The Supernatural

• CONTEXT

  • Jacobean era- The belief of supernatural was considered the normal.
  • King James 1st was on the throne when Macbeth was written.
  • He was fascinated by the witchcraft and the supernatural and wrote the book demonology which aimed to prove the existence of supernatural.
  • Set out rules which punished those who practiced supernatural.
  • Some may argue that supernatural was the way the events took place.
• What are 3 forms of supernatural in Macbeth?

  • The Witches and witchcraft.
  • Apparitions ,Ghost and strange vision.
  • The disruptions of nature.
• "All hail Macbeth, who shalt be king hereafter."

  • The Witches use these prophecies to tempt Macbeth which heightens his ambitions.
  • The Witches also mislead Macbeth later in the play with strange visions.
  • This is the start of his downfall.
• "Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here."-Lady Macbeth

  • Lady Macbeth calls down on the spirits.
  • She welcomes them with her own will to come and posses her.
  • Just like her Husband she loses everything as a result of embracing evil spirts.
  • purge her of any guilt over the plan to murder Duncan.
  • She wants the spirts to remove her womanhood as its seen weaker in Jacobean era and she wants it replaced with direct cruelty.
  • Come-Imperative verb-shows lady Macbeths power over supernatural forces
• "Fair is foul, foul is fair; hover through the fog and filthy air "

  • Opens play with supernatural event.
  • Spell willing for the world to become twisted and turn upon its head.
  • Paradox-(statement which contradicts itself using opposites.)
  • Foreshadows how Macbeths behaviour is
  • Fair-Macbeth was a fair warrior who turned foul through trusting in the supernatural.
• "Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it."

  • Shakespeare references the biblical creation story of Adam and eve, where the devil in disguise as a serpent, tempts eve to betray god’s instructions.
  • This reference is used to symbolise the Macbeths actions with satanic origins.
  • They become liars and deceivers, aligning themselves with the supernatural forces of evil. rather than the true and righteous god.
• "Is this a dagger which I see before me."

  • A symbol is the violent murder and represents the spells and temptations of the witches.
  • Either Macbeth is hallucinating due to the stress and anticipation of a heinous crime,
  • Or he is being summoned to commit the murder by the same evil forces which drive the witches' prophecies.
  • Later in the soliloquy, Macbeth references Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, which offers a further clue that his mind is in fact bewitched.
• "The obscure bird clamoured the livelong night." -Lennox

  • After Duncan’s murder, Shakespeare makes many references to the disruption of nature.
  • The earth shakes, horses eat themselves, owls prey on falcons.
  • These happenings link to the Jacobean belief in the great chain of being, with kings having the highest form of authority.
  • These happenings suggest that Macbeth has caused a supernatural disruption in nature through his treasonous actions which cannot be undone.
• "By the pricking of my thumb something wicked this way comes."

  • At beginning of Act 4 Macbeth comes and visits the witches again this is a sign macbeth has become reliant on evil forces.
  • Lines use a chant like rhythm and rhyming couplets to have a spell affect
  • Description of macbeth being wicket emphasises his lack of humanity
  • To the witches he's monstrous,wicked and foul.
• "Out, damned spot! i say."

  • Spot is a symbol of blood
  • To reveal lady Macbeth's guilty conscious as she sees the terrible images of duncan murder.
  • Shakespeare shows the results lady macbeth not being able to sleep and loses her mind.
• Shakespeare's intent:

  • Uses supernatural throughout the play to create that fearful and unpredictable atmosphere.
  • Shakespeare uses this moment as a warning of dangers of the supernatural. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's death.