Macbeth Notes

The Real Macbeth

• Originated from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles
• Means "son of life" (Christian name rather than a patronymic)
• Father was Findlaech who wasruler of Moray
• Mother's  unknown, but  said to have been the daughter of King Malcolm II

The Play

• Written in 1527 by Hector Boece
• Main source for Macbeth was Holinshed's Chronicles
• Based his account of Scotland's history
• formulated several conclusions
• Reason: dramatic purposes, creating a more complex characterization of Macbeth, and the political purposes with King James I in mind.