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Macbeth


It was thought that a coven of witches in North Berwickshire had tried to practice the black arts against him. They raised a storm which delayed the King's return and wrecked a ship carrying gifts for his new Queen. The Danes on the ship convinced him that the bad weather was caused by witchcraft. James at first doubted this story, but agreed that the winds had been strangely contrary to his own ship, and he was finally convinced. .
             James was extremely fond of literature, and actually became a writer himself - his major works focusing on kingship, the supernatural, and issues of the church. His fascination in witchcraft lead him to write a book about it called, "Daemonologie," explaining how witches can cause death by burning a person's picture, and can raise storms at sea or on land. .
             His personal enthusiasm in writing immediately put William Shakespeare, London's most famous playwright at the time, in James" favour when he began his rule in England. It was not long before he took Shakespeare's company, "The Chamberlain's Men" under his wing, renaming them "The King's Men". The King's Men were sponsored by James, which was a great relief for them.
             Intellectual himself, Shakespeare recognised the promising position he was in, and began to further this in his writing, by designing his plays to suit the new King. "Macbeth" was a play like this. Performed just three years after James had begun his reign in England, its popularity with the King was vital for Shakespeare's reputation, and therefore his career. The play is set in Scotland, homeland of the king, which is clearly referred to in a charming manner. It was also important for him to keep the favour of the royal court.
             The fact that this play deals with treachery and deceit is due to the constant attempts to assassinate James. The portrayal of witches would have pleased the King because he blamed a lot of things that went wrong on witches.


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