”Macbeth” Historical Context: Divine Right of Kings 🤴 GCSE English Literature Learning & Revision

2025-02-24

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In this episode, we’ll explore the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, a 17th-century belief that monarchs were chosen by God and answerable only to Him. We’ll discuss how this doctrine framed any attempt to overthrow a king as a sacrilegious act. Then, we’ll examine its relevance in Macbeth, where King Duncan’s rightful rule is disrupted by Macbeth’s ambition. Finally, we’ll analyze how Macbeth’s downfall restores the natural order, reinforcing the idea that defying God’s will leads to inevitable punishment—an i...

In this episode, we’ll explore the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, a 17th-century belief that monarchs were chosen by God and answerable only to Him. We’ll discuss how this doctrine framed any attempt to overthrow a king as a sacrilegious act. Then, we’ll examine its relevance in Macbeth, where King Duncan’s rightful rule is disrupted by Macbeth’s ambition. Finally, we’ll analyze how Macbeth’s downfall restores the natural order, reinforcing the idea that defying God’s will leads to inevitable punishment—an idea that would have resonated deeply with early modern audiences.

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