The Real Macbeth

William Shakespeare wrote many plays in his lifetime based on historic events that he had researched using a history books from various authors. One of these many plays are the Tragedy of Macbeth, which Shakespeare did his research from the Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland by Raphael Holinshed. Shakespeare stayed true to the history retold by Holinshed in his play Macbeth, but unfortunately Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland contained false information. Since some of the information was false in Shakespeare’s research, his account of Macbeth’s characters, setting, and events also contain differences from the factual historic accounts.

Shakespeare’s character Macbeth is based on the historical figure of a Scottish nobleman called Macbeth who was the general for Duncan the first. He also became King after murdering Duncan on the battlefield and reined for ten years before being defeated in a battle against the Danes (Thrasher 35-36). “For brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name” is a passage from the war in the first chapter showing what the other warriors thought of Macbeth valor as a general for Duncan’s army (Macbeth 302). Then Shakespeare tells of Duncan’s death which he concocted the setting in Macbeth’s home to suit his needs. “I go, and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell That summons the to heaven, or to hell” this shows that Macbeth’s action where preplanned to kill Duncan as he slept (Macbeth p.321). Shakespeare’s account of who Macbeth was is close to the factual account even down to the fact that he murdered the former King Duncan and his battle with an army lead by Malcolm Canmore, the son of Duncan (Columbia University). Another character in Sha...

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Due to the misinformation found by Shakespeare many of his accounts of Macbeth differ from the true historical story of the Scottish king, Macbeth. These differences range from the characters to the events of Shakespeare’s famous play Macbeth. Although most of Shakespeare’s account is made up, there are parts that ring true such as the setting as right before Scotland fell under English rule or that it was Macbeth whom killed Duncan.

Works Cited

Columbia University, Press. "Macbeth." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2011): 1. History Reference Center. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.

Thrasher, Thomas. Understanding Macbeth. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. 35-36. Print.

Macbeth. Winston, Holt Rinehart. Elements Of Literature, Sixth Course: Literature Of Britain With World Classics. sixth. Holt Rinehart & Winston, 2000. 301-387. Print.