Explain the impact of the show of 8 kings in Act 4, Scene 1 of Macbeth.
The show of the eight kings before Macbeth would have been viewed by Shakespeare's audience as an obvious compliment to King James I. Shortly after coming to the throne in 1603, James became the patron to Shakespeare's acting company and changed their name to the Kings's Servants. It was believed that the Stewart family of Scotland was descended from Banquo, and the parade of eight kings represented the eight Stewart kings thus far. In 1371 Robert II began his reign as the first Stewart monarch. Next to the throne was Robert III, James I, James II, James III, James IV, James V and last was James VI, who became James I of England. In the play, James I is holding a glass which reflects the many Stewart kings to follow.
The procession of eight kings in the witches second prophecy which is made to calm
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second prophecy which is made to calmMacbeth's fears also contains an acknowledgement to King James I.
Shakespeare puts a mirror in the hand of the eighth apparition so that it can reflect the image of the real King James I, who was in the audience at a performance of Macbeth.
Why were the visions in Act 4, Scene 1 of Macbeth shown and who are the eight kings?
In Act IV Scene I the witches are asked by Macbeth to give him more information. He doesn’t care what the consequences of this knowledge might mean.
“Even till destruction sicken: answer me
To what I ask you.”
Macbeth decides to hear the prophecy from the witches' masters. He is then greeted by an apparition that can read his mind and answer his question. The witches show him several things and he begins to feel secure. Then a vision of a line of kings is seen. These kings are representative of the descendents of Banquo that will eventually lead to King James. In the vision, the last king holds a mirror to make the line seem endless. So Macbeth gets his question answered about Macbeth's descendents and the witches try to cheer him up by dancing.
“Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo. Down!
Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair,
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first;
A third, is like the former – filthy hags.
Why do you show me this
Yet another? A seventh? I’ll see no more
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass (mirror)
Which shows me many more…..”