Use of supernatural in Macbeth
The supernatural occurs four times during the course of
Macbeth. It occurs in all the appearances of the witches, in the appearance of Banquo¹s ghost, in the apparitions with their prophesies, and in the ³air-drawn² dagger that guides Macbeth towards his victim.
Of the supernatural phenomenon evident in Macbeth the witches are perhaps the most important. The witches represent Macbeth¹s evil ambitions. They are the catalyst which unleash Macbeth¹s evil aspirations. Macbeth believes the witches and wishes to know more about the future so after the banquet he seeks them out at their cave.
He wants to know the answers to his questions regardless of whether the consequence be violent and destructive to nature. The witches promise to answer and at Macbeth¹s choice they add further unnatural ingredients to the cauldron and call up their masters. This is where the prophetic apparitions appear. The first apparition is Macbeth¹s 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 cannot be harmed, yet Macduff was not of woman born, his mother was dead and a corpse when Macduff was born. This leads to Macbeth¹s downfall. A child with a crown on his head, the third apparition, represents Malcolm, Duncan¹s son. This apparition also gives Macbeth a false sense of security because of the
Birnam Wood prophesy.
The appearance of Banquo¹s ghost provides insight into
Macbeth¹s character. It shows the level that Macbeth¹s mind has recessed to. When he sees the ghost he reacts with horror and upsets the guests. Macbeth wonders why murder had taken place many times in the past before it was prevented by law -²statute purged the gentle weal²- and yet the dead are coming back.
The final form of the
Macbeth. It occurs in all the appearances of the witches, in the appearance of Banquo¹s ghost, in the apparitions with their prophesies, and in the ³air-drawn² dagger that guides Macbeth towards his victim.
Of the supernatural phenomenon evident in Macbeth the witches are perhaps the most important. The witches represent Macbeth¹s evil ambitions. They are the catalyst which unleash Macbeth¹s evil aspirations. Macbeth believes the witches and wishes to know more about the future so after the banquet he seeks them out at their cave.
He wants to know the answers to his questions regardless of whether the consequence be violent and destructive to nature. The witches promise to answer and at Macbeth¹s choice they add further unnatural ingredients to the cauldron and call up their masters. This is where the prophetic apparitions appear. The first apparition is Macbeth¹s 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 cannot be harmed, yet Macduff was not of woman born, his mother was dead and a corpse when Macduff was born. This leads to Macbeth¹s downfall. A child with a crown on his head, the third apparition, represents Malcolm, Duncan¹s son. This apparition also gives Macbeth a false sense of security because of the
Birnam Wood prophesy.
The appearance of Banquo¹s ghost provides insight into
Macbeth¹s character. It shows the level that Macbeth¹s mind has recessed to. When he sees the ghost he reacts with horror and upsets the guests. Macbeth wonders why murder had taken place many times in the past before it was prevented by law -²statute purged the gentle weal²- and yet the dead are coming back.
The final form of the