Supernatural in Shakespeare's Macbeth - The Naturally Supernatural

The Supernatural in Macbeth

Writers often use supernatural to add suspense and interest to their work. The Witches and ghosts create a sense of horror as well as foreshadow what will happen next. Ghosts and apparitions really took over MacBeth’s emotions and fears. For example in the opening scene witches are used to create an atmosphere of horror and suspense. Later in the scene the ghost of Banquo appears at the dinner table and drives Macbeth mad. His wife try's to calm him but she can't and Macbeth has the people at the table getting awfully suspicious. Again we see it when Macbeth saw the dagger, he is seeing things due to guilt. The witches foresaw what happened through the play by telling Macbeth his future as well as Banquo. Ghosts made the audience feel scared the sky black and the wind misty.

Witches in the play did prophecise to Macbeth that he would be king. Macbeth knowing this information became curious, knowing that Duncan was king he wondered how he would acheive the position. So he did indeed kill Duncan under the guidance of the three witches. The witches in this play in terms of ghosts are concerned, we see they are not human or half ways normal when baquo quotes to Macbeth that are not human like as well as irregular in some sort and very unattractive. This leaves a feeling of darkness for example the sky is black and the grass is gray instead of green the branches on the tress are short and rotting. The witches were Macbeth’s fortune tellers but they lead him a bad life In the end.

Ghosts and apparitions not only drove Macbeth to his grave but also gave him up. When he kills Duncan there is a sense of real guilt. We see him going crazy and feeling extreme guilt when immediately after he kills him he sais to his wife what a sorry sight and she tells him to stop worrying about Duncan and to get on with his life. She also tells him to stop being a coward, and that killing was the only option. In actuality it is not because a murder will never stay secret. Ghosts were a big factor in this play but guilt plays a part as well, a much bigger part. Guilt led to the witnessing of ghosts. For example when Macbeth hosts the dinner he witnesses baquo’s ghost this has an affect of pity for Macbeth as far as the audience is concerned, Macbeth himself from guilt is going crazy.