History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
HoP 428 - Weird Sisters - Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Witchcraft
Sep 17, 2023
Exploring the anxieties and explanations of witchcraft in Shakespeare's Macbeth, discussing supernatural elements, historical context, attitudes towards witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the portrayal of Lady Macbeth as a fiend-like queen.
25:34
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Quick takeaways
- Shakespeare's Macbeth explores the moral ambiguity of witchcraft, questioning its source - external dark forces or the darkness within Macbeth's own soul.
- Beliefs about witchcraft in early modern England were shaped by religious, socioeconomic, and political factors, with accusations often targeting marginalized individuals.
Deep dives
The Cultural Background of Shakespeare's Macbeth and the Role of Witchcraft
Shakespeare's Macbeth is deeply rooted in the cultural context of the time, where beliefs in witchcraft were prevalent and terrifying. The play opens with the appearance of witches, who represent greater, darker powers. The presence of witches and the supernatural in the play would have been genuinely terrifying to the audience, as witchcraft was a serious concern at that time. Beliefs about witches and witchcraft were influenced by religious and socioeconomic factors, as well as the upheavals of the Protestant Reformation. Shakespeare explores the moral ambiguity of witchcraft, raising questions about whether it represents external dark forces or the darkness within Macbeth's own soul.
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