Nature

• " thunder and lightning "
• " thunder and lightning "

  • the witches seemingly have control over nature
  • they are associated with bad weather
• " hover through fog and filthy air "
• " hover through fog and filthy air "

  • they are corrupting nature
  • they are sickening the very thing that keeps us alive
• " the earth was so feverous it did but shake "
• " the earth was so feverous it did but shake "

  • The natural world has been disrupted which is reflected in the weather
  • Duncan's murder has not been discovered , yet there are already consequences
  • Divine right of kings - the king is chosen by god
  • God has been upset which is reflected in all the things he created
• " by the clock it is day , and yet the dark night strangles the travelling lamp "
• " by the clock it is day , and yet the dark night strangles the travelling lamp "

  • " clock " - man made things are still in order but the natural world has been fully disrupted
  • " dark " - sin has engulfed Jackobean society
  • " strangles " - violent / suffering / hope + light destroyed
• " a falcon towering her pride of place , was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed "
• " a falcon towering her pride of place , was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed "

  • " falcon " - powerful predator - Duncan
  • " owl " - weak prey - Macbeth
  • subverts natural order as the weak have taken over the powerful
  • falcon has " pride " - honorable kingship
• " it is said that they are eating each other "
• " it is said that they are eating each other "

  • Duncan's horses are eating each other
  • the natural world has gone savage
  • they no longer have a ruler
• Malcolm ( the rightful king ) is restored at the end of the play

  • the natural order is restored