Benjamin Hudson: The murderous medieval king who inspired "Macbeth"

The murderous medieval king who inspired "Macbeth"

Of all Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps none is stranger than “Macbeth”— a parable on power rife with supernatural elements. But according to texts from the 11th century, this tragedy has its roots in reality. What’s more, other accounts mention witches, prophecies, and arboreal armies. Which raises the question: just how much of Shakespeare’s strange story is true? Benjamin Hudson investigates. [Directed by Sarah Saidan, narrated by Adrian Dannatt, music by André Aires].

Shakespeare’s Macbeth draws on real events from 11th-century Scotland, where a general named Macbethad killed King Duncan and ruled for years. Later chroniclers added witches, prophecies, and forests marching to war, blurring fact and fiction to serve their times. The play’s most surreal moments echo centuries of evolving myths, each retelling shaped by politics, morality, and shifting fears. In exploring fate and agency, Macbeth reflects not just on power, but on how history itself is rewritten.