Expert: Arlene Schulman - 9/7/2006

Question
Where did Shakespeare get the idea for the play Macbeth?

Answer
Hi Simon,

Because Shakespeare left us no letters, documents, notes, diaries, manuscripts, or other personal papers, we have really no way of knowing exactly where he got the idea for any of his plays.

However we do know that he was well read and often took the plots of his plays from existing plays, British and world histories recorded in chronicles of the time, legends, myths, folktales and other sources.  Macbeth was, in fact, based on a real king of Scotland, and the stories about him were available during Shakespeare's lifetime.  It is likely that he read of Macbeth and thought it was a good story.  

After Queen Elizabeth I died, King James (who was also King of Scotland) took the throne.  James believed that he was a descendent of King Duncan, the latest (at that time) in a long line of Scottish kings.  He was also the patron of THE KING'S MEN, Shakespeare's acting company.  So, it is believed, that Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth" as a tribute to King James.  In fact, in the parade of kings that appear in a vision in the play, the final king was believed to be King James.   

Nice way to kiss up to the king, don't you think?

Best,
Arlene (MsDirector)