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Historical Context

Delve into the captivating historical context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and the real Mac Bethad Mac Findlaech, the true King of Scots in the 11th century, with insights into the intriguing events and characters that shaped Scotland's past.

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Historical Context

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  1. Historical Context Will the real Macbeth please stand up?

  2. The Scottish Play • The first record of a performance of ‘Macbeth’ is from 1611. • The play was first published in 1623 with 35 other plays by Shakespeare in a book now known as the First Folio. • The play is set in Scotland in the eleventh century, about 550 years before Shakespeare wrote the play.

  3. KING JAMES I Apparently smiling isn’t allowed when one is having one’s portrait painted. • Macbeth is thought to have been written for a performance in honour of a royal visit by the King of Denmark to King James I in 1606. • It is believed that the supernatural elements of the play (the Witches) were included to please King James I, as he had published his own work Daemonologiein 1597, which dealt with how to recognise witches and how their occult crimes should be punished.

  4. Shakespeare adapted the story of Macbeth from a popular history book known as Holinshed’s Chronicles. • Holinshed’s Chronicles were published in 1577 and contained ‘the history of Britain’. • The Chronicles included stories of Mac Bethad Mac Findlaech, aka: the real Macbeth.

  5. The Real Macbeth • Mac Bethad Mac Findlaech was King of Scots (or Alba) from 1040 until his death in 1057. • He was born to a high lord in the north of Scotland around 1005. • His mother was the daughter of King Kenneth II or King Malcom II. (Historians are not sure which.) • Mac Bethad’s father was killed in 1020 – most likely by his brother. Then in 1032, Mac Bethad had his uncle burned alive with 50 other men in retribution. (Sounds like a Game of Thrones episode.) • Mac Bethad then married his uncle’s widow. (As you do!) Bit of a handsome fella, really, if you don’t mind the facial hair.

  6. Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle, Castle Rock, Edinburgh, Scotland. This site has been occupied since the Iron Age (2nd Century AD) but the Scottish kings didn’t move in until the reign of David I in the 12th Century. While Mac Bethad Mac Findlaechwould not have lived in Edinburgh Castle during his rule, his ancestors did. The castle continued to be a royal residence until 1633. Photo by Miss Brack. :D

  7. Inside Edinburgh Castle, all the Kings of Scotland are illustrated on the walls. In this photograph, you can see Duncan I and Macbeth (or Mac Bethad Mac Findlaech). In Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, the charcter Macbeth kills King Duncan when the old king comes to stay at Glamis Castle after a long battle. Shakespeare’s King Duncan is said to have been a fair and beloved leader. Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in comparison, is a terrible leader as he is tormented by the guilt of his wrong doings. He is eventually killed by Duncan’s loyal follower Macduff. (SPOILERS!) Photo by Miss Brack. Sorry it’s blurry. Photography was not allowed inside. I was sneaky though.

  8. However, The true history of duncan and Mac Bethad is a little different… • Duncan I took the Scottish throne after his grandfather, Malcom, bumped off several relatives in violent plays for power. • Duncan was slain by Mac Bethad in battle and Mac Bethad’s claim to the throne was supported by many other Scottish lords. • History has judged Mac Bethad to be a better ruler that Duncan and he lead Scotland to prosperity and glory. • Mac Bethad was killed in battle on the 15th of April, 1057, by Malcom’s son who then went on to rule Scotland.

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