The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Use of the Supernatural in Macbeth

Shakespeare’s Macbeth has many supernatural actions. Although all of supernatural do

not have exactly same role in the play, the main purposes of supernatural are to attract

the attention from audience [manipulation], to foreshadow future events, to show the

characteristics of individual, and to connect the idea with theme. In the play, the

supernatural occurs: witchesí appearance throughout the story, the strange behavior of

Macbeth after the murderer of King Duncan, the situation of nature in Scotland,

appearance of Banquoís ghost and imagination of dagger which was flying in the air.

Firstly, the story starts with weird sistersí conversation under strong thunder and

lightning. It is very effective way to attract the attention from audience: First Witch

says with scary voice, "When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain

?" (I, i, 1-2) The very first scene is not only attractive, but also there is an important

clue for the things to be happened in the future [foreshadowing]. We learn that there is

something going to happen with Macbeth ñ Macbeth wins for his life, but he also is going

to lose for his life: "There to meet with Macbeth" (I, i, 7) "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." (I,

i, 11)The speech of Witches also contains a theme. "When one wins, one must lose" is a

possible theme that can be taken from the speech: "When the battle is lost and won" (I,

i, 4) The witches continue appearing throughout the story to give us the excitement, hint

and theme.

Secondly, Macbeth loses his mind after the killing of King Duncan. Is it attractive ? By

considering the situation, it can be said that it is attractive ñ When he reenters into the

play after killing of Duncan, he is a completely different man, like a stone. We must be

surprised that if Macbeth is standing up with bloody face, bloody swords in his hands

and talks something that does not make senses at all: "Why did you bring these daggers

from the place ?" (II, ii, 48) It also shows characteristics of Macbeth. Macbeth can easily

fall into a confusion that he cannot recognize.

Thirdly, later in the story, Macbeth sees the Ghost of Banquo and the dagger in the air.

However, the Ghost and dagger are only visible to Macbeth, and no one else is able to