Why Is an Understanding of the Social, Philosophical and Historical Context of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Important for a Study of the Play?

654 Words3 Pages
Why is an understanding of the social, philosophical and historical context of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ important for a study of the play? The play “Macbeth” was written by William Shakespeare, sometime between 1603 and 1607. “Macbeth” is a story based loosely on the historical events and people of Scotland. The understanding of the social, philosophical and historical context of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is important for the study of the play because without knowledge of context the underlying themes and messages would not present themselves or their correct meanings. By gaining knowledge and understanding about the social situations that existed in the times of Shakespeare and that of the real Macbeth, you are providing yourself with an advantage, which entitles you to a deeper understanding of the metaphors and meanings in the play. “Macbeth” is often considered a cautionary tale; a once innocent and honourable man driven to kill his own king for the sake of power and greed then pushed to madness after his guilt overcomes him. By researching and taking into account the social realities of those times, we realise that an underlying message of the play is that the need to gain power through violence is not necessary but is a hard thing to stop once started. By understanding the philosophical situations and beliefs that existed in the times of Shakespeare and of Macbeth we know that the play itself is a metaphor; that choices have consequences and that its not always easy to live with those consequences. ‘The Great Chain of Being’ plays a powerful part in the story and having an understanding about the chain, where everyone has a specific rank, which God bestows upon him or her, and to try and change your position was considered a crime against God. Macbeth had already sinned before he murdered Duncan as in the Middle Ages it was considered a sin against God to
Open Document