Essay: Biblical Allusions In Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Sin, greed, betrayal, and murder are all associated with Shakespeare’s Macbeth, but would one ever think of the Bible too? Many of Shakespeare’s plays and writings include biblical references. Due to the old English that Shakespeare uses, it can be hard to translate his message. This makes it more challenging to see the biblical references he makes throughout his work. (Ruth) The Tragedy of Macbeth is full of biblical allusions starting with a replica story of Genesis 3. This is where ‘original sin’ is born in both Macbeth and Genesis 3. It includes references to Judas’s betrayal, the rule of threes, the last supper, the Trinity, the crucifixion, the rule of three, and more. When most think of Shakespeare, they think of his works rather than his religion and Christian upbringing. Like others who lived in England during the reformation, Shakespeare was legally required to attend church and was considered a protestant. However, several scholars claim that there is evidence Shakespeare had ties through his family with Roman Catholicism which was illegal in England. (Woods, 2016) Macbeth is not Shakespeare’s only play or work that includes biblical references. His plays are quite literally a Christian world, with over 2,000 biblical references throughout his works. These references may also be asserted with other religions, but Christianity was the only belief system in England during Shakespeare’s time. (Ryken, 2019) Throughout Macbeth, several cases of correlation with Biblical characters, events, and themes occur. The most notable examples found are the comparison of Adam and Eve with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Judas’ betrayal and the last supper in contrast to Macbeth’s betrayal and King Duncan’s literal last supper, the crucifixion and King Duncan, Saul and Macbeth, Satan and Macbeth, and the themes of Heaven and Hell. Based on all of these examples listed, Shakespeare used ideas, characteristics, and events from Biblical accounts to help build the story of Macbeth.
In Macbeth, Shakespeare develops his version of Genesis 3. Macbeth portrays Adam, Lady Macbeth is Eve, and the three witches can represent the serpent. This is also the story of how ‘original sin’ begins. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are both in high positions, but they still yearn for more, as Macbeth wants to be king, and Adam and Eve want to be like God. They both suffered the consequences, whether that meant eternal death or expulsion from their home with God. Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to kill the king just as Eve convinced Adam to go against God’s word by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Macbeth wanted to become the king and achieved that by killing others. His wife, along with the three witches, added to his temptation to do this. His wife eventually died, and it seemed as if everything Macbeth did was for nothing. Eve wanted to become all-knowing like God, and while she achieved that as well, she was banished from the garden for disobeying God, initially gaining nothing as well. The three witches in Macbeth can also be in comparison to the serpent from Genesis 3. These witches are described as the “weird sisters.” They trick Macbeth into killing others so he can become the king, just as the serpent did to Eve in the garden. The witches put the idea into Macbeth’s head just as the serpent did to Eve. In Genesis 3, the serpent tells Eve that all she has to do to become like God is eat one piece of fruit from the tree, and she would not die, nor would God punish her. In Macbeth, the witches tell him that he only has to kill a few people and he will become king.
Another primary biblical reference found in Macbeth is Judas’s betrayal and the last supper. Due to the circumstances of Macbeth’s betrayal and murder of King Duncan, it has been noted that he represents the definitive conspirator, Judas Iscariot. In this case, King Duncan would represent Jesus Christ. (Ruth) Judas was a disciple and follower of Jesus, just as Macbeth was a follower of King Duncan. This was true until the three witches tempted him to do otherwise. Before both of these events of betrayal occurred, communion or the Last Supper was held. In the Bible, after the Last Supper was held, Judas betrays Jesus for Pontius Pilate. Macbeth betrays King Duncan right after his “last supper” and ends up blaming two other men for the killing of the king. (Leithart, 2016) Judas did it for the money. Macbeth did it for the crown. God knew Judas’s true intentions, but King Duncan never saw it coming. Would one ever suspect these actions from people who seem so loyal, though? Either way, their efforts were not worth the outcomes and consequences. As he was only left with money that he later got rid of, Judas ended up committing suicide. Macbeth’s wife does the same when she realizes she can no longer handle the guilt of her husband’s regicide, treacherous actions, and other murders, along with her evil plots and activities. (Jack, 1955) Both Macbeth and Judas were shattered by having realistic and substantial mindsets.
Biblical allusions to the crucifixion can also be found in Macbeth. In act 1, scene 2, Shakespeare mentions where Christ was crucified, Golgotha. In this scene, the Sergeant talks about a battle and compliments Banquo and Macbeth’s bravery. The Sergeant states, “Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell, but I am faint; my gashes cry for help.” In the bible, Golgotha means “Place of the Skull .”This refers to the harsh cruelty that Christ went through along with Banquo and Macbeth’s battle. No brutality can compare to Jesus’s crucifixion, but Shakespeare briefly references what it was like for Macbeth and Banquo. In act 2, scene 3 of the play, right after King Duncan is killed, Lady Macbeth says to Macbeth, “A little water clears us of this deed: How easy it is then!”. This sounds a little too familiar to the words of Pontius Pilate after Jesus was crucified. In Matthew 27, Pilate “took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves. Macbeth’s hands will never be clean of King Duncan’s blood, though, or clean ever, just like Pilate’s.
One of the more minor connections made in Macbeth is the connection between Saul and Macbeth in 1 Samuel. Saul was king right before the best king, David took the throne. Both Macbeth and Saul have been successful in battle and are both mature. Due to his victories, the people were eager for him to be king in Gilgal, while Macbeth is acknowledged as “Thane of Cawdor.” Due to Macbeth’s knowledgeable strategies and courage in battle, he was very successful in his time since most of society cared a great deal about war, and those who gave their lives to serve were almost identical to Saul’s story. As soon as these men are given power, they commit their first sins. Saul’s sin was disobedience when he did not wait for Samuel to return to Gilgal before lighting the burnt and peace offerings. Saul was a very impatient man who lacked control, ultimately leading to a failed kingdom. (1 Samuel 13:11-14) Macbeth’s sin broke the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” His choice to murder King Duncan to achieve the throne was rashly made, just like Saul’s. Both men lacked patience and control, or too much of it, as Macbeth could not wait another day to kill King Duncan. Funnily enough, as each man fails to reign as king, their close friends take the throne and develop an excellent line of kings for their country. When Samuel anointed David as king, “ the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit called from God is tormenting you.” (1 Samuel 16:14-15) Macbeth finds out that even though Banquo will be the new king, he will be “much happier” as he will be the one to “get kings, though be none.” Through these scenarios, we see that Macbeth is a version of who Saul was and Banquo a version of who David was.
Though this may sound harsh, Macbeth is even comparable to Satan in a sense. In the Bible, he was an angel before Satan became who he was. He then fell and turned into the devil. Macbeth could have been considered an “angel” too until he was loyal to his king and an overall good person until he “fell” too by killing the king for his power. Throughout the play, Macbeth is almost like a shadow figure of Satan with his cunning ambition and consequences. Though Macbeth realizes what he has done will lead to consequences, he does so without looking back. This determination from Macbeth and Satan leads them to their downfall. In Act 4, Scene 3, Malcolm acknowledges that “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.” Both of these men fell from their power, although neither cared that they would live in eternal damnation. When Shakespeare described the devil, he would often use words from scripture. Malcolm’s line can be referenced from three different passages, including Luke 10:18, Isaiah 14:12, and 2 Peter 2:4. In Luke, Satan is portrayed as falling “like lightning from heaven.” In Isaiah, the words “have you fallen from heaven” are used, and in 2 Peter, it says that “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell or “falling.” Both Shakespeare and Satan were full of greed, ambition, darkness, and more, leading to their demise. Satan’s ambition led him to his downfall after wanting to be like God, and Macbeth was the same, instead wanting to “be like” King Duncan. Satan was never tempted to do what he did, which shows what ambition will do to a person. Macbeth, in reality, was tempted by Satan through the three witches. Just as ambition can hurt a person, so can greed. Habeeb Akande quotes: “The difference between greed and ambition is a greedy person desires things he isn’t prepared to work for.” Both of these men already had everything they needed but still wanted more.
As Macbeth is plotting to kill King Duncan, Shakespeare begins to write a soliloquy. In Act 1, Scene 7, he starts it with, “If it were done when tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.” Throughout this speech, a few biblical references are made. One reflects Macbeth’s mindfulness of his connection with Judas and is found in the opening line of this soliloquy. (John 13:27) A second shows a fairly relative theme of the Bible as it is a proverb with the words “as a man sows, so he shall reap.” This is found in lines 8-11 when he states, “But in these cases, we still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instruction, which being taught, return to plague the inventor.” (Galatians 6:7; Job 4:8; Solomon 11:13). A third one concerns human pride which is something that is very criticized in the Bible. This is found in line 25 when he states, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself.” (Matthew 23:12; Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 29:23)
Heaven and hell also play a massive role in Macbeth. Shakespeare used the themes of heaven and hell to show changes in character, plot, and the atmosphere of the play. In each act, there was at least one reference to heaven, hell, or both. The connotation of heaven and hell in Macbeth is connection and faith. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship with God are weakened throughout the play because of their evil doings.