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Exploring Shakespeare
Hamlet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream
For Teachers
Home | Macbeth: Language and themes | Kingship

Languages and
themes

Tragedy
Director's cut
Macbeth's choices
Motive
Blood
Cover-up
Kingship
Historical context
Witchcraft and Superstition

Kingship

Who's this? Dominic Cooke is the director.

Context: In 1040 King Duncan held the siege of Durham and lost; perhaps the resulting loss of popularity opened the way for rebellion. Macbeth ruled Scotland from 1040 - 1056. In 2005, the Scottish Parliament tabled a motion for the rehabilitation of Macbeth's name. The Irish accounts of Macbeth claim he scattered money amongst the poor and that Duncan whom he killed on the battlefield was not a popular leader; the people may have preferred Macbeth.

Did you know? Dunsinane, in the Sidlaw Hills, was a hill-fort of some significance; at 308 m high, they say you can see half of Scotland from its top.

Kingship

Duncan chooses his heir at the beginning
The title of Prince of Cumberland
Macbeth's qualifications for kingship
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