MacBeth Notes--Please Copy in your Notes

The title character is based on a historical Macbeth, a king of 11th century Scotland who seized the monarchy after killing his predecessor, Duncan I. The play was written to please King James I, Of Scotland, who was a chief sponsor of Shakespeare's acting company. The desire to please the king may be why Shakespeare adds the prominence of witchcraft in the play, as the king was quite interested in it, as it was a popular belief at the time.