Mc Beth And The Supernatural

Macbeth and the Supernatural





Introduction


According to the Oxford Advanced Learner dictionary, “supernatural” refers to things that cannot be explained by natural or physical laws. The presence of supernatural forces in "Macbeth," provides for much of the play's dramatic tension and the mounting suspense. Although all of the supernatural do not have exactly the same rolein the play, the main purposes of the supernatural are to attract the attention from audience, to foreshadow future events, to show the characteristics of individuals, and to connect ideas with themes.
In Shakespeare's time, special effects were not very spectacular. Therefore, the dramatic performances and the suspenseful scenes were the fundamental features in making a great play.Shakespeare used the element of the unknown to evoke fear in the minds of his audience. In this paper I shall look at some of the supernatural elements in the play.
There are five important events showing the supernatural elements in Macbeth; the witches, the air-drawn dagger, the unnatural happenings, the ghost of Banquo and the apparitions.












I. The Witches


InShakespeare's time, many people were superstitious; they believed that their lives were strongly influenced- if not dictated- by fate. They also thought that the world was full of supernatural creatures, such as witches, ghosts, and many other such beings. Shakespeare incorporated these aspects of belief in his play Macbeth.
The Witches have an influence on Macbeth. The first apparitionsmade Macbeth greedy. After Macbeth became king, they influenced him into thinking that he was invincible. This makes him being extremely confident, which would come back to haunt him, and at the end destroy him. The Witches shaped the play into what it is through influencing Macbeth.
Thunder occurs every time when the witches show up. In Act I scene i, it indicates the theme of disorder. Whenthe witches enter, there is a stormy weather. The storm attends the three witches when they gather to express their exploits. They cast a spell that they are going to meet Macbeth. "There to meet with Macbeth." Also, thunder occurs at Act I scene iii, Act III scene iv and Act IV scene i.


In Act I scene iii, the appearance of the witches is supernatural. "You should be woman. And yet yourbeards forbid me to interpret that you are so." Witches show us what their unnatural looks are like. They amaze Banquo when he first sees them. He wonders about their appearance. Banquo's description of the witches is important in seeing how unnatural they are. In them the human form is unnaturally distorted. The witches do not exist in nature and we cannot explain them according to natural laws inour world.


Also in Act I scene iii, the main plot line of the play is established when the three witches make their first appearance with Macbeth and Banquo. They are objective that both Macbeth and Banquo can see the witches and even talk with them. It reveals that the witches are real instead of being a product of the imagination of Macbeth.


The witches have supernatural poweris not difficult to find in Macbeth. The use of the supernatural occurs at the beginning of the play, with three witches predicting the fate of Macbeth. In Act I scene i, nature is out of order. "Fair is foul and foul is fair." According to the witches, it means good is bad and bad is good. It indicates that the witches are violating God's natural order. because it is against our normalunderstanding of the words. The witches are evil instead of being friends of humans.


This gives the audience a clue to what the future holds for Macbeth. "When the battle's lost and won" (also in Act I scene i) was said by the second witch. It says that every battle is lost by one side and won by another. Macbeth's fate is that he will win the battle. However, he will lose his time of victory...