Analysis of Macbeth by William Shakespeare For a Shakespearean audience, the natural order, obedience to those above you in the hierarchy, would have been an ideal familiar and accepted. At a time when England was constantly threatened by Catholic insurrection, Shakespeare had an interest in writing a play that would please King James I. “Macbeth” raises the question of a crime that the state would consider a crime even against God, as the monarch was thought to be a ruler appointed by God and acting on his behalf. Assassinating a monarch would therefore have been considered completely contrary to the natural order, an evil action. As part of my English GCSE I was asked to evaluate the 1st and 2nd acts of Macbeth and show how Shakespeare makes us realize that Duncan's murder is a crime. evil and against the natural order. An atmosphere of evil is created from the beginning of the play. “Thunder and lightning. Enter three witches. They plan to meet Macbeth. “When the hubbub has passed. When the battle is lost and won. Every word they speak seems to link them to evil and filth. “The righteous is foul, and the foul is righteous, soar through the fog and dirty air. » In Shakespearean England, the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion was a powerful breeding ground for persecution and witch-hunting. were common. People of the time were led to consider witches as rebels against God and divine order. Thus, starting the play with this dramatic scene means wanting to capture the audience's attention from the beginning of the play. The Shakespearean audience would therefore be immediately aware, from the beginning of the play, that this drama concerns evil and foul acts. The witches' mention of Macbeth would also tell the audience that he is part of their evil plans! In Act 1, Scene 3, when the witches next appear, the stage directions are almost identical: “Thunder. Enter the three witches. Here, the witches begin to brag about the evil deeds each of them has committed since they were