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No one dared to be rebellious against the king in fear of their own lives. The king was treated with respect and honor because of the beliefs of the time. The belief was the divine right of kings. According to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary the definition is "the right to rule directly from God, not from the consent of the people"(575). People of this period believed that there was a greater power controlling life, God, and as long as this divine right was maintained, chaos would not take control. Therefore, in the eyes of the people the murder of the king would not only be a crime against the state but more importantly it would be a crime against God.
During the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare was beginning to emerge from the ordinary people of Elizabeth's kingdom. The World Book Online Americus Edition points out that William Shakespeare was a poet who wrote at least 37 plays, which have been divided into comedies, histories, and tragedies. Even though Shakespeare focused primarily on theater he had knowledge in a number of other trades. These include politics, history, and sports (1). According to Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless themes, Shakespeare's understanding of human nature and beauty of his language make him the greatest writer in the English language. .
One of Shakespeare's shorter works, the tragedy Macbeth begins in feudal Scotland. Macbeth is portrayed as a loyal solider and honorable Thane of the kings, performing orders given to him and conquering the enemies of the kingdom. This is seen in his fight against the original Thane of Cawdor who ironically was killed by the forces of good for being a traitor. The story of Macbeth, with its double dealing and corruption, is a perfect example of what happens when a man chooses to be disloyal and treacherous, rather than loyal and honorable to king and country. .
In Macbeth, found in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, the three witches introduce act one by appearing to Macbeth and Banquo.
