Historical Context

Shakespeare: Macbeth: The Essentials

In this course, Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) provides a clear and accessible introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, focusing in particular on what happens in the play and its main characters. This course is designed for students who are looking to grasp the main events and relationships, without delving into complex analysis.

Historical Context

In this lecture we provide a brief introduction to Macbeth, including some historical context. In particular, we focus on: (i) the date that Macbeth was written and first performed; (ii) the recent accession of James I of England to the throne, following the death of Elizabeth I; and (iii) James’ interest in divination and black magic.