Paper Topic:

Shakespeare

Shakespeare 's use of Magic

Shakespeare has used all sorts of magic - from sorcery , witchcraft to black magic - to show how some characters are tempted to manipulate the natural world by this supernatural power . Other characters are prone to its evil influence . Belief in magic or witchcraft was widespread in Shakespeare 's age . Christopher Marlow created Dr Faustus , a demonologist who sold his soul for supernatural power . But skepticism grew with the publication of Reginald Scot 's Discovery of Witchcraft (1584 ) and Samuel Harsnett 's Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures (1603 ) which

is reflected in Banquo 's attitude to the Weird Sisters . In the Midsummer night 's Dream he uses magic to reinforce the idea of the absurdity of romantic love . In The Tempest he shows how magic can be used to counteract the power of evil

In Shakespeare 's Midsummer Night 's Dream magic has been used for mischief as well as good . We have characters and situations which are supernatural . Here Puck ' which etymologically means devil or demon is a mischievous sprite named Robin Goodfellow . Oberon , the fairy king applies the magical power of flower juice to make Titania fall in love with the person she sees first , with a view to teaching a lesson for her stubbornness . Oberon s Puck to pour love-juice on Demetrius ' eyes so as to make him amorous of the woman he scorns . While Oberon 's magic juice works wonder for Lysander and Helena who revive their love , it works eerily for Titania...

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