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Supernatural In Shakespeare

’s Plays Essay, Research Paper


In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief


in the existence of the supernatural. Thus, the supernatural is a


recurring aspect in many of Mr. Shakespeare?s plays. In two such


plays, Hamlet and 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. In


Hamlet there appears perhaps the most notable of the supernatural


forms, the ghost. However, in Macbeth, not only does a ghost appear


but a floating dagger, witches, and prophetic apparitions make


appearances. The role of the supernatural is very important in Hamlet


and Macbeth.


A ghost, appearing in the form of Hamlet?s father, makes


several appearances in the play. It first appears to the watchmen,


Marcellus and Bernardo, along with Horatio near the guardsmens’ post.


The ghost says nothing to them and is perceived with fear and


apprehension, ?It harrows me with fear and wonder?. It is not until


the appearance of Hamlet that the ghost speaks, and only then after


Horatio has expressed his fears about Hamlet following it, ?What if it


tempt you toward the flood, my lord, or to the dreadful summit of the


cliff?.


The conversation between the ghost and Hamlet serves as a


catalyst for Hamlet?s later actions and provides insight into Hamlet?s


character. The information the ghost reveals incites Hamlet into


action against a situation he was already uncomfortable with, and now


even more so. Hamlet is not quick to believe the ghost, ?The spirit


that I have seen may be a devil… and perhaps out of my weakness and


my melancholy..abuses me to damn me?, and thus an aspect of Hamlet?s


character is revealed. Hamlet, having no suspicion of the ghost after


the production by the players, encounters the ghost next in his


mother?s room. In this scene the ghost makes an appearance to ?whet?


Hamlet?s ?almost blunted purpose?. Hamlet is now convinced of the


ghost and he no longer harbors any suspicion. He now listens to it,


?Speak to her, Hamlet?.


In Hamlet, the supernatural is the guiding force behind


Hamlet. The ghost ask Hamlet to seek revenge for the King?s death and


Hamlet is thus propelled to set into action a series of events that


ends in Hamlet?s death.


The supernatural occurs four times during the course of


Macbeth. It occurs in all the appearances of the witches, in the


appearance of Banquo?s ghost, in th

e apparitions with their


prophesies, and in the ?air-drawn? dagger that guides Macbeth towards


his victim.


Of the supernatural phenomenon evident in Macbeth the witches


are perhaps the most important. The witches represent Macbeth?s evil


ambitions. They are the catalyst which unleash Macbeth?s 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 Macbeth?s 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 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 cannot be harmed, yet Macduff was


not of woman born, his mother was dead and a corpse when Macduff was


born. This leads to Macbeth?s downfall. 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 of the


Birnam Wood prophesy.


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. Macbeth wonders why murder had taken place many times in


the past before it was prevented by law -?statute purged the gentle


weal?- and yet the dead are coming back.


The final 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.


The dagger buttresses the impact of this key scene in which Macbeth


slays King Duncan.


The supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of the plays by


William Shakespeare. In Hamlet and Macbeth the supernatural is an


integral part of the structure of the plot. In these plays the


supernatural provides a catalyst for action by the characters. It


supplies insight into the major players and it augments the impact of


many key scenes. The supernatural appeals to the audience?s curiosity


of the mysterious and thus strengthens their interest.

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