Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics
The text provides a political reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, claiming that the play is responding to the curious connection between witchcraft and state power in the preceding century, as well as contemporary political events. Namely, practices variously labeled as witchcraft, magic, con...
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Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Belgrade
2020-01-01
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Series: | Filozofija i Društvo |
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Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2020/0353-57382003393D.pdf |
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doaj-b5e26d8820e24c368ec2dc0f3aed8fb22020-11-25T03:42:48ZdeuInstitute for Philosophy and Social Theory, BelgradeFilozofija i Društvo0353-57382334-85772020-01-0131339340510.2298/FID2003393D0353-57382003393DConjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politicsĐorđević Edvard0nemaThe text provides a political reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, claiming that the play is responding to the curious connection between witchcraft and state power in the preceding century, as well as contemporary political events. Namely, practices variously labeled as witchcraft, magic, conjuring were an integral aspect of English politics and struggles over royal succession in the sixteenth century; even more so were the witch hunts and attempts by British monarchs to control witchcraft. These issues reached a head with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne in 1603, and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. On the surface, Shakespeare’s play, written in the immediate aftermath of the failed attempt at regicide, brings these historical and political issues together in an effort to legitimize James’ rule. However, the article shows that a closer look reveals a more complicated, indeed subversive undercurrent at play. Paradoxically, while Macbeth does provide James with legitimacy, at the same time it calls into question the grounds of that legitimacy.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2020/0353-57382003393D.pdfmacbethlegitimacywitchesconjuringgunpowder plot |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
deu |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Đorđević Edvard |
spellingShingle |
Đorđević Edvard Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics Filozofija i Društvo macbeth legitimacy witches conjuring gunpowder plot |
author_facet |
Đorđević Edvard |
author_sort |
Đorđević Edvard |
title |
Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics |
title_short |
Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics |
title_full |
Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics |
title_fullStr |
Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics |
title_sort |
conjuring legitimacy: shakespeare’s macbeth as contemporary english politics |
publisher |
Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Belgrade |
series |
Filozofija i Društvo |
issn |
0353-5738 2334-8577 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
The text provides a political reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, claiming that
the play is responding to the curious connection between witchcraft and
state power in the preceding century, as well as contemporary political
events. Namely, practices variously labeled as witchcraft, magic, conjuring
were an integral aspect of English politics and struggles over royal
succession in the sixteenth century; even more so were the witch hunts and
attempts by British monarchs to control witchcraft. These issues reached a
head with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne in
1603, and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. On the surface, Shakespeare’s play,
written in the immediate aftermath of the failed attempt at regicide, brings
these historical and political issues together in an effort to legitimize
James’ rule. However, the article shows that a closer look reveals a more
complicated, indeed subversive undercurrent at play. Paradoxically, while
Macbeth does provide James with legitimacy, at the same time it calls into
question the grounds of that legitimacy. |
topic |
macbeth legitimacy witches conjuring gunpowder plot |
url |
http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2020/0353-57382003393D.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT đorđevicedvard conjuringlegitimacyshakespearesmacbethascontemporaryenglishpolitics |
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