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Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics

Prizivanje legitimnosti magijom: Šekspirov Makbet kao savremeni engleski politički činilac

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Đorđević, Edward
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Abstract
The text provides a political reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, claiming that the play is responding to the curious connection between witchcraft and state power in the preceding century, as well as contemporary political events. Namely, practices variously labeled as witchcraft, magic, conjuring were an integral aspect of English politics and struggles over royal succession in the sixteenth century; even more so were the witch hunts and attempts by British monarchs to control witchcraft. These issues reached a head with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne in 1603, and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. On the surface, Shakespeare’s play, written in the immediate aftermath of the failed attempt at regicide, brings these historical and political issues together in an effort to legitimize James’ rule. However, the article shows that a closer look reveals a more complicated, indeed subversive undercurrent at play. Paradoxically, while Macbeth doe...s provide James with legitimacy, at the same time it calls into question the grounds of that legitimacy.

Članak polazi od političkog čitanja Šekspirovog Makbeta, tvrdeći da je to delo odgovor na možda neobičnu vezu između magije i državne moći u 16. veku, kao i na politička dešavanja u vreme njegovog pisanja. Naime, delatnosti koje su raznorodno obeležene rečima vradžbi na, magija, prizivanje, itd. bile su sastavni deo engleske političke sfere u 16. veku, naročito u borbama za presto. Međutim, još važniju ulogu u političkom smislu je imao lov na veštice i pokušaji britanskih kraljeva da kontrolišu magiju. Ova pitanja su dostigla svoj istorijski vrhu nac 1603. godine, dolaskom na engleski presto Džejmsa I (koji je do tada bio Škotski kralj Džejms VI), kao i Barutnom zaverom 1605. Šekspirova drama, napisana odmah posle suđe nja zaverenicima za neuspeli pokušaj ubistva engleskog kralja, naizgled služi tome da legiti miše vladavinu kralja Džejmsa. Međutim, pažljivijim čitanjem i stavljanjem u istorijski i poli tički kontekst, uviđa se da Makbet sadrži izvestan subverzivni element. P...aradoksalno, iako Makbet uistinu legitimiše Džejmsa za kralja, istovremeno dovodi u pitanje osnov po kome on ima kraljevski legitimitet.

Keywords:
Macbeth / legitimacy / witches / conjuring / Gunpowder Plot
Source:
Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society, 2020, 31, 3, 393-405
Publisher:
  • Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju

DOI: 10.2298/FID2003393D

ISSN: 0353-5738

[ Google Scholar ]
URI
https://journal.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/index.php/fid/issue/view/53
http://rifdt.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/123456789/2187
Collections
  • Filozofija i društvo [Philosophy and Society]
  • Radovi istraživača
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IFDT
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Đorđević, Edward
PY  - 2020
UR  - https://journal.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/index.php/fid/issue/view/53
UR  - http://rifdt.instifdt.bg.ac.rs/123456789/2187
AB  - The text provides a political reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, claiming 
that the play is responding to the curious connection between witchcraft 
and state power in the preceding century, as well as contemporary political 
events. Namely, practices variously labeled as witchcraft, magic, conjuring 
were an integral aspect of English politics and struggles over royal 
succession in the sixteenth century; even more so were the witch hunts 
and attempts by British monarchs to control witchcraft. These issues 
reached a head with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English 
throne in 1603, and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. On the surface, 
Shakespeare’s play, written in the immediate aftermath of the failed 
attempt at regicide, brings these historical and political issues together 
in an effort to legitimize James’ rule. However, the article shows that a 
closer look reveals a more complicated, indeed subversive undercurrent 
at play. Paradoxically, while Macbeth does provide James with legitimacy, 
at the same time it calls into question the grounds of that legitimacy.
AB  - Članak polazi od političkog čitanja Šekspirovog Makbeta, tvrdeći da je to delo odgovor na 
možda neobičnu vezu između magije i državne moći u 16. veku, kao i na politička dešavanja 
u vreme njegovog pisanja. Naime, delatnosti koje su raznorodno obeležene rečima vradžbi na, magija, prizivanje, itd. bile su sastavni deo engleske političke sfere u 16. veku, naročito u 
borbama za presto. Međutim, još važniju ulogu u političkom smislu je imao lov na veštice i 
pokušaji britanskih kraljeva da kontrolišu magiju. Ova pitanja su dostigla svoj istorijski vrhu nac 1603. godine, dolaskom na engleski presto Džejmsa I (koji je do tada bio Škotski kralj 
Džejms VI), kao i Barutnom zaverom 1605. Šekspirova drama, napisana odmah posle suđe nja zaverenicima za neuspeli pokušaj ubistva engleskog kralja, naizgled služi tome da legiti miše vladavinu kralja Džejmsa. Međutim, pažljivijim čitanjem i stavljanjem u istorijski i poli tički kontekst, uviđa se da Makbet sadrži izvestan subverzivni element. Paradoksalno, iako 
Makbet uistinu legitimiše Džejmsa za kralja, istovremeno dovodi u pitanje osnov po kome on 
ima kraljevski legitimitet.
PB  - Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
T2  - Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society
T1  - Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics
T1  - Prizivanje legitimnosti magijom: Šekspirov Makbet kao savremeni  engleski politički činilac
IS  - 3
VL  - 31
SP  - 393
EP  - 405
DO  - 10.2298/FID2003393D
ER  - 
@article{
author = "Đorđević, Edward",
year = "2020",
abstract = "The text provides a political reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, claiming 
that the play is responding to the curious connection between witchcraft 
and state power in the preceding century, as well as contemporary political 
events. Namely, practices variously labeled as witchcraft, magic, conjuring 
were an integral aspect of English politics and struggles over royal 
succession in the sixteenth century; even more so were the witch hunts 
and attempts by British monarchs to control witchcraft. These issues 
reached a head with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English 
throne in 1603, and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. On the surface, 
Shakespeare’s play, written in the immediate aftermath of the failed 
attempt at regicide, brings these historical and political issues together 
in an effort to legitimize James’ rule. However, the article shows that a 
closer look reveals a more complicated, indeed subversive undercurrent 
at play. Paradoxically, while Macbeth does provide James with legitimacy, 
at the same time it calls into question the grounds of that legitimacy., Članak polazi od političkog čitanja Šekspirovog Makbeta, tvrdeći da je to delo odgovor na 
možda neobičnu vezu između magije i državne moći u 16. veku, kao i na politička dešavanja 
u vreme njegovog pisanja. Naime, delatnosti koje su raznorodno obeležene rečima vradžbi na, magija, prizivanje, itd. bile su sastavni deo engleske političke sfere u 16. veku, naročito u 
borbama za presto. Međutim, još važniju ulogu u političkom smislu je imao lov na veštice i 
pokušaji britanskih kraljeva da kontrolišu magiju. Ova pitanja su dostigla svoj istorijski vrhu nac 1603. godine, dolaskom na engleski presto Džejmsa I (koji je do tada bio Škotski kralj 
Džejms VI), kao i Barutnom zaverom 1605. Šekspirova drama, napisana odmah posle suđe nja zaverenicima za neuspeli pokušaj ubistva engleskog kralja, naizgled služi tome da legiti miše vladavinu kralja Džejmsa. Međutim, pažljivijim čitanjem i stavljanjem u istorijski i poli tički kontekst, uviđa se da Makbet sadrži izvestan subverzivni element. Paradoksalno, iako 
Makbet uistinu legitimiše Džejmsa za kralja, istovremeno dovodi u pitanje osnov po kome on 
ima kraljevski legitimitet.",
publisher = "Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju",
journal = "Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society",
title = "Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics, Prizivanje legitimnosti magijom: Šekspirov Makbet kao savremeni  engleski politički činilac",
number = "3",
volume = "31",
pages = "393-405",
doi = "10.2298/FID2003393D"
}
Đorđević, E.. (2020). Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics. in Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society
Beograd : Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju., 31(3), 393-405.
https://doi.org/10.2298/FID2003393D
Đorđević E. Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics. in Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society. 2020;31(3):393-405.
doi:10.2298/FID2003393D .
Đorđević, Edward, "Conjuring legitimacy: Shakespeare’s Macbeth as contemporary English politics" in Filozofija i društvo/Philosophy and Society, 31, no. 3 (2020):393-405,
https://doi.org/10.2298/FID2003393D . .

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