The Real Macbeth
by Rahul Tasker
The history of Macbeth, born Mac Bethad mac Findláich, was used by William Shakespeare to make one of his most famous plays. The three kings who appear in “Macbeth” are depicted in a different light in actual history. Macbeth, the tyrant, was actually a generous ruler. Duncan, the wise and old ruler, was not old or wise when he was killed. Malcolm, Duncan’s righteous son who wanted to free Scotland, came to power an equally bloody as Macbeth.
Macbeth was represented as a treacherous tyrant in Shakespeare’s play. He started as a beloved general of King Duncan. When the King stayed at his castle, Macbeth took the opportunity to assassinate Duncan in his sleep and took the throne for himself. As the king, he became paranoid and power hungry. He hired murderers to kill his best friend, Banquo, because he was afraid of losing his power. Next he hired the murderers to kill Macduff’s family because Macduff fled to England. Macbeth gained nothing from either of these acts, and they only proved that he was a tyrant. Under his rule Scotland was falling apart, and was not going to be put back together until Malcolm came to power. In Reality, Macbeth was born of nobility and had a tight to heir because his Grandfather was Malcolm II, former king of Scotland. Macbeth inherited his father’s position as the leader of Moray, and soon Duncan, the high king, invaded. Macbeth and his army retaliated and Macbeth slew Duncan in battle. Macbeth became the next high king because of his right to rule and ruled peacefully for seventeen years. He was a great benefactor of the Catholic Church and generously gave money to the poor. His reign fell short because Malcolm, with the help of his kinsman from England, Siward, invaded Dunsinane. Macbeth was defeated, but he was not killed. Three years later, Malcolm invaded again and slew Macbeth. In sum, Macbeth was differently represented in the play than in history.
Duncan was depicted as a wise old ruler in “Macbeth.” He had two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, who were adults and Malcolm had been selected as his heir. He was seen a good leader who ruled relatively peacefully and rewarded good servants. He died when he stayed at Macbeth’s castle and was assassinated. This shows that he was a good friend of Macbeth and that he trusted him. In history, Duncan was young and foolish. He actually did have two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, but they were young. Duncan was not popular with the people because he was belligerent and went to war unnecessarily. Five years into his rule, he attacked Durnam. He lost many of his own people and he barely escaped with his life. He later attacked Moray, which is where Macbeth was the lord, and he was killed. Over all, Duncan was not the old and wise man that he was represented as in “Macbeth,” rather, he was a young and belligerent man who recklessly got into avoidable wars, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Duncan’s oldest son, Malcolm was the savior of Scotland from Macbeth’s tyrannical rule, in Shakespeare’s representation. When Duncan died he was an adult, and he fled when he found out what happened to his father because he feared that he would be accused of killing him. At the end of the play, he returned to save Scotland with the help of Macduff and all of England. His army defeated Macbeth’s, though it was Macduff who killed Macbeth, not Malcolm. In the end Malcolm became king and begins a peaceful rule. In reality, Malcolm was about nine when his father died. In Scotland, they required that the high king be at least sixteen. His mother took him and fled to England so that one day, he could return as king. And seventeen years later, with the help of his kinsman, Siward, and English support, he returned to Scotland for the throne. The first time he invaded, he won but did not kill Macbeth. The second time, he invaded three years later and killed Macbeth. Macbeth’s step son, Lulach, was coroneted at Scone before Malcolm became king. Malcolm killed him then finally took the throne.
The three Scottish kings in Shakespeare’s play were not accurately represented. Malcolm and Duncan were more tyrannical than Macbeth ever was. Macbeth was never a tyrant; he was actually a fair and generous ruler. The way in which Malcolm took over as king was as bloody as Macbeth’s, but Macbeth never attacked the king to take the crown. In all, the main points of the play were very different from their actual history, especially in regards to Macbeth, Duncan, and Malcolm.
Works cited
BBC. "Macbeth (c.1005 - 1057)." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 29 May 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/macbeth.shtml
Bringham, Caroline. "The Real MacBeth." The Real MacBeth. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2013. http://www.4scots.us/real_macbeth.htm
"The Real Macbeth." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2013 http://habee.hubpages.com/hub/The-Real-Macbeth
Macbeth was represented as a treacherous tyrant in Shakespeare’s play. He started as a beloved general of King Duncan. When the King stayed at his castle, Macbeth took the opportunity to assassinate Duncan in his sleep and took the throne for himself. As the king, he became paranoid and power hungry. He hired murderers to kill his best friend, Banquo, because he was afraid of losing his power. Next he hired the murderers to kill Macduff’s family because Macduff fled to England. Macbeth gained nothing from either of these acts, and they only proved that he was a tyrant. Under his rule Scotland was falling apart, and was not going to be put back together until Malcolm came to power. In Reality, Macbeth was born of nobility and had a tight to heir because his Grandfather was Malcolm II, former king of Scotland. Macbeth inherited his father’s position as the leader of Moray, and soon Duncan, the high king, invaded. Macbeth and his army retaliated and Macbeth slew Duncan in battle. Macbeth became the next high king because of his right to rule and ruled peacefully for seventeen years. He was a great benefactor of the Catholic Church and generously gave money to the poor. His reign fell short because Malcolm, with the help of his kinsman from England, Siward, invaded Dunsinane. Macbeth was defeated, but he was not killed. Three years later, Malcolm invaded again and slew Macbeth. In sum, Macbeth was differently represented in the play than in history.
Duncan was depicted as a wise old ruler in “Macbeth.” He had two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, who were adults and Malcolm had been selected as his heir. He was seen a good leader who ruled relatively peacefully and rewarded good servants. He died when he stayed at Macbeth’s castle and was assassinated. This shows that he was a good friend of Macbeth and that he trusted him. In history, Duncan was young and foolish. He actually did have two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, but they were young. Duncan was not popular with the people because he was belligerent and went to war unnecessarily. Five years into his rule, he attacked Durnam. He lost many of his own people and he barely escaped with his life. He later attacked Moray, which is where Macbeth was the lord, and he was killed. Over all, Duncan was not the old and wise man that he was represented as in “Macbeth,” rather, he was a young and belligerent man who recklessly got into avoidable wars, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Duncan’s oldest son, Malcolm was the savior of Scotland from Macbeth’s tyrannical rule, in Shakespeare’s representation. When Duncan died he was an adult, and he fled when he found out what happened to his father because he feared that he would be accused of killing him. At the end of the play, he returned to save Scotland with the help of Macduff and all of England. His army defeated Macbeth’s, though it was Macduff who killed Macbeth, not Malcolm. In the end Malcolm became king and begins a peaceful rule. In reality, Malcolm was about nine when his father died. In Scotland, they required that the high king be at least sixteen. His mother took him and fled to England so that one day, he could return as king. And seventeen years later, with the help of his kinsman, Siward, and English support, he returned to Scotland for the throne. The first time he invaded, he won but did not kill Macbeth. The second time, he invaded three years later and killed Macbeth. Macbeth’s step son, Lulach, was coroneted at Scone before Malcolm became king. Malcolm killed him then finally took the throne.
The three Scottish kings in Shakespeare’s play were not accurately represented. Malcolm and Duncan were more tyrannical than Macbeth ever was. Macbeth was never a tyrant; he was actually a fair and generous ruler. The way in which Malcolm took over as king was as bloody as Macbeth’s, but Macbeth never attacked the king to take the crown. In all, the main points of the play were very different from their actual history, especially in regards to Macbeth, Duncan, and Malcolm.
Works cited
BBC. "Macbeth (c.1005 - 1057)." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 29 May 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/macbeth.shtml
Bringham, Caroline. "The Real MacBeth." The Real MacBeth. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2013. http://www.4scots.us/real_macbeth.htm
"The Real Macbeth." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2013 http://habee.hubpages.com/hub/The-Real-Macbeth