Supernatural Influence On Macbeth

In the play Macbeth by WIlliam Shakespeare, the supernatural is an ever present force, seen in the witches, the ghost of banquo, and maybe some other places. The way Shakespeare portrays the supernatural, and especially the witches, add a great deal s to the play, and also contribute in key ways to the themes, structure, tone. Mood, and literary devices in ways that are designed to affect the audience of the play. The most important contribution in my opinion, was that they made the play scary, and created a feeling of uncertainty or unease, which felt like an important aspect of the play.

To begin, the witches are the catalyst to Macbeth’s crimes because the convince him that he will become king. Macbeth first meets the witches while returning from a gruesome battle and it is safe to say that they greet him with some audacious titles. They initially greet him as the Thane of Glamis and the Thane of Cawdor, but it is their final greeting which has the greatest effect on Macbeth. The witches hail Macbeth as someone “that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.53). This ignites a fire inside Macbeth, who is an immensely ambitious person. He begins to fantasize about the luxurious life he would have if he were the king of Scotland and he suddenly has the temptation to kill King Duncan. Although the witches’ prediction is favourable, Macbeth has no reason to believe them, at least until one of their other predictions turns out to be true. This

Macbeth, a tragedy, a well-known work of Shakespeare filled with physiological challenges, supernatural events, and even death, is a part of many superstitions. There is a theatrical superstition, called the Scottish Curse that says it is considered bad luck to say the name Macbeth inside a theater because it will cause the performance to end in disaster. Some people say that the supernatural events in the play Macbeth can only truly be seen as supernatural; others say the events are just a product of insanity. Many supernatural events in Macbeth such as his encounter with the witches, are a product of the insanity of the one and only Macbeth, himself. The results of Macbeth’s insanity originate from the true supernatural events, the actions of his wife, Lady Macbeth, and all of the murder he commits.

If Macbeth didn’t know about this prophecy he would have happily took his position as Thane of Cawdor, but knowing he will be King drove him to commit murder. Macbeth was rapidly changed from an honorable general to an evil tyrant. “The witches did not tell him to commit murder; all that was necessary was for them to suggest the fact of the crown, and they could trust Macbeth to overcome the obstacles in his way just as they would have him” (Wiley, 45). This emphasizes the fact that the play is shaped by the supernatural. This lead to the murder of Duncan, then to get rid of his obstacles he kills the guards. The Witches also reveal “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.67) to Banquo. This knowledge leads Macbeth to send Murderers to kill Banquo and his son. This is more evidence to show that the words of the witches construct the plays events.

This new outlook and personality he acquires along with the witches prophecies lead to his fatal downfall. The witches affect his perception by telling him what is going to happen in the future and they make him paranoid. He is confused after hearing them call him the “Thane of Caldor” and that he will soon be king. His trait of ambition in the beginning is his biggest weapon, but in the end, it is his own worst enemy. The murder of Duncan triggers this reversal of this ambition and leads to all the other murders in the story. Murder becomes the pistol to his holster and his ambition is now focused on taking out whoever opposes him or anyone he sees as a threat to his throne.

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

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

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, is a brave and loyal subject to the King of Scotland, but as the play progresses, his character begins to change drastically. Evil and unnatural powers, as well as his own passion to become king, take over his better half and eventually lead to his downfall. The three main factors that intertwine with one another that contribute to Macbeth’s tragic end are the prophecies told by the three witches, Lady Macbeth’s influence, and finally, Macbeth’s excessive passion and ambition which drove his desire to become king to the utmost extreme. The prophecy told by the three witches was what triggers the other factors that contribute to Macbeth s downfall. In the first act, the witches

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.

In the story Macbeth written by William Shakespeare. The supernatural forces alter Macbeths ambitions which in turn causes his careless actions, therefore the ability to deceive is the ultimate factor of influence. Throughout the book there are many examples of influence both supernatural and not with in the story, first off the withes prophecies are what caused Macbeth to want to become King. They changed his ambitions from just being a loyal soldier into thinking he could actually become the king if he went through with killing the other king. The prophecies are what sparked his tyrant actions and deceived him into thinking he was also invincible through the second prophecy. His wife Lady Macbeth deceived him into thinking what he was doing

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

He starts the play as a loyal gentleman until he meets the three witches where they foretell that Macbeth will be king (I.iii.48). The prophecy of the three witches kick-starts his impulse to attain that status, which connects to the imagery of witchcraft. However, the three witches are not responsible for Macbeth’s actions but simply Macbeth himself. The prediction drives him into a state of unchecked ambition, one of the biggest themes of the play. He would do anything to achieve kingship even if it involves killing others, which illustrates Macbeth’s greed (I.iii.138-141).

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.

This gives Macbeth the idea that what the witches said may actually be true. He then becomes aware that the king will be staying the night at his home. This night is one full of symbolism and foreshadowing. It is at this point that Lady Macbeths plan for her husband becomes aware to the audience. We learn that Lady Macbeth wishes for her husband to kill the king so that he will take his title.

Soon after, Macbeth gave in to ambition and is also encouraged by a prophecy and Lady Macbeth, which he murders the King to take his throne. Macbeth’s betrayal throws himself into a bad state of being guilty and full of fear. Now that he is guilty and fearful, he murders again and again to satisfy his phobia. Macbeth has now became a very evil tyrant and will rightfully kill for his crimes over and over again. "For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name, Disdaining Fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion carved out his passage, Till he faced the slave." (1.2. 16-20).