Macbeth

Kenneth D. Farrow (Independent Scholar - Europe)

Ed. by J. Derrick McClure, University of Aberdeen
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.3: Scottish Writing and Culture, 400-present.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Gina Lyle (University of York), J. Derrick McClure (University of Aberdeen), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow)

Dates

Born c. 1020
Died c. 1057
Activity 1040-1057

Places

Born in Scotland
Active in Scotland; England

Activities

Primary

Monarch/ King/ Queen

Resources

Macbeth's Works

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For a king of Scotland upon whom large amounts of material have been written, from chronicles to poetry and drama, we know very little about the historical figure who reigned in his native country from 1040-1057. What we do know, however, must be regarded with caution and only as deriving from the most reliable traditions that we have access to. Facts are surely discernible within them, but legends are traceable, even to almost the very earliest documents. By the time we reach the work of Shakespeare, Macbeth’s most famous “biographer”, fiction has become powerfully predominant.

As far as we can tell, the man we now call Macbeth was the son of “Findlaech” (d. 1020), who was the “mormaer” of Moray and Ross, and Douda, third daughter of Malcolm II (r. 1005-1034). “Mormaer”

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4679 words

Citation: Farrow, Kenneth D. . "Macbeth". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 December 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12223, accessed 03 December 2024.]