Macbeth
Great BritainBiography of Macbeth
Macbeth was the king of Scotland from 1040 to 1057. In the obituary on Macbeth's death, his reign is referred to as a "fertile season," a metaphor among ancient Celts meaning that they did not experience hunger. A group of British historians and politicians began a campaign to rehabilitate King Macbeth's reputation, arguing that he had been unfairly vilified by the genius William Shakespeare.
A thousand years after the birth of the Scottish king Macbeth, whose name became a symbol of misfortune and religious prejudice, prominent islanders attempted to remove the stigma of being a murderer from him. A group of renowned historians, led by John Beatty from City University in New York, who is determined to declare the current year as the "Year of Macbeth," convinced 20 members of the Scottish Parliament to launch a campaign to recognize his historical achievements. They firmly believe that Shakespeare created an incorrect portrayal of Macbeth as an ambitious and ruthless tyrant who was "under the thumb" of his infamous wife, Lady Macbeth. The real Macbeth was not a "butcher" and the husband of a malicious queen, but a wise ruler of a prosperous unified Scotland in the 11th century. Moreover, he actively contributed to the spread of Christianity. Shakespeare's interpretation of Macbeth's character is purely artistic fiction, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Legend of Macbeth
English historians believe that the legend of Macbeth, used by Shakespeare in his play, was created by Scottish bards. These bards, under the patronage of a rival clan to Macbeth's, twisted Macbeth's deeds to cast a shadow over his entire lineage. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote this tragedy in 1606. Seeking to please King James (a theater enthusiast), the playwright turned to the legendary history of Scotland for his plot. In the tragedy, Shakespeare elevated the character of the innocently murdered Banquo, an ancestor of the ruling monarch from the Stuart dynasty. In Holinshed's Chronicles, Banquo was one of Macbeth's accomplices in regicide. In Shakespeare's version, Banquo represents an ideal person who remains loyal to duty and friends, making him a target for Macbeth, whose high moral qualities make him jealous.
In the absence of authentic facts, Shakespeare relied on semi-popular and semi-literary traditions of "ancient times". He consulted Raphael Holinshed's "Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland" from 1577. Holinshed, in turn, based his work on Hector Boece's "Scotorum Historiae" (in the English version - "Boys"), which was first printed in Paris in 1526. Macbeth did not kill King Duncan in his sleep, as written in the play. He may have killed his rival in the struggle for the throne, but it happened in 1040, during the battle at Pitgaveny, according to contemporary debunkers. Macbeth, in turn, was killed in a battle with Duncan's son, Malcolm, in 1057. However, the chronicle remains silent about where Macbeth killed the Scottish king Duncan.
Shakespeare ignores the fact that after this event, Macbeth ruled the country successfully for a long 17 years, during which no one attempted to seize his throne, even while Macbeth embarked on a six-month pilgrimage to Rome. This is evidence that the situation in his kingdom was stable and that Macbeth enjoyed the respect of his subjects. In the obituary on Macbeth's death, his reign is referred to as a "fertile season," a metaphor among ancient Celts meaning that they did not experience hunger. "Macbeth ruled the country quite successfully," says Ted Cowan, a history professor at Glasgow University. "Some of the ancient Scottish clans mentioned Macbeth as the last great Celtic ruler of Scotland." Professor James Fraser from Edinburgh University believes that there is no evidence that Macbeth was a tyrant who ruled a kingdom where he was hated, as written in the play.
Shakespeare's Portrayal of Macbeth
Stanley Wells, the chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, believes that Shakespeare initially did not have much interest in the real Macbeth. For this reason, people who are well acquainted with Scottish history point out the inconsistencies between the events described in Shakespeare's play and historical facts. Should gentlemen break their spears then? It is well known that a writer is free to use "poetic license" as they please. Remember Dumas' famous "nail" on which he "hung" his novels. Richelieu in "The Three Musketeers" is not really the outstanding statesman of France that he truly was. Only a madman would think of documenting the shortcomings of Dumas' father. Nevertheless, the legislators of the 19th century zealously nurture their love for the "simple shepherdess" from the village of Domrémy.
According to the chronicle, Macbeth's cruelty towards Macduff is motivated by the latter's violation of his duty by associating with the king's enemies. In the play, Macduff simply refuses to attend the celebration. In Holinshed's account, Macbeth personally goes with his troops to confront the rebellious vassal, while in the play he deals with his innocent family using hired assassins. It seems that Shakespeare himself forgot about this deviation from the source, as in Act IV, Ross tells Macduff about the capture of his castle and the extermination of all his vassals, which, of course, was impossible for hired killers to accomplish.
In conclusion, let's consider a few quotes. August Wilhelm Schlegel, in his "Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature," is convinced that Shakespeare wanted to portray an ambitious but noble husband who succumbs to devilish temptations. The crimes he commits to secure the fruits of his first wrongdoing cannot erase the imprint of his innate heroism.
It is terrifying to see how the former brave warrior, who used to stare death in the face, now clings to his earthly existence out of fear of the afterlife. And yet, despite the disgust that his crimes inspire, we cannot deny him our sympathy. Shakespeare wants to show in his play that the struggle between good and evil in this world is conducted by the will of Providence.
In 1840, in his analysis of Griboedov's comedy, the great Russian critic Belinsky characterizes the two main characters of this tragedy as follows: "Macbeth by Shakespeare is a villain, but a villain with a deep and powerful soul, which is why he evokes sympathy instead of repulsion. You see in him a person in whom the possibility of victory was as great as the possibility of downfall, and who, with a different direction, could have been a different person."
And secondly: "Macbeth" is one of the...most monstrous works of Shakespeare, where...all the barbarism of the era in which he lived is reflected."
These statements go much deeper than the insights of the gentlemen from History. Well then, keep rewriting the Bible, Shakespeare, etc. The flag is in your hands!
