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Supernatural elements in Macbeth
The Supernatural

 In Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the
  structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an
  insight into character, and augments the impact of many
  key scenes.
 The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied
  forms - not only does a ghost appear bu alsot a floating
  dagger, witches, and prophetic apparitions make
  appearances.
 Shakespeare‟s contemporaries believed in the
  supernatural very strongly and a majority of them were
  frightened of it, including the king of that time, King
  James I.
The Witches
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DorcFBk4sf8
The Witches

 The witches were a symbol of evil, and Shakespeare uses this
  fear of the devil to give his plays an additional eerie
  atmosphere and haunting effect.
 They intrigue the audience to see if they are correct in their
  prophecies.
 The witches are the most striking voice of unnaturalness and
  disorder. Lady Macbeth offers no comment on the witches, the
  „metaphysical aid‟, who promise so much to her husband.
 It is Macbeth who needs the witches to tell him what is in his
  own mind, but is too afraid to acknowledge – he refers to them
  as „instruments of darkness‟
Floating Dagger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pusU90ov8pQ




                          Another form of the
                           supernatural is the air-
                           drawn dagger which
                           leads Macbeth to his
                           victim. When the dagger
                           appears to him, Macbeth
                           finally becomes victim to
                           the delusions of his
                           fevered brain. The dagger
                           points to Duncan's room
                           and appears to be
                           covered in blood.
Floating Dagger

   This dagger encourages or             Even if we decide the dagger
    “pushes” Macbeth to commit            comes sent from the
    the crime. Although it is meant       supernatural realm, is it sent
    to encourage Macbeth to do            from heaven or hell? Does it
    the murder, it is at the same         encourage or discourage the
    time, showing the audience            deed? Does the blood it bears
    that what Macbeth is about to         seek to appall or enthral? The
    do, although it being obvious,        text, it seems, provides no
    is evil. Shakespeare uses the         definitive answer, and from this
    supernatural to guide the             we are probably to feel the
    audience to show what evil is.        same duality, the same
    You begin to notice, as you           uncertainty, as Macbeth.
    read through the play, that
    supernatural is used in all
    places where evil is present.
Ghost of Banquo

 The appearance of
  Banquo's ghost provides
  insight into Macbeth's
  character. It shows the level
  that Macbeth's mind has
  recessed to. When he sees
  the ghost he reacts with
  horror and upsets the
  guests.
 Banquo‟s ghost is the
  supernatural symbol of the
  acts that Macbeth
  committed and also the
  other, more peaceful path
  that Macbeth could have
  chosen.
Ghost of Banquo

   Banquo‟s ghost serves to show       Blood hath been shed ere
    the path that Macbeth could          now, i‟ th‟ olden time, / Ere
    have chosen as well as serving       human statute purged the
    as a reminder of Macbeth‟s           gentle weal: / Ay, and since
    deeds. It is in this way that        too, murders have been
    Banquo haunts Macbeth in two         performed / Too terrible for the
    ways. Banquo‟s ghost serves          ear. The time has been/
    as a reminder of the horrors         That, when the brains were
    Macbeth committed to gain the        out, the man would die, /And
    crown and the innocent blood         there an end. But now they rise
    he spilled. Banquo‟s haunting        again/ With twenty mortal
    unnerves Macbeth and                 murders on their crowns/ And
    unsettles his conscience:            push us from our stools. This is
                                         more strange/ Than such a
                                         murder is. (3.4.75-83)
Prophetic Apparitions
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr8b9SQ68sw



   The first apparition is Macbeth's
    own head (later to be cut off by
    Macduff) - confirming his fears of
    Macduff.

   The second apparition tells
    Macbeth that he can not be harmed
    by no one born of woman - this
    knowledge gives Macbeth a false
    sense of security because he
    believes that he is somewhat
    invincible

   A child with a crown on his head,
    the third apparition, represents
    Malcolm, Duncan's son. This
    apparition also gives Macbeth a
    false sense of security because it is
    followed by the Birnam Wood
    prophecy.
Macbeths Reaction to the
         Supernatural
                   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_T0BSZ3J_c



   So far the witches have told Macbeth
    two things that came true, so it seems
    like this will culminate in him
    becoming king.

   This supernatural temptation doesn‟t
    seem like it can be a bad thing, but it
    can‟t be good either. Macbeth
    believes that if it‟s a bad thing, why
    was he promised a promotion that
    turned out to be true?

   He is asking himself why he is
    contemplating on murdering the king.
    The dangers that actually threaten
    him now frighten him „less than the
    horrible things I‟m imagining.‟
Effect on the Play

 Each of the instances of the supernatural in Macbeth cause action
  or are the results of an action. The witches and their prophesy set
  the plot in motion and Lady Macbeth‟s commitment to the
  supernatural leads her to push Macbeth to fulfill the prophesy.
  When Macbeth murders the king, strange phenomena occur and
  disrupt the land. When Macbeth murders Banquo, Banquo‟s ghost
  haunts Macbeth. Each incident is driven by the supernatural. The
  supernatural is at the very essence of the play.

 In most of Shakespeare‟s plays, the use of the supernatural is
  used to give another great effect to the plot of the story. In
  Macbeth, the supernatural abilities of the three witches and the
  devilish fiends of lady Macbeth are essential to the plot. Without
  the pressure of his wife Macbeth would never have been altered
  into a corrupt and ungodly man.
Contextual Points

   The expression, the „weird            When the second witch is
    sisters‟, used from the 1400‟s         asked where she had been she
    means „fatal sisters‟. The word        replies, „killing swine‟, this
    „weird‟ in the old English form        implies she enjoys being
    was a noun meaning fate.               devilish.

   The witches describe                  The impression the audience
    themselves as fore-tellers of          gets of the witches is that they
    destiny – „the weird sisters           are hideously evil.
    hand in hand‟
                                          In Shakespeare's time, witches
   At times, the weird sisters            were seen to have
    seem to represent general              supernatural powers, they
    anxieties about the unknown.           could transform themselves
    They also seem to represent            into other shapes, usually
    fears of powerful women who            animals.
    invert traditional gender roles.
Supernatural elements in Macbeth

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Supernatural elements in Macbeth

  • 2. The Supernatural  In Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and augments the impact of many key scenes.  The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied forms - not only does a ghost appear bu alsot a floating dagger, witches, and prophetic apparitions make appearances.  Shakespeare‟s contemporaries believed in the supernatural very strongly and a majority of them were frightened of it, including the king of that time, King James I.
  • 4. The Witches  The witches were a symbol of evil, and Shakespeare uses this fear of the devil to give his plays an additional eerie atmosphere and haunting effect.  They intrigue the audience to see if they are correct in their prophecies.  The witches are the most striking voice of unnaturalness and disorder. Lady Macbeth offers no comment on the witches, the „metaphysical aid‟, who promise so much to her husband.  It is Macbeth who needs the witches to tell him what is in his own mind, but is too afraid to acknowledge – he refers to them as „instruments of darkness‟
  • 5. Floating Dagger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pusU90ov8pQ  Another form of the supernatural is the air- drawn dagger which leads Macbeth to his victim. When the dagger appears to him, Macbeth finally becomes victim to the delusions of his fevered brain. The dagger points to Duncan's room and appears to be covered in blood.
  • 6. Floating Dagger  This dagger encourages or  Even if we decide the dagger “pushes” Macbeth to commit comes sent from the the crime. Although it is meant supernatural realm, is it sent to encourage Macbeth to do from heaven or hell? Does it the murder, it is at the same encourage or discourage the time, showing the audience deed? Does the blood it bears that what Macbeth is about to seek to appall or enthral? The do, although it being obvious, text, it seems, provides no is evil. Shakespeare uses the definitive answer, and from this supernatural to guide the we are probably to feel the audience to show what evil is. same duality, the same You begin to notice, as you uncertainty, as Macbeth. read through the play, that supernatural is used in all places where evil is present.
  • 7. Ghost of Banquo  The appearance of Banquo's ghost provides insight into Macbeth's character. It shows the level that Macbeth's mind has recessed to. When he sees the ghost he reacts with horror and upsets the guests.  Banquo‟s ghost is the supernatural symbol of the acts that Macbeth committed and also the other, more peaceful path that Macbeth could have chosen.
  • 8. Ghost of Banquo  Banquo‟s ghost serves to show  Blood hath been shed ere the path that Macbeth could now, i‟ th‟ olden time, / Ere have chosen as well as serving human statute purged the as a reminder of Macbeth‟s gentle weal: / Ay, and since deeds. It is in this way that too, murders have been Banquo haunts Macbeth in two performed / Too terrible for the ways. Banquo‟s ghost serves ear. The time has been/ as a reminder of the horrors That, when the brains were Macbeth committed to gain the out, the man would die, /And crown and the innocent blood there an end. But now they rise he spilled. Banquo‟s haunting again/ With twenty mortal unnerves Macbeth and murders on their crowns/ And unsettles his conscience: push us from our stools. This is more strange/ Than such a murder is. (3.4.75-83)
  • 9. Prophetic Apparitions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr8b9SQ68sw  The first apparition is Macbeth's own head (later to be cut off by Macduff) - confirming his fears of Macduff.  The second apparition tells Macbeth that he can not be harmed by no one born of woman - this knowledge gives Macbeth a false sense of security because he believes that he is somewhat invincible  A child with a crown on his head, the third apparition, represents Malcolm, Duncan's son. This apparition also gives Macbeth a false sense of security because it is followed by the Birnam Wood prophecy.
  • 10. Macbeths Reaction to the Supernatural http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_T0BSZ3J_c  So far the witches have told Macbeth two things that came true, so it seems like this will culminate in him becoming king.  This supernatural temptation doesn‟t seem like it can be a bad thing, but it can‟t be good either. Macbeth believes that if it‟s a bad thing, why was he promised a promotion that turned out to be true?  He is asking himself why he is contemplating on murdering the king. The dangers that actually threaten him now frighten him „less than the horrible things I‟m imagining.‟
  • 11. Effect on the Play  Each of the instances of the supernatural in Macbeth cause action or are the results of an action. The witches and their prophesy set the plot in motion and Lady Macbeth‟s commitment to the supernatural leads her to push Macbeth to fulfill the prophesy. When Macbeth murders the king, strange phenomena occur and disrupt the land. When Macbeth murders Banquo, Banquo‟s ghost haunts Macbeth. Each incident is driven by the supernatural. The supernatural is at the very essence of the play.  In most of Shakespeare‟s plays, the use of the supernatural is used to give another great effect to the plot of the story. In Macbeth, the supernatural abilities of the three witches and the devilish fiends of lady Macbeth are essential to the plot. Without the pressure of his wife Macbeth would never have been altered into a corrupt and ungodly man.
  • 12. Contextual Points  The expression, the „weird  When the second witch is sisters‟, used from the 1400‟s asked where she had been she means „fatal sisters‟. The word replies, „killing swine‟, this „weird‟ in the old English form implies she enjoys being was a noun meaning fate. devilish.  The witches describe  The impression the audience themselves as fore-tellers of gets of the witches is that they destiny – „the weird sisters are hideously evil. hand in hand‟  In Shakespeare's time, witches  At times, the weird sisters were seen to have seem to represent general supernatural powers, they anxieties about the unknown. could transform themselves They also seem to represent into other shapes, usually fears of powerful women who animals. invert traditional gender roles.