The sources of Shakespeares plays Essay Example

the war with Norway and brings news of victory, primarily due to Macbeth's bravery. Other soldiers enter and report that Macdonwald, the Thane of Cawdor, had supported the enemy but ultimately, Duncan's forces emerged victorious. King Duncan sentences Macdonwald to death and grants Macbeth, who is unaware of this honor, the title of Thane of Cawdor. In Holinsheds (pg. 168-170), Makdonwald, the Thane of Cawdor, rebels against the King with the support of troops from Ireland. Makbeth and Banquho are sent to suppress this rebellion. However, Shakespeare deviates from Holinsheds by stating that Macbeth defeats Macdonwald in battle, while Holinsheds describes Makdonwald realizing the strength and fierceness of Makbeth's troops, leading him to kill his own family before taking his own life to avoid capture.Makbeth discovers the body and beheads the noble. He then parades around with Makdonwald's head on a pole and drives the Norwegian army away. As a reward for his bravery and battle strategies, Makbeth is given the titles of Thane of Macbeth and Thane of Cawdor. On their way home from the battlefield, Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet the witches. The witches address Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future King. Confused about his new title as Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth is intrigued by the idea of becoming king. Banquo asks the witches about their predictions for him, and they cryptically respond that he will be both lesser and greater than Macbeth, not as happy but happier, and that he will father kings. Macbeth demands an explanation from the witches, but they disappear. Shortly after this strange encounter, messengers from the King inform Macbeth of his new

title as Thane of Cawdor. This confirmation convinces Macbeth that the witches' prophecies are coming true.Macbeth continues to contemplate the idea of becoming king and ponders whether murder will be necessary to achieve what he has been promised. The scene concludes with Macbeth quietly suggesting to Banquo that they discuss everything that has transpired at a more appropriate time. This scene closely mirrors the account in Holinshed's Chronicles. Both Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches, who greet them with the prophecies that Macbeth will become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and eventually King of Scotland. Banquo then asks about his own future, and the witches respond by promising him greater benefits than Macbeth, although his line will not reign as kings. Macbeth and Banquo return to Duncan's castle, where Duncan expresses his gratitude to the two generals. Duncan proceeds to announce that he has chosen his eldest son Malcolm as Prince of Cumberland and heir to the throne.Ostensibly, Macbeth responds with joy, but he realizes that this is one more thing preventing him from obtaining the crown. He invites King Duncan to a feast at his castle later that evening. Macbeth then proceeds to write a letter to his wife, informing her of the events. In Holinsheds (pg.171), during dinner, Banquho remarks on how two of the witches' prophecies have come true, while Macbeth's predicted rise to the throne still remains unfulfilled. King Duncan declares his eldest son, Malcolm, as the Prince of Cumberland and heir to the throne. By doing so, King Duncan breaks Scottish tradition, which dictates that the most deserving kinsmen should ascend to the throne. Macbeth starts contemplating the methods

he could employ to gain power, possibly through force, since King Duncan has essentially stripped him of his claim to the throne. Macbeth's letter also reveals his triumph in battle, the encounter with the witches, and their predictions of his new title as Thane of Cawdor, which he has already achieved, as well as their forecast of his future ascent to the throne. Lady Macbeth is thrilled by this news and affirms that her husband will indeed become king as prophesied but voices some concerns.When Macbeth arrives, his wife explains to him her plan to kill the King while he sleeps as a guest in their home. According to Holinsheds (pg.170-171), Lady Macbeth is also ambitious and passionately desires the title of Queen. The witches' prophecies, along with his wife's encouragement, convinces Macbeth to murder the royal obstacle and claim his right to the throne. Shakespeare differs in this aspect by using Donwald's tale of regicide (pg.150-151). Donwald, also convinced in part by his wife, has his King killed during the night while he sleeps. On the other hand, Macbeth, with the support of Banquo among others, kills the presiding King with honor in open battle. He then declares his right to the throne and is crowned King of Scotland at Scone (pg.171) with common consent. Lady Macbeth then explains her plan of getting Duncan's chamber guards drunk, killing him with the guards' daggers while they sleep, and then acting surprised and outraged while blaming them for the King's murder. After committing the murder, Macbeth returns to his room with his hands covered in blood. Macbeth claims that he heard a voice saying "Sleep no

more!"Macbeth, in Shakespeare's play, diverges from Holinshed's account where Donwald and his wife dine with the King's guards. They intoxicate the guards and keep them up late, making them difficult to awaken if moved. In contrast, Donwald bribes his own men to kill the King while he keeps lookout. He stays with them overnight. Macbeth, however, kills the King himself and then returns to his own chamber. Later, Donwald hears a voice that terrifies him, notifying him of punishment for his deeds. He cannot sleep due to fear. When the King's body is discovered, an alarm is sounded, and the whole household rushes in. They express horror and sadness upon learning of the murder. It is suggested that Duncan's guards committed the act, and Macbeth reveals that he has already killed them in a fit of rage as punishment. In Holinshed's account, the assassins carry away the King's body, but the alarm is raised upon discovering the blood-covered room.Donwald, driven by anger, kills the chamberlains and falsely accuses them of the murder (pg.151). The sons of the slain King, Malcolm and Donalbain, are more afraid for their own lives than sorrowful over their father's death. They decide to flee Scotland out of fear that their father's murderer will target them next. Malcolm escapes to England while Donalbain goes to Ireland. Ross, a nobleman, attends Macbeth's coronation in Scone, but Macduff chooses not to go and instead stays at his own castle in Fife. Shakespeare then shifts in Holinshed's narrative back to the story of Macbeth. Fearing that Macbeth will seek to eliminate any potential threats to his kingdom, the sons of King Duncane, Malcolm and

Donald Bane, decide to flee. Donald goes to Ireland while Malcolm initially hides in Cumberland until England recovers the land from the Danish forces. Malcolm then travels to England and is warmly welcomed by King Edward. One seemingly gratuitous scene in Macbeth involves an old man discussing with Ross and Macduff the unnaturalness of recent events.He speaks of a falcon being killed by an owl, which usually hunts mice, and reports of horses eating each other. According to Holinshed's account of Donwald's life, after the assassination, there were continuous clouds covering the country for six months, with no sight of the sun or moon. There were severe thunderstorms and violent winds that frightened the general population, who feared destruction. Holinshed also mentions horses in Louthain, known for their beauty and speed, devouring their own flesh, and an owl strangling a sparrowhawk. Holinshed states that everyone understood these events as consequences of Macbeth's abominable murder. Macbeth senses that Banquo knows about his actions and decides that both Banquo and his son Fleance must be killed. Macbeth fears being discovered and also takes into account the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants would become kings. Hiring professional murderers, Macbeth has Banquo slain while Fleance escapes unharmed into the night. In Holinshed's version, Macbeth invites Banquo and Fleance to dinner.Remembering the witches' prediction that Banquo's descendants will rule Scotland, Macbeth fears that he will suffer the same fate as King Duncan. In order to prevent the prophecy from coming true, he decides to hire professional murderers to follow Banquo and Fleance home and kill them, thereby ending Banquo's bloodline. While Banquo is killed, Fleance manages to escape unharmed and

realizes that his life is still in danger. As a result, he flees to Wales (pg.171). Lennox and another lord discuss the various events that have occurred, including the deaths of Duncan and Banquo. They also mention Macbeth's displeasure with Macduff, who failed to attend a royal banquet. It is said that Macduff is on his way to see Malcolm in England, in hopes of gaining support from the English King Edward to restore Duncan's family to the throne. Macbeth learns of this and prepares for war against England. Holinshed's account also mentions Macbeth's dissatisfaction with Macduff, partially due to his absence.This time, however, Makduffe's absence from the building of the castle at Dunsinanne causes concern. Makduffe sent workers to help with the labor, like all the other Thanes, but he failed to come in person, unlike the other Thanes (pg.174). Macbeth decides to go back to the witches and ask for more predictions. He goes into their cave and demands more information. The witches summon their masters, who they claim can provide the answers Macbeth is seeking. The first master warns Macbeth to Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife (IV, i, 72-73). The second master says that no one born of a woman can harm Macbeth (IV, i, 81-82). The third master warns Macbeth that he won't be defeated until Great Birnam wood comes to Dunsinane hill (IV, i, 92-94). Macbeth then asks about the prophecy given to Banquo regarding his royal children.A fourth master appears as an apparition in the form of eight crowned kings, with Banquo at the end holding a mirror that shows more kings. Macbeth asks if this prediction

is true and is told that it is. The witches then vanish again. Given this information and the warning about Macduff, Macbeth decides to kill him and his entire family. In Holinshed's version, Macbeth receives predictions from wizards instead of the witches' masters. Shakespeare likely used apparitions instead of their arrival to incorporate them into the plot. The wizards also advise Macbeth to be careful of Macduff and tell him that he cannot be killed by anyone born of a woman and will not be defeated until the forest of Birnam comes to Dunsinane Castle. Despite the wizards' assurances, Macbeth goes to Macduff's home in Fife and murders his wife and children.Lady Macduff is puzzled by her husband's sudden departure to England and feels hurt that he did not bid her farewell. She also fears that the rumors of his treason might be true. Suddenly, a group of hired assassins enter Macduff's castle and encounter Lady Macduff and her son having a conversation. Tragically, the assassins kill the son, causing Lady Macduff to flee while screaming. They chase after her and it is presumed that she too meets her demise. According to Holinshed, Makbeth besieges Macduff's castle, effortlessly enters, and slaughters everyone inside. Makbeth seizes all of Macduff's belongings, accuses him of treason, and banishes him from Scotland. Nonetheless, Macduff manages to escape and seeks refuge in England where he meets Malcolm. Macduff informs Malcolm about the devastating situation in their homeland under the rule of the wicked Macbeth. He implores Malcolm to claim his rightful place on the throne and reveals his plan to overthrow the tyrannical Macbeth.Malcolm asserts that he lacks the necessary

qualities of a leader, with opposite traits that would further harm the country. He claims to be adulterous, seeking the company of other men's wives, daughters, matrons, and maids. Macduff counters that despite other rulers falling from power for the same behavior, there are ample willing women in Scotland for anyone's satisfaction. Malcolm also declares that if he were King, he would strip the noble's lands and riches, and these gained possessions would only fuel his desire for more. Macduff persists in urging Malcolm to join him, assuring him that there is wealth enough in Scotland to satisfy his hunger, and these vices will not overshadow his virtues. Malcolm then states that he possesses none of the virtues expected in a rightful king, such as truthfulness, moderation, and stability (IV, iii, 92).Macduff passionately confesses to Malcolm that he had placed all his hopes on him, but now feels he has no choice but to give up and never return home, as it will never be reclaimed. In response, Malcolm concedes to Macduff's fervor, acknowledging the honor and integrity of the exiled Thane. He retracts his previous claims of vices, clarifying that his intention was to prevent being offered as a sacrifice to Macbeth in order to gain his favor. Malcolm reveals that he has acquired ten thousand troops and the renowned general Siward from King Edward to support their cause, and declares his determination to fight for his rightful place on the throne. It is worth noting that Shakespeare accurately portrays this entire sequence exactly as described in Holinshed's account. When Macduff finds Malcolm, he recounts the atrocities that have taken place in Scotland, including

the murders of both nobles and commoners, highlighting the people's desperate desire for deliverance from these troubling times.Malcolme sighs, as he does in Shakespeare, while Makduffe informs him of a plan to overthrow Makbeth and rescue the Scottish people from his oppressive rule. However, Malcolme is skeptical of Makduffe's intentions and suspects him of hiding his true motives. Malcolme expresses regret for the suffering the people endure but warns that his own reign would bring even worse consequences, as he possesses certain irredeemable vices. He confesses to being adulterous and harboring a desire to deflower both maids and married women. Makduffe acknowledges that this is a grave fault, as many noble princes and kings have lost their lives and kingdoms due to such actions. Nevertheless, he assures Malcolme that there are plenty of available women in Scotland and advises him to follow his counsel. Furthermore, Malcolme reveals his extreme greed, stating that he would covet the lands and riches of all the nobles and would not hesitate to betray anyone foolish enough to trust him.Makduffe responds to this by stating that he already possesses enough wealth in Scotland that rightfully belongs to him, so he doesn't need to rely on other people's possessions. In response, Malcolme admits that he lacks the qualities of a true prince such as honesty, truth, justice, and reliability, which makes him unfit to rule. Hearing this, Makduffe reacts by exclaiming that he is now forever banished and left without any comfort or solace. He then prepares to leave and begins to cry. However, Malcolme suddenly confesses that he is actually not guilty of any of the faults he previously claimed.

He reveals that his earlier statements were merely a test to see if Makduffe would betray him. Furthermore, Malcolme declares that King Edward has provided him with ten thousand men and a skilled general named Siward. He plans to join forces with Makduffe and fight for the restoration of their country. As a result, many of Macbeth's Thanes desert him and join Malcolm and Macduff. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth's health deteriorates severely.In spite of this, Macbeth persists in preparing for battle against his attackers. A messenger arrives with news that an enemy force of ten thousand men is approaching, but Macbeth dismisses it and remains convinced of the witches' prophecies. He still believes that he cannot be killed by a man born of woman and that he will not be defeated until the Forest of Birnam moves towards his castle. Malcolm orders his troops to cut branches from trees and carry them in front as they march towards Dunsinane. Macbeth continues to strengthen his defenses and acknowledges that his enemies have been bolstered by deserting troops. Lady Macbeth takes her own life, but Macbeth remains outwardly steadfast. Another messenger informs Macbeth that the woods of Birnam are actually advancing towards Dunsinane. Malcolm's troops enter the castle and Macbeth is first attacked by Siward's son, whom he defeats.Macbeth engages in a fight with Macduff, who reveals to him during the battle that he was not born of woman but rather "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb (V, iii, 15-6). As a result of their encounter, Macbeth is killed. Meanwhile, Siward receives the news of his son's death and inquires about the wounds on his front. Upon hearing

confirmation, Siward exclaims that his son died as a true soldier of God. Despite the losses, Malcolm's forces emerge victorious in the battle. In a closing speech, Malcolm, the future king, promotes the Thanes to Earls and invites everyone present to the coronation in Scone. In Holinshed's account (pg.176), the plot of this act remains similar, with some differences. Notably, Macbeth's wife does not take her own life. Additionally, Malcolm leads his troops to Birnane wood and orders them to carry branches as they march forward.Makbeth, realizing the enemy's numbers, decides to flee. However, Makduffe pursues him relentlessly. Eventually, Makbeth dismounts his horse and confidently states that he cannot be killed by Makduffe because he was born of a woman. Makduffe counters by revealing that he was not born conventionally but rather torn out of his mother's womb. Makduffe then kills Makbeth, thereby putting an end to his reign.

In Holinsheds (pg.192), there are two different accounts concerning Siward and his son's death. According to the first story, one of Siward's sons dies in the battle with wounds on the front of his body. Siward finds solace in the fact that his son died bravely in combat. The second story claims that Siward sends his son and an army to regain control over Scotland, but his son dies while overseas. Upon hearing this news, Siward demands to know the location of the fatal wound – whether it was on the front or backside of his son's body.The text below, including and their contents, can beand unified as follows:

Upon learning that the wound was on his chest, he expressed his joy, stating that he wholeheartedly rejoiced

as he did not desire any other form of death for himself or his son (pg.176). With the assistance of King Edward, Malcolm achieved victory and journeyed to Scone for his coronation. Following his coronation, Malcolm summoned a Scottish parliament and rewarded all those who helped him overthrow Macbeth by seizing their lands. Additionally, he appointed several Earls, Lords, Barons, and Knights from the existing Thanes, who became the first known Earls. Shakespeare extensively utilized Holinshed's work, although these events were not presented in chronological order. The murder depicted by Shakespeare is discussed almost twenty pages prior to the main part of the story.The death of Siward's son is primarily based on the description and conclusion of Macbeth's final battle, which is taken from sixteen pages. Shakespeare used these stories as inspiration to create the script for Macbeth. Although there are some scenes that appear to have been written by Shakespeare to include in the play, they were cut from the rest of the story while keeping their beginnings intact. An example of this can be seen in the prophecy concerning Banquo. According to Holinshed, Banquo was the Thane of Lochquhaber and the Stewart family descended from him. It is also mentioned that Banquo's descendants ruled Scotland for many generations, and even in the 1500s, the family still held influence. As mentioned previously, Duncan was not portrayed as a kind and gentle ruler. In reality, he only ruled for about six years during a time when Scotland was plagued by war and terror.The version of Macbeth's reign as told by Shakespeare and Holinshed was exaggerated and not entirely accurate. In reality, Macbeth ruled for approximately

seventeen years, during which Scotland and its people thrived. It should be noted that Shakespeare had his reasons for vilifying Macbeth and highlighting his downfall. It is important to mention that the play was written during the reign of James I, who had Scottish ancestry connected to King Duncan and Malcolm. Shakespeare hoped to gain favor from James by creating a play that glorified his lineage. Additionally, Shakespeare incorporated the witches into the story to cater to James's interest in the supernatural, as he even authored a book called Daemonologie.In Macbeth, King Edward has the ability to cure lepers by simply touching them with his hand. It is believed that King James also possessed this gift. Another example of Shakespeare incorporating existing works into his own is Julius Caesar. As mentioned before, Shakespeare primarily relied on Sir Thomas North's English translation of Jaques Amyot's French translation of Plutarch's Latin work, "The lives of Noble Greecians and Romans." During Shakespeare's time, North's Plutarch was extensively read and had multiple editions: the first in 1579, the second in 1595, and the third in 1603. The third edition was later reprinted in 1612. The 1579 edition spanned 1,175 pages and featured the biographies of fifty individuals, each accompanied by a profile medallion. It is not difficult to understand why this book was highly popular among Renaissance readers.Plutarch provided detailed character analyses of past heroes and also discussed the causes and consequences of the Roman Civil wars. He made comparisons between noble Greeks and their Roman counterparts, enabling readers to easily compare the two societies. Many Elizabethans saw the Roman civil wars as a parallel to their own Wars

of the Roses, so North's translation of Plutarch's works was eagerly consumed by the audience. Additionally, The Lives presented these characters as the influencers of history, and Plutarch was perceived as an unbiased judge given the considerable time gap of about one hundred years. While Holinshed, despite his education, still had elements of a rural bourgeois background.Sir Thomas North, a cultivated aristocrat, possessed a unique writing style characterized by flair and a dramatic touch. His prose was so exceptional that some claim entire sections could seamlessly transition into the blank verse employed by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar. However, after conducting thorough research, it became evident that Shakespeare did not simply copy North's work. Instead, Shakespeare would selectively modify individual lines and incorporate them into his plays. In the case of Macbeth, Shakespeare directly incorporated entire scenes from his source material. Conversely, in the play Julius Caesar, he drew from Plutarch's accounts of Caesar, Brutus and Antony, which presented events from different perspectives. By merging details from each account, Shakespeare constructed his own narrative.The specific places where Shakespeare drew from Plutarch cannot be pinpointed scene by scene, making it challenging to trace his sources accurately. Shakespeare primarily relies on Plutarch as a guide, selectively incorporating events and manipulating them to construct significant portions of the plot. To demonstrate this, I have referenced particular instances where Shakespeare draws from different accounts and merges them to form his scenes. The page numbers in parentheses correspond to Walter W. Skeat's book, "Shakespeare's Plutarch," while passages from Julius Caesar are identified using the traditional format (act, scene, lines). The turning point of the play occurs during the assassination of Caesar,

where Shakespeare combines relevant sections from both The Life of Julius Caesar (pg.100-101) and The Life of Marcus Brutus (pg.119-120).The festival of Lupercalia showcases another example of this, as Caesar is offered the crown three times and rejects it each time. Shakespeare merges Caesar's account (pg.99-100) with Antony's (pg.164) to portray this. There are numerous other instances, such as the events leading up to Caesar's assassination, which are detailed in both Caesar's (pg.97-100) and Brutus's (pg.117 and 118) narratives. Even for Brutus's death, the events from both Antony's (pg.171) and Brutus's (pg.149-151) stories are combined. Additionally, there are events that solely originate from one story, such as the scenes depicting Caesar's ambition and the conspirators' attempts to convince Brutus, which predominantly derive from Caesar's life.The text mainly focuses on various events related to the conspiracy against Caesar, including the formation of the conspiracy, the public response, Antony's address at Caesar's funeral, the appearance and effects of Caesar's ghost, the disagreements between Brutus and Cassius, the battle between Brutus and Cassius against Antony and Octavius, and the events involving Brutus's wife, Portia. These events are primarily taken from Brutus's perspective in Shakespeare's play. Shakespeare also incorporates details from Plutarch, as evidenced by including Antonys eulogy and the reading of Caesar's will. In the will, every citizen of Rome is left 75 drachmas, while Caesars personal gardens and orchards are designated for public use. The impactful nature of these details leads the people to decide to cremate Caesar's body in a sacred place and threaten to burn down the homes of his murderers.Cinna the poet, a friend of Caesar's, walks among the plebeians and shares a dream

he had about Caesar (III, iii). The group bombards him with questions, including his name. When he reveals that he is called Cinna, the enraged mob assumes he is Cinna the conspirator and violently kills him. This series of events closely follows The Life Marcus Brutus (pg.122). Another example of Shakespeare's incorporation of details from Plutarch is Caesar's assassination (III, i). Artemidorus writes a letter to Caesar informing him of the conspirators, but is unable to deliver it due to the large crowd surrounding Caesar (pg.100). The conspirators are then approached by Popilius Lena, who wishes them luck in their endeavor (III, i, 12) (pg.117) and then speaks directly to Caesar.Initially, Cassius is concerned that Popilious has discovered their plan, but Brutus realizes from Caesar's expression that the message was not divulged (Alden, Raymond Macdonald, A Shakespeare Handbook, Books for Libraries, New York, 1932).

Bibliography:
- Alden, Raymond Macdonald, A Shakespeare Handbook, Books for Libraries, New York, 1932.
- Griffin, Alice. The sources of ten Shakespearean plays. Thomas Y Crowell, New York, 1966.
- Spencer T. J. B., Shakespeare's Plutarch, Penguin books, Middlesex, England, 1964.
- Rowse A. L., The Annotated Shakespeare, Orbis Publishing Ltd., 1984.
- Nicholl, Allardyce &Josephine, in her book titled Holinsheds Chronicle, explores how Shakespeare incorporated historical events into his plays. The book was published by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. in 1927.

Another valuable resource is Thomas Derrick's Understanding Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, which was published by Greenwood Press in 1998.

Samuel Daniel's book, titled Poems and A Defense of Ryme, is also essential for understanding Shakespeare's works. Published by Phoenix Books in London in 1930, it provides insightful analysis.