Paper Topic:

Supernatural in Macbeth

p 6 Ruslan Savka

Marlynn Alkins

EN102

11 April 2007

The role of supernatural in Macbeth

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth at a period of time when people believed in the supernatural as natural daily occurrences . The common belief was that powers of good and evil remained in constant conflict to take control of the souls of people . Witches , as elements of the supernatural , were , of course , on the side of evil . Other phenomena were thought to occur in nature as a reaction to man 's unnatural or sinful acts

. Shakespeare makes use of elements like the three witches ghosts , gory scenes and unnatural events to heighten the dramatic effect of the supernatural in Macbeth

The play Macbeth starts with a dramatic portrayal of elements of the supernatural in the form of the three witches announcing their continued presence in the play

First Witch

When shall we three meet again ? In thunder , lighting or in rain (3 , 1 1

Third Witch

There to meet with Macbeth (3 , 1 , 8

This enhances the perception of the role of the supernatural throughout the play . So it is , as the plot of the play is dependant on the prophecies of the three witches . They immediately let the audience know that they will have an evil influence on Macbeth

Second Witch

All hail , Macbeth ! Hail to thee , Thane of Cawdor

Third Witch

All hail , Macbeth , that shalt be King hereafter (8 , 1 , 47

Characters of the play are influenced by the power of the witches and these words play a crucial role in their moral downfall . It is easier for Macbeth and his wife to believe in prophecy rather than in free will . It is customary to refer to Macbeth and his wife as the symbols of evil and violence , but more profound analysis makes evident that these personalities are too complicated to regard them from a single point of view . They represent a mixture of various emotions and intentions . For example , Macbeth initially fears the witches ' prophecy and refuses to kill Duncan . Before the witches appear , Macbeth is a lauded thane in battle , one whom the king trusts implicitly . As he considers his wife 's plan , he hallucinates a dagger , which seems to be leading him to Duncan 's chamber , and interprets it to mean that he should kill the king . Would he have interpreted it that way if he had not heard the witches ' prophecies ? Later , Macbeth becomes ruthless and overconfident while his wife descends into the tormenting depths of guilt by the end of the play

Even as Lady Macbeth was influenced by the suggestion of these witches she did show some moral hesitation . When she went into Duncan 's chamber , she found herself unable to kill him because of his appearance she notes

Had he not resembled my father as he slept , I had done 't (27 , 2 , 12

She also manages to rescue her husband from the horrors created by his own conscience during his coronation banquet . Macbeth hallucinates the ghost of...

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