How Does Shakespeare Gain Audience Sympathy for Macbeth
How does Shakespeare gain audience sympathy for Macbeth?
In late 1905, Shakespeare’s Macbeth was performed for the first time in Hampton Court. At the time, King James I was in power, and it is widely believed that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in order to flatter him, as the previous year The Gunpowder Plot had shown an attempt on his life. In the play, King Duncan gets murdered, which would have been quite disturbing for King James I to watch. By the end of the play however, King James I would have felt relieved, as the killer in the play got his comeuppance and ultimately went to hell. This would have reassured him that no-one else would try to take his life, as the play clearly demonstrates the belief that good always overcomes evil. In Shakespeare’s time “The Divine Right of Kings” was very popular amongst the people and they believed that kings or queens were appointed by God. Because of this, it was thought that going against a king or queen was just like going against God. Superstitions like this were taken very seriously at the time, so while watching the play the audience would have felt extremely nervous. This would have worked well for Shakespeare as it would have kept the audience’s attention and kept them enthralled in the story.
As the play opens we are introduced to the witches, who for an Elizabethan audience, were a very real manifestation of evil. They take us immediately into the presence of evil as they were considered the devils minions, here to do work. In the 8th line of the play Macbeth’s name is mentioned for the first time, and the three witches are clearly up to no good, cavorting in thunder and lightning.
Where the place? Upon the heath. There to meet with Macbeth. [Act 1 Scene 1]
This would have immediately alarmed the audience, as before they have even met Macbeth, he is linked immediately to the forces of evil. The physical disturbances such as the thunder and lightning add to the effect as they would have
In late 1905, Shakespeare’s Macbeth was performed for the first time in Hampton Court. At the time, King James I was in power, and it is widely believed that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in order to flatter him, as the previous year The Gunpowder Plot had shown an attempt on his life. In the play, King Duncan gets murdered, which would have been quite disturbing for King James I to watch. By the end of the play however, King James I would have felt relieved, as the killer in the play got his comeuppance and ultimately went to hell. This would have reassured him that no-one else would try to take his life, as the play clearly demonstrates the belief that good always overcomes evil. In Shakespeare’s time “The Divine Right of Kings” was very popular amongst the people and they believed that kings or queens were appointed by God. Because of this, it was thought that going against a king or queen was just like going against God. Superstitions like this were taken very seriously at the time, so while watching the play the audience would have felt extremely nervous. This would have worked well for Shakespeare as it would have kept the audience’s attention and kept them enthralled in the story.
As the play opens we are introduced to the witches, who for an Elizabethan audience, were a very real manifestation of evil. They take us immediately into the presence of evil as they were considered the devils minions, here to do work. In the 8th line of the play Macbeth’s name is mentioned for the first time, and the three witches are clearly up to no good, cavorting in thunder and lightning.
Where the place? Upon the heath. There to meet with Macbeth. [Act 1 Scene 1]
This would have immediately alarmed the audience, as before they have even met Macbeth, he is linked immediately to the forces of evil. The physical disturbances such as the thunder and lightning add to the effect as they would have