Written: 1606
First performed: 1606
First review: 1610 by Simon Forman
What was happening at the time: The Gunpowder Plot in November 1605 and the trial and execution of the plotters in Spring 1606
References in the play
The Porter is a satire on Father James Garnet, a gunpowder plotter and ‘equivocator’.
The witches are there as a homage to James 1 who had written a book on witchcraft called ‘Daemonologie’ and was a witch hunter himself.
There is a reference to James’s brother who was drowned in a storm at sea for which witches were blamed.
There is a quotation which refers to the medal James had struck to celebrate the foiling of the plot: ‘Look like th’innocent flower/But be the serpent under’t’.
‘Kerns and gallowglasses’ is a reference to Irish mercenaries – England had been having a lot of trouble with Ireland and James was ruthless in dealing with the Irish.
Facts
1. Shakespeare’s shortest play
2. Rare in having no sub-plot
3. The ‘Hecate’ scene and ‘the bloody sergeant’ is by another hand, generally agreed to be Thomas Middleton.
4. Based on Holinshead’s Chronicles and Sir Thomas More’s history
5. The real Macbeth was a good king who reigned for 18 years and united Scotland. He was succeeded by his step-son, Lulach, Lady Macbeth’s son by her first marriage. Lulach was murdered by...
