History Vs Historical Macbeth
Most students read Shakespeare’s play Macbeth at some point in their high school or college career. Many schools pick Macbeth as a top read for their students because it may appeal to both genders. Macbeth is a strong piece of literature that tells the story of an honest nobleman who turns against himself and fellow companions. Macbeth is also a gory play based around murder and ambition, but what many don’t know is that Macbeth has a prodigious amount of history built into the play. Shakespeare may have intended his play to be a false image of the historical ruler of Scotland MacBeth MacFindlaech. Between both of their stories they had similar deaths and similar ways of becoming king, but they had very different personalities as a ruler.
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In the middle of that, Macbeth is told his prophecies telling him that he will become king. Macbeth willingly kills King Duncan to become king. Comparingly, the historical MacBeth kills his cousin King Duncan and becomes king. In the play, Shakespeare doesn’t leave any clues that Macbeth and King Duncan could be related in anyway. Historical MacBeth is related to King Duncan as a cousin. History shows that MacBeth’s father was killed by his cousins Malcolm and Gillecomgain. Later MacBeth marries Gillecomgain’s wife. All of that history comes together to put MacBeth in line for kingship. Whereas, fictional Macbeth is told by the prophecies that he will become king, but King Duncan has two sons that would be in line for kingship ahead of Macbeth. King Duncan’s sons leave in fear of being murdered trailing their father’s murder leaving Macbeth ahead of them. Both of them found their way to king through the murder of the previous King Duncan.
Additionally, there are many differences between the historical MacBeth and the play Macbeth. In the play, King Duncan was a worthy king. Everyone loved his trustingness, his loyalty, and his honesty. King Duncan trusted everyone and exposed that by saying to his son Malcolm, “He was a gentleman on whom I built / An absolute trust” (Shakespeare, 1985 pg. 40 lines 13-14). Whereas, when the historical MacBeth killed King Duncan he was awarded King because King Duncan was such a unruly king. The people despised King Duncan because his “thirst for power coupled with incompetence” (MacBeth
In the middle of that, Macbeth is told his prophecies telling him that he will become king. Macbeth willingly kills King Duncan to become king. Comparingly, the historical MacBeth kills his cousin King Duncan and becomes king. In the play, Shakespeare doesn’t leave any clues that Macbeth and King Duncan could be related in anyway. Historical MacBeth is related to King Duncan as a cousin. History shows that MacBeth’s father was killed by his cousins Malcolm and Gillecomgain. Later MacBeth marries Gillecomgain’s wife. All of that history comes together to put MacBeth in line for kingship. Whereas, fictional Macbeth is told by the prophecies that he will become king, but King Duncan has two sons that would be in line for kingship ahead of Macbeth. King Duncan’s sons leave in fear of being murdered trailing their father’s murder leaving Macbeth ahead of them. Both of them found their way to king through the murder of the previous King Duncan.
Additionally, there are many differences between the historical MacBeth and the play Macbeth. In the play, King Duncan was a worthy king. Everyone loved his trustingness, his loyalty, and his honesty. King Duncan trusted everyone and exposed that by saying to his son Malcolm, “He was a gentleman on whom I built / An absolute trust” (Shakespeare, 1985 pg. 40 lines 13-14). Whereas, when the historical MacBeth killed King Duncan he was awarded King because King Duncan was such a unruly king. The people despised King Duncan because his “thirst for power coupled with incompetence” (MacBeth