How Did King James Influence On Macbeth

Macbeth; The Play of King James

The world of Shakespeare is filled with flattery and references to historical events, and the tragedy Macbeth is a prime example of this. King James I was a significant figure in Shakespeare's time, as in 1603 he became not only the ruler of Scotland, but of England as well. His reign had a major impact on the playwright's work, including the major themes, motifs, and characters of Macbeth. The plot of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth was heavily influenced by the rule of King James I and reflected aspects of the king’s beliefs, experiences, and personality. One of the most memorable parts of Macbeth is the witches. They play a central role in the plot and are depicted as supernatural beings who predict

Writers use theatrical flattery to please certain groups or viewers of their play, and in the case of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses this form of flattery to please King James I. Having only known one monarch for 39 years of his life, Queen Elizabeth, the arrival of a new monarch would be extremely influential on Shakespeare’s work. Especially since in 1603, three years prior to Shakespeare writing Macbeth, James started to sponsor Shakespeare’s acting company. From James’ royal patronage, the acting company changed from The Lord Chamberlain’s Men to The King’s Men. It is highly likely that in return Shakespeare included certain elements that would please or impress King James in his next play, including the use of witches as talked about above. This was not the first time he had used this type of flattery in his plays. One author outlines some other works Shakespeare uses this technique in explaining, “Ten years after the change of monarchs in 1603, Shakespeare wrote a splendid tribute to the dead queen in Henry VIII, and eight years before 1603 he had made an overt allusion to the ‘imperial votaress’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a compliment to the queen who was almost certainly present at the original performance of that play.”(Williams). During this time, stage performances often made references to public interests and it wouldn’t

The legend of Banquo from the Holinshed's Chronicles, stated that although he himself would not be king, Banquo would have a long line of descendants who would be. King James I claimed ancestry from Banquo through the Stuart Dynasty, and thought of the legend as true history rather than myth. By claiming relation to Banquo, the legend helped legitimize the longevity of the Stuart line. It is very likely that Shakspeare incorporated the story of Banquo as a main plot line to appeal to King James. One author states “It is reasonable to assume that Shakespeare chose the subject of Macbeth because James I was reputed to be descended from Banquo, and it is quite possible that Shakespeare had been informed of the King’s interest in Matthew Gwinn’s entertainment … performed 1605… in which three sibyls prophesied to Banquo’s descendants” (Kállay). Shakespeare goes out of his way to portray Banquo and his lineage as a strong line of Kings, which in turn shows James as a powerful leader. Shakespeare going out of his way to incorporate Banquo’s lineage is shown when the witches show Macbeth a series of apparitions. “Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart. [A parade of Eight Kings, the last with a mirror in his hand; Ghost of Banquo following]” (Macbeth, 4.1.121-122) King James I was also a large believer in the Divine Right of Kings, which is