When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth most people  in England believed that God had instituted a Church and ordained a Monarchy for the right government of the land.  In England today the government is still  a Monarchy but it's much different from when Shakespeare was writing plays. For most of Shakespeare's life ( 1564-1616) the Queen was Elizabeth 1 ; when she died she was succeeded by King James 1. He was also King of Scotland (James4) and both Kingdoms were united in 1603 by his accession to the English throne. Law and order were maintained by the landowners and enforced by their deputies. The average man had no vote and his wife had no rights at all. Today law and order is reinforced by the police and our judicial system.

    When Macbeth was first written women didn't have much of a problem with the play but today's feminists would perhaps find this play a little sexist. Lady Macbeth faints when Duncan is killed  but why couldn't she just get upset and start crying and why doesn't she end up killing Duncan herself? That was the original plan. It was perceived in those days that women could not handle violence , blood or be soldiers. That was why they had husbands.

    During Shakespeare's life people of England were used to seeing people hung and killed because this was an every day thing. That was how the government worked. Jails and prisons were not really abundant with prisoners since most of them were killed or left in dungeons to die. People were punished by violence and physical abuse. Today's societies  would not approve of this method and if a play was presented to us in this fashion , the audience would not find it appalling because we always see violence and bloody scenes on television and on movies but we would be appalled by the way that people were punished for their bad actions and the way the people in power could do whatever they wanted even if it meant killing off Macduff's entire family and servants.

    The violence which Macbeth used to gain power within the society was overwhelming. He seemed to grow more and more invincible with every killing he ordered to take place. Each plot against his people was becoming more and more bloody. When Lady Macbeth and her husband spoke about killing Duncan they didn't want to make a really big mess. Macbeth stabbed Duncan and framed the two servants then murdered them also. When Macbeth ordered for Banquo and his son Fleance to be killed he said that he wanted to be sure that they were dead. He sent an unknown third murderer to make sure the deed was done. After this the power and violence started going to Macbeth's head. Although he didn't seem to be frightened and was rather confidant . His wife Lady Macbeth started feeling guilty. Macbeth then ordered for Macduff's family to be murdered in cold blood and he didn't want any survivors. Everyone in the household had to be killed. This was an extremely bloody affair. Everyone was killed and nobody was spared. Lady Macbeth then excentuated the bloody theme . She couldn't sleep and would sleepwalk constantly. She would say that she saw spots , spots of blood that wouldn't come off her hands. This shows that LAdy Macbeth was feeling some remorse and said that she couldn't believe how much blood the old Duncan could have in him.

    The end of the play came to a bloody and violent end when Macbeth was confronted by Macduff. When it was all over over Macduff was victorious over Macbeth and he was parading around with Macbeth's head on a stick. Macduff had beat him in battle and had decapitated him. Macbeth starts off in violence and bloodshed in the war and ends the same way.