This essay examines, by reading Macbeth as a historical play, how Shakespeare elaborates Macbeth to show kingship in a way that may undermine the King James I ideology with James’ own concept of kingship. Critics have been strongly inclined to argue that Macbeth obviously shows James’ notion of kingship. However, recently, many critics have started to destabilize the reading of Macbeth as the presentation of James’ kingship and royal lineage by pointing out that political theories of kingship in relation to the balance between kings’ and subjects’ rights in the play are never clearly defined. Following David Scott Kanstan’s argument, this essay argues that reading Macbeth with King James’ doctrine of kingship is problematic. Instead, this essay suggests that the play is full of doubling that Shakespeare offered us. It is true that this ambiguity interrupts monotonous readings of Macbeth. However, simultaneously, it seems to open a new way of reading, as Shakespeare opens the possibility of Macbeth’s ideological reading from tragedy.
1. Introduction
2. Kingship in Macbeth
3. Conclusion
Works Cited