Shakespeare
is believed to have written in 1606, during the reign of James I of
England, who was also James VI of Scotland. James was the patron of Shakespeare's theater
company, and the play pays flattering homage to the king in several ways.
First, James I believed in witchcraft, and in the play, witches play a leading role in
deceiving . Second, the play's Scottish ancestry nods toward James's descent from Scottish
nobility, including the historic . In the play, the fictional Banquo is prophesied as the
forebear of kingskings, by implication, like James I. Third, the mention of the healing power of
the English King Edward the Confessor reminds audiences of James's belief in his own healing
powers.
On a broader level, politics in England under James became more
monarchical, with James far more willing than Elizabeth I to assert his royal prerogatives. He
felt that the crown should have more control of politics and Parliament less. He also increased
censorship, which caused problems for some writers. Under James I, people became more fearful of
tyranny, and so, while flattering the king in many ways, the focus in the play on Macbeth's
tyranny and where it leads him acts a warning to James I not to go too
far.
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