The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, led by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, left a lasting impression on England’s political, cultural, and artistic landscape. William Shakespeare, writing during this tumultuous period, was inevitably influenced by the event, particularly in his play Macbeth.
Shakespeare under Two Monarchs
Shakespeare’s career spanned the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. While Elizabeth’s rule brought relative stability after the turbulent years of the Tudor succession, the early reign of King James I was fraught with challenges. One of the most dramatic threats to his authority was the Gunpowder Plot, an audacious Catholic conspiracy aimed at assassinating the king and destroying the Protestant-led government by blowing up the House of Lords.
In 1606, just months after the failed plot, Shakespeare penned Macbeth, a tragedy steeped in themes of treason, regicide, and the divine right of kings. The discovery of Fawkes beneath the Parliament chambers, ready to ignite the explosives, had a profound impact on England’s collective psyche, and Shakespeare’s work reflects the anxiety and terror that followed the event.
Shakespeare’s Ties to Catholic Sympathizers
Shakespeare’s own family connections to the Catholic cause are intriguing. His father, John Shakespeare, was rumored to have secretly practiced Catholicism at a time when it was outlawed in England. Evidence of illegal Catholic writings found in the attic of his Stratford home suggests a possible underground allegiance. Additionally, the Shakespeare family was closely connected to the Ardens, a prominent Catholic family. William’s mother, Mary Arden, was part of this family, several members of which had been imprisoned or executed for plotting against Elizabeth I.
Shakespeare’s proximity to the Gunpowder Plot conspirators extended beyond his family. His father had ties to the Catesby family, particularly William Catesby, the father of Robert Catesby, the primary architect of the Gunpowder Plot. These connections likely added personal resonance to the political turmoil of the time, and it is possible that Shakespeare felt compelled to assert his loyalty to King James through his works, particularly Macbeth.
Addressing Treason and the Divine Right of Kings in Macbeth
The Gunpowder Plot directly challenged the divine right of kings, a principle that King James I fervently defended. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a clear endorsement of this doctrine, portraying the murder of a king as a heinous crime against the natural order.
In Macbeth, the murder of King Duncan is not just a political act but a profound moral and cosmic transgression. Duncan is described with reverence, and after his death, Shakespeare emphasizes the catastrophic effects on nature and society. “Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord’s anointed temple,” declares Macduff, underscoring the sacred nature of monarchy and the horror of regicide.
The vivid descriptions of unnatural events following Duncan’s murder—such as the sky turning dark and animals behaving erratically—serve as a metaphor for the chaos unleashed by treason. This mirrors the widespread panic and unrest following the exposure of the Gunpowder Plot. The play’s portrayal of the consequences of regicide is both a warning to would-be traitors and a reinforcement of the divine right of kings, which James I had a vested interest in promoting.
The Grisly Execution of Guy Fawkes and Its Reflection in Macbeth
The public execution of Guy Fawkes was one of the most gruesome spectacles of the period, with Fawkes being hanged, drawn, and quartered. His body was then dismembered, with parts sent to different regions of England as a warning to others who might consider treason. This brutal end left a significant mark on the English populace, and it is likely that Shakespeare drew on this imagery in Macbeth.
In the opening act of Macbeth, a similarly graphic death is described. The traitorous Thane of Cawdor is reported to have been “unseamed from the nave to the chops” and his head placed upon the battlements. This act of public execution mirrors the treatment of Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators. Later in the play, Macbeth meets a similar fate, with his head also severed and displayed as a symbol of justice and retribution.
The parallels between the traitors in Macbeth and the real-life conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot are striking. Both the fictional and historical figures meet violent ends, serving as a powerful reminder of the consequences of betraying the king.
The Mermaid Tavern
An intriguing but unproven connection between Shakespeare and Guy Fawkes lies in the legend of the Mermaid Tavern. Located in Cheapside, this popular establishment was frequented by literary figures like Ben Jonson and John Donne. Some rumors suggest that Shakespeare was also a regular visitor, though this remains speculative.
The Mermaid Tavern was also a known meeting spot for some of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators. While it is tempting to imagine Shakespeare rubbing shoulders with Fawkes and his associates, there is no concrete evidence to support such a claim. Nevertheless, the tavern was a hub of intellectual and political activity during Shakespeare’s time, and its association with both literary and revolutionary figures adds a layer of intrigue to the cultural backdrop against which Shakespeare wrote.
The Enduring Legacy of Guy Fawkes in Shakespeare’s Time
The Gunpowder Plot cast a long shadow over the early years of James I’s reign. In Macbeth, Shakespeare not only reflects the anxieties of the time but also reaffirms the sanctity of monarchy and the dangers of treason. Through vivid imagery, supernatural elements, and political commentary, the play resonates with the fears ignited by Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators.
While Shakespeare’s personal views on the Catholic cause and the Gunpowder Plot remain ambiguous, his works clearly reflect the pressures of writing for a royal patron in a politically charged environment. Macbeth stands as a testament to the lasting influence of the Gunpowder Plot on English literature and the ways in which historical events can shape artistic expression.
Shakespeare’s genius lay in his ability to weave the concerns of his time into timeless works of art. The influence of Guy Fawkes, both as a historical figure and a symbol of treason, is evident in the themes of power, legitimacy, and rebellion that permeate Macbeth. Through this masterpiece, Shakespeare both responded to the political climate of 1606 and created a lasting meditation on the consequences of ambition and betrayal.
