What is the significance of the witches and king James in Macbeth?

Answer 1

Macbeth is about Scotland; King James was born in Scotland. A character in Macbeth, Fleance, is supposed to be James's ancestor. There are witches in the play and James wrote a book about witches. (However, the tone of his book and the tone of the witches in the play is quite different.) The guy who wrote the play was a member of the theatrical company of which James was the patron. Those are the only connections which are supported by evidence.

Answer 2

The witches are a significant part of the play Macbeth, as they provide the impetus for the Macbeths to plan the murder of Duncan. They represent a kind of slippery security which Macbeth both craves and mistrusts.

King James has nothing to do with Macbeth. His connection with the play is as follows: 1. He was the patron of the theatre company Shakespeare wrote it for. 2. According to Shakespeare's source (Holinshed) James was descended from the character Fleance in the play, which is mentioned in the play. 3. James was interested in witches, having written a book about them. All this suggests that the play might have been composed with a view to pleasing James, but the historical record does not contain any evidence that he ever saw or approved of the play. On the contrary, the historical record suggests that it was not popular in Shakespeare's time (the play was never issued in quarto and the Folio text has clearly been substantially revised by Thomas Middleton, adding in some commercial song-and-dance numbers from his own play The Witch).

Answer 3

Macbeth was a compliment and gift to King James I of England

Answer 4

King James is the descendant of Banquo. When Macbeth was written, certain historical facts were changed so that King James' ancestors were shown in a better light.