Discuss the Role of the Supernatural in “Macbeth” Essay Example
Discuss the role of the supernatural in “Macbeth” The play “Macbeth” was written by William Shakespeare in the early 1600’s. The purpose of the play was to entertain the new king, James 1. The play a Scottish theme, inclusion of witches and also the characters of Banquo and Fleance, who are said to be ancestors of James 1, all point to the play having been produced in order to flatter the king to gain patronage, James 1 considered himself to be an expert on witches and witchcraft having written a book called “Demonology” and investigating Witchcraft trails.
James 1 obsession with witches was not unusual. During Shakespeare’s time there was mass hysteria about witchcraft so “Macbeth” would have appealed to a wide audience, perhaps assign
...to the common paranoia as witches were considered evil. “Macbeth” genre is considered to be a tragedy. The play begins with a supernatural scene, where the three witches meet and give many clues as to who they are or what they have control over, “…we three meet again in thunder, lighting or in rain? …. When the battle’s lost and won…. That will be ere the set of sun….
There to meet with Macbeth. ” This scene sets the atmosphere for the rest of the play. If this scene was not there it would be difficult for the audience to understand how later scenes are linked or how these three women can tell Macbeth’s future. Also if elements of the supernatural were not used in Act 1 Scene 1, as they have been, the witches could not be shown as sinister and evil. These two elements
of horror, “sinister” and “evil” would later be used to explain the cause of the three witches’ behaviour further on in the play.
As the play continues the supernatural is used more. Act 1 Scene 3 is Macbeth’s first meeting with the witches, and is also the first time the audience sees or experiences the witches’ supernatural abilities. “All hail to thee, Thane of Cowdor, All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter”. The witches predict Macbeth’s future and tell him that he shall become the Thane of Cowdor and then king. The rest of the play is based on this supernatural prediction. After learning that Macbeth is to become King of Scotland the play follows Macbeth’s plot to get rid off King Duncan and ubsequently Macbeth’s life after the murder. Macbeth is now Thane of Cowdor and has a strong belief in the witches’ predictions. King Duncan is to stay at Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth is overwhelmed to hear this and travels ahead, of the King to warn his wife of King Duncan’s arrival the following day. Lady Macbeth is aware of Macbeth’s meeting with the witches and what they have said. She is more wanting of the royal title than her husband, and has deviously plotted to murder the King during his stay.
Lady Macbeth at this point has become controlling, powerful and manipulative by planting idea’s into Macbeth’s head these were unusual traits for a woman at this time and the audience would have been shocked and appalled that a woman was acting like that. When Lady Macbeth says “unsex me here” This is strange because Lady Macbeth does not want
a sex not a man or a woman which the audience might interpret as Lady Macbeth might want to be a supernatural creature such as the witches. The supernatural is bought in to once again attract the immediate attention of the audience. Is this a dagger I see before me”, Macbeth has a vision of a dagger just before he is to murder the King. This surreal vision of dagger is another example of the supernatural. This dagger encourages or “pushes” Macbeth to commit the crime. Although it is meant to encourage Macbeth to do the murder, it is at the same time, showing the audience that what Macbeth is about to do, although it being obvious, is evil. Shakespeare uses the supernatural to guide the audience to show what evil is. You begin to notice, as you read through the play, that supernatural is used in all places where evil is present.
Macbeth is now the King of Scotland since both of Duncan’s sons have fled the country in fear of their lives. The only obstacle in Macbeth’s path now is his close friend Banquo, because Banquo suspects Macbeth of Duncan’s murder since he was also present when the witches told of Macbeth’s Kingship, “…I fear, thou play’st most foully for’t”. Banquo tells Macbeth that he suspects him of the Kings murder, “…Thou play’st foully for’t”, Banquo is clearly suggesting that Macbeth has played foully to achieve his Kingship. Also, it is not only Macbeth who was given this, “supernatural soliciting”.
The witches also predicted Baquo’s future, “Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none” Banquo is told that he will not become
a King but he shall be the father of many Kings. This is a problem for Macbeth because the only way Banquo’s children will become Kings is if the present King, Macbeth, dies and so Macbeth fears being murdered and being discovered to have murdered King Duncan. So he has Banquo murdered and on the same night invites him to a feast. Macbeth obviously does not expect Banquo to attend, but Banquo does attend as a ghost, and through the supernatural Shakespeare shows Macbeth’s fear and guilt.
The King, Macbeth, is about to sit down at his table with his wife and some nobles when he sees no space for himself, although there is, but according to him a figure seems to be already sitting there, which we later discover, is the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth declares, “What treachery is this, which of you have done this”, his fellows are confused and some are apprehensive and begin to link King Duncan’s death with Macbeth. But none speak of what they think instead they try to calm the maddened king. After this supernatural occurrence some, more strongly, believe that Macbeth had a hand in the Kings murder.
This supernatural happening is very important, since it is one of the first signs of Macbeth’s fear and guilt. This scene was designed with great subtlety to make Shakespeare’s audience spit on Macbeth’s face when he began to fear for himself, even after committing the murder of a king and having his closest companion murdered. Beyond this scene the play becomes more sinister and the atmosphere transforms into cold, darkness and raging evil. Macbeth goes to the moor
to meet the witches where he makes them promise to answer his questions and they conjure up supernatural apparitions to answer him.
At first these apparitions seem to be on Macbeth’s side and do not alarm him in any way and when told by the witches, “None of women born shall harm Macbeth”, he feels more confident, Macbeth feels more confident because the last apparition tells us that Macbeth cannot be killed by the witches saying “None of woman born can harm Macbeth” but as we find out later in the play Macbeth miss interoperates the last apparition. As he thinks more about the apparitions he feels there is something darker about them. Shakespeare uses the supernatural apparition to show the audience that evil is present.
These supernatural apparitions are as important as the earlier predictions made by the witches since they display several characteristic which Macbeth has obtained during his first meeting with the witches and now. This scene shows how Macbeth no longer follows his own instincts but instead relies completely on the supernatural. These apparitions are one of the reasons for Macbeth’s end. He relied on the supernatural so much that he lost his strength of suspicion, this leads Macbeth into being tricked by the witches.
When he is told, “None of women born shall harm Macbeth”, he becomes over assured and does not fear nor is careful of anyone. When Macbeth meets Macduff at his end he is not scared and threatens Macduff not to fight him since he has too much of Macduff’s family blood on his sword already. Macbeth is suggesting that he can kill Macduff if he wants
to. The apparitions are also important in the fact that Shakespeare expresses his view that the supernatural is evil, and can trick even the strongest of people.
This is the last meeting between Macbeth and the witches before the play ends and also the last times any supernatural things occur. The scene also displays the witch’s supernatural abilities and contributes towards Macbeth’s increasing fear of death, because the apparitions contradict themselves by saying, “Beware of Macduff” and “None of women born shall harm Macbeth”. Macbeth does not understand that he is being tricked by the fact that Macduff was born premature or by caesarean section, it is not clear which one, but by being born that way he is not of, “woman born”, therefore it is possible that Macduff could harm Macbeth.
The contradiction in the apparitions makes Macbeth confused, disillusioned, unsure and scared. Though eventually, with great apprehension, he manages to convince himself that not even Macduff can harm him. Macbeth, as well as the audience, at this point, are unclear as to what the third apparition means, however it becomes more clear towards the end of the play. The apparition involves a child holding a tree and is crowned. Macbeth ignores it, but still fears death and his kingship are becoming strained and confusing for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Although Lady Macbeth seems to have a stronger mental character at the start of the play, she is now suffering from remorse and confusion. She feels, “Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy”. Lady Macbeth describes the supernatural as her, “destruction”, and she
refers to her royalty and wealth as, “doubtful joy”, this quote from Lady Macbeth shows how even the most desperate of people regret relying on the supernatural. At the beginning of Act 5 Scene 1 Macbeth is informed of Lady Macbeth’s death.
Macbeth shows no emotion or extra stress, this suggests that he doesn’t really care. This scene, though it is not directly linked with the supernatural, shows how selfish Macbeth has become due it. Macbeth has knowledge of Malcom’s army moving in to attack his castle and has ordered his army also to attack. Shakespeare finishes the play very dramatically with Macbeth being Slain by Macduff, and Malcom being crowned the rightful King of Scotland. This is the third and final apparition which was given to Macbeth by the witches. This apparition has also come true.
The little child with a crown on his head in the apparition is meant to be Malcom once he has been crowned the rightful King of Scotland. The significance of the tree which was held by the child in the apparition is, “Great Birnam Wood”, where Malcom hid his army in the days following up to the final battle. At the start of the play Macbeth is portrayed as a tactful and intelligent soldier but in his final battle he uses none of these skills. The reason for this is that the evil supernatural has made Macbeth lose these Virtues.
The supernatural theme is a very important one in, “Macbeth”. Otherwise the play could not have been concluded to its fullest extent, and Macbeth could not be vanquished as ironically as he was when, Great Birnam
Wood moved! Macbeth caused his own destruction when he relied on the supernatural. As the play follows a man to his complete destruction and loss of integrity the supernatural is very crucial as it is the reason behind, Macbeth, this man’s destruction. That ultimately cost him his life.
