Summary AQA GCSE English Literarture Paper 1 Section A - Macbeth: Context
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
This resource provides an extensive and detailed discussion of the contextual background surrounding Macbeth (AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1 Section A).
It is important to show an understanding of the context for assessment objective 3, and here you will find information on: Shakespeare, t...
Context
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare – Background Information
o Born Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire 26th April 1564.
o Married Anne Hathaway 1582.
o Had three children, 1583 to 1585 – Susanna, Hamnet and Judith.
o 1585 to 1592 – Began an acting career in London.
o 1889-1613 – Wrote most of his plays.
o The first known performance of ‘Macbeth’ took place in 1611.
o Died Stratford-upon-Avon 23th April 1616, aged 52.
Shakespeare and the Theatre
o Shakespeare was the most successful playwright of his era, but there was plenty of demand for new plays from other
playwrights, e.g. Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd.
o The first successful theatres in London were built in the 1570s.
o Plays attracted large crowds – particularly the wealthiest.
o Audiences also included servants and labourers.
o There was little scenery and sets were basic; the stage had to be adapted easily to show several different plays.
o Shakespeare worked for the theatre company ‘The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’ at the Globe Theatre in London
o It was illegal for women to act; the women’s parts were played by young boys
Shakespeare’s Inspiration for the Play
o Shakespeare often found ideas for his plays in historical sources.
o The lives of great rulers with their dramatic conflicts provided excellent plots for plays.
o Shakespeare did not follow his sources closely however. Instead he took all the most interesting parts and sometimes added
new material to make his play more exciting on the stage.
Holinshed’s Chronicles
o Shakespeare used Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland as his source for Macbeth
o In turn, Holinshed had based his work on earlier sources.
o However, Shakespeare has made a number of alterations and additions to Holinshed.
o One major change is that the play covers a period of a few months, whereas the real Macbeth ruled Scotland for 17
years.
o In reality Macbeth was a good king and Duncan was weak, but in the play Macbeth is a tyrant and Duncan is highly
respected.
The Victorian Era
The Role of Men and Women
o Jacobean society had rigid expectations of noblemen – they had to be brave and honourable.
o These expectations did not necessarily include emotions.
o Shakespeare encourages us to challenge these expectations and see manliness as including sadness, grief and love as well
as strength and bravery.
o Again, Jacobean society had rigid expectations of noblewomen – they had to be pious, demure and bear children.
o Shakespeare might be encouraging us to see these rigid expectations as limiting: Lady Macbeth is frustrated and damaged
by her lack of power and control.
Feudal Scotland
o The play is set in feudal Scotland – an era known for violence and known for rewarding violence.
o Early modern England was a society built on codes of honour and civil behaviour and Shakespeare reinforces these.
o Violent pastimes, e.g. bear baiting and street fighting, threatened to disrupt social order.
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