Macbeth

Shakespeare's sources
When writing Macbeth, Shakespeare borrowed heavily from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1577), though he altered some of Holinshed's material to suit the needs of his tragedy. For example, for the murder of King Duncan, Shakespeare uses Holinshed's earlier description of the murder of King Duff by Donwald, which includes drugging the servants. According to Holinshed, Donwald was spurred on by an ambitious wife.

The source of Holinshed's account was Hector Boece's Scotorum Historiae (or History of Scotland) published in 1526 which was translated from the Latin into English by John Bellenden in 1535.

Boece's chief source was a metrical history of Scotland by Andrew of Wyntoun called Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland published around the year 1424.

In addition to Holinshed, Shakespeare may have used a long historical poem by William Stewart called Buik of the Croniclis of Scotland and George Buchanan's Latin history, Rerum Scoticarum Historia (1582) and possibly De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gestiss Scotorum (1578) by John Leslie.

Macbeth's encounter with the witches is thought to come from a pageant by Matthew Gwinne which was performed for King James VI during a visit to Oxford in 1605.

Guilt, blood-stained hands and the restorative power of sleep may have been inspired by passages in Seneca'sAgammemnon and Hercules Furens.

The Porter scene may owe something to the Harrowing of Hell in medieval mystery plays.

King James VI of Scotland was widely known to have an interest in witchcraft - in 1597, he published a book on the subject, Demonology, which may have influenced Shakespeare. On his arrival in England as James 1 in 1603, the King ordered a reprint of the book and it's possible Shakespeare may have read a copy.


			When writing Macbeth, Shakespeare borrowed heavily from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (1577), though he altered some of Holinshed's material to suit the needs of his tragedy. For example, for the murder of King Duncan, Shakespeare uses Holinshed's earlier description of the murder of King Duff by Donwald, which includes drugging the servants. According to Holinshed, Donwald was spurred on by an ambitious wife. The source of Holinshed's account was Hector Boece's Scotorum Historiae (or History of Scotland) published in 1526 which was translated from the Latin into English by John Bellenden in 1535. Boece's chief source was a metrical history of Scotland by Andrew of Wyntoun called Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland published around the year 1424. In addition to Holinshed, Shakespeare may have used a long historical poem by William Stewart called Buik of the Croniclis of Scotland and George Buchanan's Latin history, Rerum Scoticarum Historia (1582) and possibly De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gestiss Scotorum (1578) by John Leslie. Macbeth's encounter with the witches is thought to come from a pageant by Matthew Gwinne which was performed for King James VI during a visit to Oxford in 1605. Guilt, blood-stained hands and the restorative power of sleep may have been inspired by passages in Seneca'sAgammemnon and Hercules Furens. The Porter scene may owe something to the Harrowing of Hell in medieval mystery plays. King James VI of Scotland was widely known to have an interest in witchcraft - in 1597, he published a book on the subject, Demonology, which may have influenced Shakespeare. On his arrival in England as James 1 in 1603, the King ordered a reprint of the book and it's possible Shakespeare may have read a copy.