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The relevance of religion in Macbeth

Lena & Ines

How was Shakespeare influenced by religion?

What influence did religion have on Shakespeare?

  • Until this day it isn't clear what religious views Shakespeare truly had

  • By law he had to declare his allegiance to the protestant church, but some believe he was secretly Catholic

  • The religious tensions in England are definitely reflected in a lot of his plays, including Macbeth

Was Macbeth intended to be a pro- or anti-Catholic play?

Was Macbeth intended to be pro- or anti-catholic?

Catholic indicators:

  • Free will
  • Determining own fate
  • Macbeth would benefit from a Catholic mindset
  • Banquo in Purgatory

Protestant indicators:

  • Powder plot
  • Weird sisters = evil Catholics
  • Natural order
  • Consequence for those who defy the king

The role of God and Devil

The role of God and Devil in Macbeth

How the disruption of natural order is to be interpreted:

  • Natural order
  • If a king was legitimate (approved by god), there would be natural order

  • As soon as Macbeth becomes king, natural order is disrupted

  • Duncan and Malcom want to ''make their realm flower''

  • Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ''wish the stars would disappear''

How light and darkness are used to portray God (good) and Devil (evil) :

  • God and Devil are portrayed by light and darkness

  • Darkness takes over the castle, Macbeth says: “Wherefore I could not pronounce “Amen”?”, “I had most need of blessing… “Amen”/ Stuck in my throat.”

  • Lady Macbeth speaks to Satan: “Come thick night…that my keen knife see not the wound it makes nor heaven peep through the blanket of dark to cry hold, hold.''

God's fate can't be avoided:

  • The relationship between sin and gods will
  • Lady Macbeth can't wash away her sins

  • Macbeth tries to hide from his sins with help from the witches

  • Ergo: Gods will and fate can be doubted temporarily but ultimately can't be escaped.

Thesis: The whole story 'Macbeth' is just a battle between the Devil and God.

Discussion

- That would mean all characters acting as ''tools'' in their fight, therefore not having any free will.

- Do you agree with this thesis?

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