Raphael Holinsheds Influence On Macbeth

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The text, “Holinshed’s Chronicles” by Raphael Holinshed, was a source many authors and poets used as inspiration for their writing. Shakespeare was one of those writers and used Holinshed’s work as a primary source for his play known as “The tragedy of Macbeth”. The ways Shakespeare used “Holinshed’s Chronicles” as a basis for Act 1 of Macbeth is by using some of the similar plot details, the characters and setting. Additionally from the previous paragraph, Shakespeare used “Holinshed’s Chronicles” as a basis for Act 1 of Macbeth by using alike plot details. As shown in “Holinshed’s Chronicles”, “The words also of the three Weird Sisters would not out of his mind ...” (Lines 50-52). In addition, in “The tragedy of Macbeth” it states, “these Weïrd Sisters saluted me and referred me to the coming on of time with ‘Hail, king that shalt be” (1.5.7-8). This shows how Shakespeare used the same prophecies the woman offered Macbeth in Holinshed's Chronicles. Holinshed had a major influence on Shakespeare’s play, which were used in the plot lines of the chronicles to his own play to entice the audience. Therefore, Holinshed plot details were used in shakespeare's play as a basis for his writing. …show more content…

On page 296, on “Holinshed’s Chronicles” it shows, “his wife lay sore upon him to attempt the thing, as she that was very ambitious’. Also, in ‘Macbeth” it shows, “Come, you spirits... Make thick my blood” (1.5.37-40). Shakespeare used “Holinshed’s Chronicles” as source material for the characters in his play and developed some of them to have a stronger/cruel character. The characters traits give life to the play, which helps the readers have a better understanding on how evil or pure the characters are. Therefore, Shakespeare drew upon the qualities that Holindshe used for his character to keep the readers

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