The Importance of the Theme of the Supernatural in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The Importance of the Theme of the Supernatural in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The supernatural in Elizabethan times was seen as a very real threat

to society. The public thought that there were such things as witches

who could perform acts of the supernatural such as turning humans into

animals and causing changes in the weather. Any mention of the

supernatural in these times scared the public and many people, mainly

women, were executed on the thought that they were witches.

In the beginning of the play, as the 3 witches meet, they suggest

another time. "When shall we three meet again? In thunder lighting or

in rain?" In this they suggest 3 weather states that represent

darkness and which are usually associated with scary strange

happenings and are often something to do with the paranormal.

In act 2 scene 1 Macbeth hallucinates and an image of a dagger appears

before his eyes, " is this a dagger, which I see before me? Art thou

not a fatal vision?" Here the supernatural is represented in the form

of non-realistic images appearing before Macbeth as the witches have

had an affect on him maybe causing the hallucinations by creating

false imprints on his mind. When Macbeth sees the dagger his use of

language refers to death which relates directly do the witches as they

are associated with killing and intent to harm humans. The picture

that they have created in his mind is to kill the king therefore they

could be using Macbeth to perform one of their acts of evil.

In act three scene 4 Banquo's ghost starts haunting Macbeth in the

middle of a banquet after Macbeth has just recently ordered for the

murder of Banquo and his son...

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...beth and

that their evil doings are being carried out.

The supernatural plays a key role in the shaping of events in the play

as it brings out the evil of Lady Macbeth and using the powers of

persuasion forces Macbeth to go against his will to commit murder. It

is also far more interesting to have the involvement of witches in a

play as it adds in an air of mystery and tenseness to the audience as

it is something that scares them and Makes them remember the play

well. Shakespeare has been very clever in his use of the witches as

they appear at the right times and check that their evil is being

carried out. This almost gives the impression that they are watching

the story unfold and know everything about everyone involved and what

they have done, or will be required to do again adding to the

mysteries of the play.