Macbeth Essay, Research Paper
The Supernatural in Macbeth
Extraordinary occurrences in a literary work make it more engaging. An example of this usage is found in the supernatural events that occur in William Shakespeare s, Macbeth. The use of the supernatural is portrayed through the witches, the mystical visions, the ghosts, and the phantoms.
Supernatural events occur throughout the play. At the beginning, the three witches predict the fate of Macbeth. This gives insight to the audience into the battles lost and won (I, I, 4) by Macbeth. Following this scene, the plan on how Macbeth will gain the throne is brought about. This is clearly an example of how the supernatural could negatively affect an individual. By reason of the fact that when Macbeth found out from the witches his future, he could have chosen one of two paths: to accept it was going to happen or murder the king to assure of his gaining of the throne. He chose to murder him, as his dreams and wife had urged him too. To make sure that Macbeth would go through with this deed, she displayed a form of the supernatural, as she called upon the evil spirits to give her the power to plot the murder of Duncan without any remorse or conscience making think [her] blood ( ) (I, V, 42-57). The prophecy the supernatural had relayed to Macbeth was one of only evil intention and therefore would eventually lead into sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care (I, III) for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, as they become mad because of the many murders they will commit to make the prophecies come true. The night that Macbeth intended to murder King Duncan, Macbeth was waiting for his Lady to ring the bell signaling him to go to Duncan s chamber, he sees a vision of a floating dagger. This supernatural event marks one of the initial signs of him becoming insane. When he envisions it, he says, let me clutch thee that summons thee to heaven or to hell ( ) This interest in the dagger is what leads Macbeth to Duncan s chamber and because of the blood it was covered with and its evilness, he was able to overcome any doubt and kill the king. After the deed was done, Banquo, a thane who was supposed to inherit the throne had many suspicions that it was Macbeth and Macbeth and his wife sensed this.
As one can see, the use of the supernatural in Macbeth results quite well with the respect of the unknown. Without the witches, the ghost, the visions, and the phantoms, “Macbeth” would have been a dull and tiresome play. Even today’s readers need motivation to read, and this ancient superstition of spirits enhanced the play dramatically.