Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

MacBeth

 

            Macbeth is probably one of the most popular plays in the world. Between 1603 and 1606 the king at the time was James I. James I had a huge interest in witchcraft and demonology, because of this, the people at the time were also fascinated and wanted to know more. Between 1560 and 1603 over 16,000 people were convicted of being witches and were burned to death. These people were predominantly women but some were men. These weren't necessarily because of being witches but of being involved in demonology. These people were singled out for things like owning black cats, when washing clothes theirs came out cleaner, if you lived alone and wore black clothes then you put forward as being a witch.
             Macbeth was a popular play at the time because the people at the time were scared by witchcraft but were also intrigued so they wanted to know more. The real question is why is Macbeth such a popular play now? The answer is that we are fascinated the people then and their fears of witchcraft, demonology and the supernatural events. .
             When you are playing a part in Macbeth you have to call it the Scottish play because Shakespeare had supposedly used real spells to write the play so it is assumed that the witches have cursed the play. I think this brings even more interest to the play.
             The start of the play is set in a storm. The three witches are the first super naturals we meet. We come into contact with them when they are at the end of their meeting when they are planning to meet again. Shakespeare has set them in their own world to scare the audience at the time. They are set upon the moor to appear isolated from society to make them more fearful. They arrange to meet with Macbeth on the moor; this is because they can draw him into their world. Before the scene is ended they contradict themselves by saying,.
             "Fair is foul, and foul is fair:.
             Hover through fog and filthy air".
             This oxymoron is used to make the witches seem more evil.


Essays Related to MacBeth