
16. How does Macbeth reflect Christian values about ambition?
a) The play encourages ambition
b) The play shows ambition negatively
c) The play suggests ambition leads to success
d) The play shows ambition as only dangerous for kings
17. What is the significance of the witches’ prophecy in Macbeth?
a) The prophecy is meant to mislead Macbeth
b) The prophecy predicts a good outcome (Macbeth’s death)
c) The prophecy predicts Macbeth’s success
d) The prophecy warns Macbeth to avoid ambition
18. What was the general attitude towards witchcraft in England during Shakespeare’s time?
a) Witchcraft was seen as harmless
b) Witchcraft was feared
c) Witchcraft was celebrated
d) Witchcraft was ignored
19. How did King James’s belief in witches influence Macbeth?
a) He believed witches were real and harmful
b) He believed witches were wise
c) He ignored witchcraft
d) He thought witches were amusing
Macbeth Context Multiple Choice Answers
1. What is the connection between ambition, greed, and temptation in the context of Macbeth?
Answer: b) They are tests of temptation laid down by evil after Adam’s fall
2. What was the Chain of Being, and why was it important in Christian society?
Answer: b) The idea that authority flows from God to the king and down
3. How does Macbeth challenge the Chain of Being?
Answer: c) By attacking King Duncan
4. How is King Duncan portrayed in Macbeth?
Answer: c) As the epitome of a good king
5. What sin does Macbeth commit when he listens to the witches?
Answer: c) He sins against God
6. How does Macbeth help King James maintain peace?
Answer: b) By encouraging society to see dissatisfaction as a test
7. Why was there tension when King James became King of England?
Answer: b) Because he was Scottish, and England and Scotland had a history of conflict
8. How did the failed assassination attempt on King James influence Macbeth?
Answer: b) The play warns against attacking kings
9. How does Banquo’s lineage relate to King James?
Answer: b) King James is a descendant of Banquo
10. What were King James’s views on witches, and how did this influence Macbeth?
Answer: b) He believed witches were real and harmful
11. What were the societal expectations for men and women during Shakespeare’s time?
Answer: b) Men were expected to lead, women to be obedient
12. How were women limited in expressing ambition during Shakespeare’s time?
Answer: b) Women could express ambition through their husbands’ success
13. Why is it unlikely that Macbeth could have been about a successful murder of a king?
Answer: b) Because King James sponsored Shakespeare
14. How was King Duncan supposed to be protected?
Answer: b) By guest rights, family ties, and religious laws
15. What did Shakespeare’s society believe about Fate?
Answer: c) That Fate was God’s plan
16. How does Macbeth reflect Christian values about ambition?
Answer: b) The play shows ambition negatively
17. What is the significance of the witches’ prophecy in Macbeth?
Answer: b) The prophecy predicts a good outcome (Macbeth’s death)
18. What was the general attitude towards witchcraft in England during Shakespeare’s time?
Answer: b) Witchcraft was feared
19. How did King James’s belief in witches influence Macbeth?
Answer: a) He believed witches were real and harmful
Grade 9 Level Context Quiz
MAKE FLASHCARDS
Use these questions (and answers) to make flashcards to become a Grade 9 Macbeth context baller!
1. What is the connection between ambition, greed, and temptation in the context of Macbeth?
2. What was the Chain of Being, and why was it important in Christian society?
3. How does Macbeth challenge the Chain of Being?
4. How is King Duncan portrayed in Macbeth?
5. What sin does Macbeth commit when he listens to the witches?
6. How does Macbeth help King James maintain peace in his kingdom?
7. Why was there tension when King James became King of England?
8. How did the failed assassination attempt on King James influence Macbeth?
9. How does Banquo’s lineage relate to King James?
10. What were King James’s views on witches, and how did this influence Macbeth?
11. What were the societal expectations for men and women during Shakespeare’s time?
12. How were women limited in expressing ambition during Shakespeare’s time?
13. Why is it unlikely that Macbeth could have been about a successful murder of a king?
14. How was King Duncan supposed to be protected?
15. What did Shakespeare’s society believe about Fate?
16. How does Macbeth reflect Christian values about ambition?
17. What is the significance of the witches’ prophecy in Macbeth?
18. What was the general attitude towards witchcraft in England during Shakespeare’s time?
19. How did King James’s belief in witches influence Macbeth?
Macbeth Context Test Answers
Q: What is the connection between ambition, greed, and temptation in the context of Macbeth?
A: Ambition and greed are seen as tests of temptation laid down by evil, similar to the biblical story of Adam and Eve.
Q: What was the Chain of Being, and why was it important in Christian society?
A: The Chain of Being was the belief that authority flows from God to the king and down through society, meaning people should accept their status and not challenge those above them.
Q: How does Macbeth challenge the Chain of Being?
A: By attacking King Duncan, Macbeth challenges the Chain of Being and, therefore, attacks God.
Q: How is King Duncan portrayed in Macbeth?
A: King Duncan is portrayed as the epitome of a good king, chosen by God.
Q: What sin does Macbeth commit when he listens to the witches?
A: Macbeth commits a sin against God by challenging the Chain of Being, leading to his eventual death.
Q: How does Macbeth help King James maintain peace in his kingdom?
A: The play encourages society to view dissatisfaction and suffering as tests from God that must be passed to enter heaven, which supports King James’s efforts to maintain peace.
Q: Why was there tension when King James became King of England?
A: There was tension because King James was Scottish, and England and Scotland had a long history of conflict.
Q: How did the failed assassination attempt on King James influence Macbeth?
A: The play warns against attacking kings and selfish ambition, reflecting the recent attempt on King James’s life by Guy Fawkes.
Q: How does Banquo’s lineage relate to King James?
A: Although Banquo’s children are not crowned in the play, audiences knew that King James was a descendant of Banquo, reinforcing his right to rule.
Q: What were King James’s views on witches, and how did this influence Macbeth?
A: King James believed witches were real and harmful, which influenced the play’s portrayal of the witches as evil beings.
Q: What were the societal expectations for men and women during Shakespeare’s time?
A: Men were expected to be leaders and warriors, while women were expected to be obedient, value life, and nurture, not commit murder.
Q: How were women limited in expressing ambition during Shakespeare’s time?
A: Women could only express ambition through the success of their husbands, as they were not allowed to study, have jobs, or own property.
Q: Why is it unlikely that Macbeth could have been about a successful murder of a king?
A: Because King James sponsored Shakespeare’s company, the play would not promote the idea of successfully murdering a king.
Q: How was King Duncan supposed to be protected?
A: Duncan should have been protected by guest rights, family ties to Macbeth, and the religious laws of the Divine Right of Kings.
Q: What did Shakespeare’s society believe about Fate?
A: They believed in Fate as God’s plan, which was already decided and could not be changed.
Q: How does Macbeth reflect Christian values about ambition?
A: The play presents ambition negatively, showing that people should accept their lives as tests from God, leading to heaven.
Q: What is the significance of the witches’ prophecy in Macbeth?
A: The prophecy, though spoken by evil beings, predicts a good outcome (Macbeth’s death) that aligns with God’s plan.
Q: What was the general attitude towards witchcraft in England during Shakespeare’s time?
A: People were very scared of witchcraft, and many were punished or killed for being accused of being witches.
Q: How did King James’s belief in witches influence Macbeth?
A: King James believed witches were real and harmful, which is reflected in the portrayal of the witches as dangerous characters in the play.
What You Need to Know: Macbeth Context Summary
Okay, so we have:
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