Macbeth gets politicians' backing

Shakespeare's portrayal of Macbeth has proved controversial

Shakespeare unfairly portrayed Macbeth as an unsuccessful king in the play of the same name, according to an MSP.

Scottish Tory list MSP Alex Johnstone has tabled a motion on the 1,000th anniversary of Macbeth's birth, who was king of Scotland from 1040 to 1057.

The motion "regrets that Macbeth is misportrayed when he was a successful Scottish king".

Mr Johnstone said he was contacted by an American professor who felt Macbeth's reign was misrepresented.

His attempt to overturn Macbeth's image as a murderous villain is being supported by 19 other MSPs from the SNP, Green and Socialist parties.

The motion states: "Marking this 1,000th anniversary would both boost understanding of this historic period and increase awareness, especially among tourists, of locations such as Lumphanan that have ties with Macbeth."

Mr Johnstone said Shakespeare was less than charitable with his depiction of the king who died in battle in 1057.

Macbeth was so successful that, unusually for that period, he was able to up sticks and visit Rome and not have the country fall to bits in his absence Alex Johnstone Tory MSP

The MSP said: "I was contacted by an American professor who has visited north east Scotland and some of the sites associated with Macbeth.

"He took the view that Macbeth was a good king, that he served Scotland well, and brought the country together.

"Macbeth was so successful that, unusually for that period, he was able to up sticks and visit Rome and not have the country fall to bits in his absence."

The regional MSP for North East Scotland said he hoped to debate the issue in the Scottish Parliament.

Tourism hope

"It might be fitting if we used this to build up interest in tourism in that part of Scotland and counter some of the difficulties Scottish tourism has had," he said.

"The Conservative Party has been the victim of revisionists in the past and we will try and revise the Macbeth story."

Shakespeare's play is often referred to as "the Scottish play" and is thought to have been first performed in 1606 for King James 1 (James V1 of Scotland).

The writer's portrait of a great tragic hero, whose fate was linked to black magic and fuelled by the fire of greed and ambition, bears little resemblance to the historical figure.

Macbeth, King of Moray, was elected King of Scotland in place of Duncan's son Malcolm, who was only a child, and for 14 years Macbeth is believed to have ruled equably, imposing law and order and encouraging devout Christianity.