[Music] in order to understand the context for Macbeth it is important to understand the historical influences that produce it scholars do not list Macbeth among Shakespeare's history plays which include henry v and richard ii but there is a historical basis for the play the actual Macbeth ruled Scotland from 10:40 until 10:57 he also killed his predecessor Duncan the first however this killing took place on a battlefield not under Macbeth's own roof Macbeth later married to the granddaughter of another King Kenneth the third and defeated Duncan the first father in battle in 1045 historians characterized the real Macbeth as a fair and law oriented king who encouraged the spread of Christianity in Scotland this description is a sharp contrast with the tyrant of Shakespeare's play who is obsessed with occult visions and prophecies Macbeth's fate in the play deviates from the real King Macbeth Shakespeare's Macbeth is killed by Macduff whereas King Macbeth of Scotland was killed by the future King Malcolm in 10:57 Malcolm was crowned King the following year Shakespeare's version of Scottish history was likely inspired by his contemporary Raphael Holland shed Holland shed published his chronicles of England Scotland and Ireland in 1577 this work includes the weird sisters and makes Banquo a co-conspirator with Macbeth the House of Stuart James the First's family line claimed Banquo among its ancestors this likely explains why Shakespeare changed Banquo into the tragic victim of his friend's treachery and why the play emphasizes Banquo's role as the father of many kings the play also includes other elements arguably designed to appeal to James the first Macbeth is diff by a unified army of English and Scottish soldiers significant because James the first was the king who united England and Scotland under one crown the defeat of the usurper is important as well because James the first was the target of a number of plots early in his reign most notably the Gunpowder Plot a sensational terrorist attack which had it succeeded would have completely destroyed the buildings that we now associate with Parliament in London finally James the first was known for his opposition to witchcraft and the supernatural he presided over a few witch trials and while King of Scotland published a paper called demonology which claims witches are a serious threat to Scotland recording them the witches in Macbeth are presented as a malicious force bent on creating chaos in the land the critical reception of Macbeth is also interesting the witches and Banquo are portrayed in ways flattering to James the first who wrote a treatise on witchcraft and traced his lineage to Banquo after the execution of James's son Charles the first Macbeth was not performed in Shakespeare's version throughout the 18th century when an adaptation by William Davenant an actor who claimed to be a descendant of Shakespeare's predominated in addition legend hasn't a coven of witches weren't happy that Macbeth revealed their secret incantations to the public and cursed the play this led to a superstition in the theatre community that forbade the plays title to be spoken even today many performers refer to the work as the Scottish play there have been notable instances of bad luck associated with performances of Macbeth [Music]