Supernatural In Macbeth Research Paper

How does Shakespeare present the Supernatural in Macbeth? There are several ways in which the Supernatural is presented throughout the tragedy Macbeth, including the abnormal characteristics of the witches, through Macbeth’s hallucinations and through acts of transgression, which chronicle how deeply Macbeth is affected by the supernatural. The witches are presented as dark, sinister creatures as Macbeth was written in 1606, when a Jacobean audience would be very fearful of any type of witchcraft because they were thought to be working with the devil and would bring harm to the Jacobean community. Additionally the witches are a major part of the play because everything Macbeth does is predicted by the witches and due to the Monarch’s obsession and paranoia with witchcraft. One influential way Shakespeare exposes the presence of the supernatural is at the onset of Act 1, Scene 1 when the stage directions call for ‘(thunder and lighting)’

In Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses an underlying motif of the supernatural to control the characters and add a new dimension to the play.

Another example is strong enough to indicate that the witches have supernatural power. In Act I scene iii, when the first witch mentions she is refused by the sailor's wife, she is so angry that she wants to take revenge.

Supernatural is defined as something attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. Things such as witches, floating daggers and spirits/ghosts. The witches, also known as the weird sisters, would be considered supernatural in Macbeth. They recite real and authentic spells and use evil black magic all throughout the play. One example is seen in Act 1 Scene 1 where they cast a spell, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” There are other supernatural scenarios in Macbeth such as when the floating daggers appear and Macbeth becomes the victim of the delusions he is having. The daggers lead Macbeth into King Duncan's room to murder him in his sleep. A third supernatural event in Macbeth was when Lady Macbeth called upon the spirits of evil asking to be unsexed. The spirits of evil would be considered supernatural because they are beyond scientific understanding. In other words, it’s something that’s not classified as living. Furthermore, apparitions, or ghosts, in the play would be a prime example of the supernatural in Macbeth. They would also be supernatural because they are like the spirits of evil that Lady Macbeth called upon, unhuman things that aren't living. The apparitions are seen in Act IV. Scene I. “The First Apparition: "Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife." The Second Apparition: "none of women born

The supernatural has always fascinated and continues to intrigue mankind. In many of Shakespeare’s plays, he uses the supernatural to strengthen a particular scene or to influence the impression the audience has about someone or something. This was not strange or uncommon in Shakespeare’s time. In fact, during the 1500s, many people still believed in witches and witchcraft. Even in today’s society, with such advanced science and technology, many people are still influenced, if not dictated by the supernatural. For example, religious people have the belief that their saviour, Jesus Christ was a man of many miracles; one of which was he turned water into wine. Despite the fact that it

    The aura of darkness, deception, and horror present in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, envelopes the entire play and is created mainly by the sense of violence and foreboding that is evoked by the imagery.  The dominant images of nature and the supernatural contribute to the atmosphere of this tragedy.  The predictions of the weird sisters, along with natural forces and supernatural images, have lead to chaos in Scotland due to their impact on the characters of the play, which brings about many delusions and deaths.

The supernatural elements presented in The Tragedy of Macbeth each demonstrate hints of wickedness or evil. For example, the three witches. When presented in the story, their presence always gives off bad vibes. In the exposition of the tragedy, the First Witch asks, “When shall we three meet again? / In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” (I:I, 1-2). The use of “thunder, lightning, or in rain” indicates to the reader of the malicious nature of the three witches. Upon encountering the three witches, Macbeth is astounded. Their prophecies alarm him, causing him to ask what they mean by “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” (I:iii, 50). Many times, the paradoxes used by the witches confusing. In one scene, the witches appeal in favor of Banquo. The use of their paradox, “Not so happy, yet much happier,” indicates their intention of portraying things not as they really seem. (I:iii, 66). Meeting the three witches is Macbeth’s first step in losing his sanity. He struggles to differentiate what is real and what is not.

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the supernatural and the role they play in motivating characters is apparent throughout the duration of the play. The supernatural is what causes conflict in the play and the prophecies from the witches in act one scene three is the inciting action in the piece. The supernatural causes the future conflict by motivating Macbeth to kill Duncan so he could become king of Scotland. Through temptation, the supernatural motivates characters to think arrogantly and for their own benefit. The supernatural in Macbeth presents prophecies which tempt Macbeth and Banquo with the idea of power. This leads Macbeth to contradict his loyal and courageous personality by planning a treacherous murder on Duncan with the

The term supernatural was first used in 1520-30 AD. The definition of supernatural is “that which is not subject to the laws of physics, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature” (“Supernatural”). The term supernatural, or unnatural, refers to paranormal, religions, and magic. Macbeth was written in 1606 and contains many of the unnatural elements listed above. In Macbeth, the supernatural plays a huge part in the play. The play is more focused on the unnatural element than the natural element. The element of unnatural is shown through the three weird sister witches, the deaths that occur in the play, and Banquo's ghost.

Thunder and lightning is used once again to open Act I Scene 3. As the

The flaws of human nature are many, but one of the biggest is the gullibility, especially in the presence of the supernatural. It is often easy to think that the thoughts or actions of an individual are of their own doing. It is even easier to assume that the range of the mind falls between good and evil. But society is not quite clear and even in fiction, there is always something motivating an action that lingers in the back of the mind of any character. The supernatural in particular is known for its ability to push people to extremes and alter their perception drastically. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it is easy to assume the blind ambition that brews within Macbeth and his wife or the guilt that plagues them following their actions is the biggest motivator. But that is just the surface of the complexity interlaced into this tragedy. Dig further, and it becomes clear that these emotions were not always prevalent in the characters, but were instead prompted by a force so powerful, it toyed with fate and provoked deception until the end; it was the supernatural that fueled the emotions and actions that take up much of the play.

In this essay I am going to explore the use of the supernatural in the

One of the main factors that influenced Macbeth’s transformation was the impact the witches and the super natural world had on him. It is an important theme as in Shakespeare’s day, the audience strongly believed in the existence of witches, the power they contained, and the substantial evil intentions they had. “I’ll drain him dry as hay, Sleep shall neither night nor day”. The weird sisters were the creatures that created the concept of a supernatural world, and their absence in

In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, the supernatural and the role it plays in motivating characters is present throughout the duration of the play. The supernatural causes conflict in the play and the prophecies from the witches in act one is the inciting action. The apparition, Banquos ghost, and the dagger are examples of how the presence of the supernatural causes conflict. The theme of the supernatural causing conflict in Macbeth plays an important role in the plot of the play.

The supernatural was a popular element in many of the plays written in Shakespeare's time (including Hamlet) and everyone of Shakespeare's time found the supernatural fascinating. Even King James I took a special interest in supernatural and written a book, Daemonologie, on witchcraft. It must be remembered that, in Shakespeare's day, supernatural referred to things that were "above Nature"; things which existed, but not part of the normal human life and unexplainable. The play Macbeth involves many supernatural actions that act as a catalyst for suspense and thrill, insight into character, foreshadowing of future events as well as making connections with the theme.