Macbeth was written in 1606 for James the first of England. He succeeded Queen Elizabeth because she did not have any rightful heir to the throne. Much like his preceding monarch, James had an affinity for Shakespeare's plays. As a result, Macbeth was written to pay respect to the reigning king. James particularly enjoyed witchcraft and history, so these are prominent aspects of the play (Nunez 3). In addition, it is based on his Scottish ancestry, where he was also a ruler: known as James the sixth (Marmor 2). The play ties in both real, historical events and invented embellishments on the truth. Actually, Shakespeare had very minimal knowledge of the true happenings in which his play was based. As a result, this theatrical production was designed for the sole purpose of pleasing the audience, specifically the king (Marmor 4).

The beginning of the play is an immediate indication that Macbeth was...