Supernatural Action In Macbeth Essay

In the play of Macbeth we notice the works of how the supernatural can control or change

the mindset of those in the play. Shakespeare uses supernatural actions to keep the reader

thinking what a certain situations means and questioning what will happen next.

Shakespeare keeps the reader engaged in the play by using multiple supernatural events

to describe events that will take place further in the book.

In scene one, act four of Macbeth we notice that the three witches have returned once

again but also involved this time is Hecate which is the leader of the witches. The scene

starts off with the witches mixing a potion which has an abundance of supernatural

ingredients. The ingredients range from “Witch’s mummy” (Shakespeare,

23) which is

mummified flesh, to “Fillet of a fenny snake” (Shakespeare, 12) which is a slice of a

snake from a swamp, and even goes to the extremes of “Ditch-delivered by a drab”

(Shakespeare, 31) which is the finger of a baby that was strangled, as a prostitute gave

birth to it in a ditch. Once the witches are done Hecate the head witch comes into the play

and notices the job the three witches have done and is proud of the deed that has been

done. Shortly after the witches talk the Second Witch states “By the pricking of my

thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” (Shakespeare, 44-45) which in

modern day translation means that the second witch could tell that something wicked

was coming by the tingling in her thumbs.

Macbeth enters soon after the Second witch has the feeling of wickedness and he asks

what is partaking in the room,” How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?

What is’t you do?”(Shakespeare, 47-48) meaning what’s going on here, you secret,

evil, midnight hags? What are you doing? When Macbeth asks this question the witches

respond by saying that they are doing “a deed without a name.” At this moment in the

play Macbeth is now becoming paranoid and afraid of what could possibly happen due to

the fact that the witches told him that he would be king further in life and it became true.

Shakespeare uses three apparitions which is a ghost or ghostlike image of a person

when the witches are talking to Macbeth. The apparitions are warning Macbeth about

Macduff and Telling Macbeth that he needs to be strong and have faith in himself.

In the first Apparition Macbeth sees an armed head which is a head with an armored

helmet which tells Macbeth, “Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife” (Shakespeare,

71-72).

The second Apparition is a bloody child that tells Macbeth “Be bloody, bold, and

resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm

Macbeth.”(Shakespeare, 78-81) in this sentence the apparition is telling Macbeth to “be

violent, bold, and firm. Laugh at the power of other men, because nobody born

from a woman will ever harm Macbeth.”

The third apparition is a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand. This apparition is

different from the other due to the fact that what was said was more of a directive to be

strong and have courage in a situation that will appear later on in the book. The third

apparition tells Macbeth,” Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who

frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam

Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him.” (Shakespeare, 94-98)the

apparition was saying Be brave like the lion and proud. Don’t even worry about

who

hates you, who resents you, and who conspires against you. Macbeth will never be

defeated until Birnam Wood marches to fight you at Dunsinane Hill.

Macbeth continues to question the witches about what is going on and they tell him to not

worry about what is going on. As Macbeth continues to ask the witches show another

stage of supernatural being in the play while talking to the witches a show of eight kings

and the ghost of Banquo appear. The ghost of Banquo is Macbeths fear or paranoia to

what could possibly happen later on in the play. Macbeth is afraid of losing the throne

and in knowing that the witches play mind games with him making him scared of

Macduff and he takes what the witches say about power into his own hands.

When Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo he becomes afraid and tells the ghost to leave but he

sees the other seven kings before him and each one has a feature that disgusts Macbeth. “ Thou

art too like the spirit of Banquo. Down! Thy crown does sear mine eyeballs. And thy hair, Thou

other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former.—Filthy hags! Why do you

show me this? A fourth? Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom? Another

yet? A seventh? I’ll see no more. And yet the eighth appears who bears a glass which shows me

many more, and some I see that twofold balls and treble scepters carry. Horrible sight! Now I see

’tis true; for the blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me and points at them for his.”(Shakespeare,

117-130).

Macbeth endures a lot of turmoil from the supernatural events in the book. It all started from the

witches telling him he would become king and with his wife finding out that he had that chance

she turned him into someone he is not. Macbeth’s tragic hero ways are what has him so messed

up in the head when it comes to certain things. When he sees the ghost of Banquo it is because

he is afraid of what could possibly happen to him and his wife due to what he knows and who is

destined to take over the throne. Macbeth knows who is capable of having the throne next

because of what the witches have said. The witches are the most important supernatural being in

the book due to that they have the power to create something that throws the reader and

characters off their paths in the book.

The more we read into the book the more we see Macbeth and the people who surround him see

what is capable of happening to the Scotland and how the powers are going down except for one

and Macbeth knows that sooner or later someone will come for him killing him and giving

someone else the throne.

We see that the witches are a main part of the play and that everything that happens that they

have something to do with that so that makes the reader question what will happen if the witches

somehow are removed from the play in any way? Will it affect Macbeth or will it affect the other

characters in the play? We continuously look to see what Macbeth and how Macbeth reacts or

does in a situation that’s what keeps the reader intrigued.