"'Macbeth' is based on real historical events, and it takes place in the real country of Scotland. If you visit Scotland today, you can see the castle at Inverness, where Macbeth is said to have murdered Duncan."
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"At the time of the story, Scotland was politically independent of England, although at the time Shakespeare wrote the play, they had recently been united under one monarch."
"In fact, it is more than likely that Shakespeare chose a Scottish history for his play because King James VI of Scotland, who had recently become King James I of England, was his patron."
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"However, the location of the play is not really important to the story, as the characters and ideas involved could be from any time and any place."
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"The action of the play shifts from a deserted heath, to Duncan's palace at Forres, to Macbeth's castle at Inverness, to Macduff's castle, to England and back to Inverness."
"More important than the physical setting perhaps, is the atmosphere of the play."
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"Shakespeare quickly invokes a scene of gloom and mystery when the play opens, and there are a series of storm and night scenes which suit the 'dark' mood of the play, and Macbeth's dark nature."
