Supernatural/Witches

• Fair is foul, and foul is fair' (1,1)


  Witches.

  - refers to the deceptive nature of appearances and the blurred lines between good and evil.

  - It reflects the theme of the supernatural by highlighting the presence of ambiguity and the moral uncertainty in the world of the play.

  - The oxymoronic repetition of the words "fair" and "foul" create a sense of duality and inversion, emphasising a reality is distorted by supernatural forces
• "so fair and foul a day I have not seen" - Macbeth (1,3)


  First words of the play, this is also a key quote from the witches prophecy. Suggesting the link between Macbeth and the witches.
• "Double, double toil and trouble; / fire burn and cauldron bubble" (1,1)


  Witches

  - emphasises the theme of supernatural as they are casting a spell and admitting that there is duplicity in the things they say.

  - The repetition of 'double' embodies the ritualistic and ominous nature that the witches bring to earth.
• "Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here" - LM (1,5)


  - LM's request to evil spirits to aid her and Macbeth in their attempt to seize power through regicide (King Duncan)
• "Is this a dagger I see before me, the handle towards my hand?" - macbeth (2,1)


  - this represents the slow decay/decline of Macbeth's mine due to guilt and ambition.

  - OR, it may be the witches forcing the apparition to take place - further influencing Macbeth to commit more evil crimes.
• "My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still"- Macduff, Act 5 Scene 7


  just like Macbeth is haunted by the supernatural ghosts of Banquo, Macduff is haunted by the ghosts of his murdered family

  This supernatural encourages ambition to take revenge against Macbeth. This may be Shakespeare implying that the audience can maybe feel some empathy for Macbeth seen as he isn't the only character influenced by the supernatural.
• "Thunder and lightning" - (1,1)


  - The use of pathetic fallacy creates a sense of foreboding danger and hints at the theme of the supernatural that runs throughout the play.

  - the fact that the play begins with a storm could represent how the changes/disturbances in the weather/nature match with the events of the play: ‘By clock, ‘tis day, and yet dark strangled the travelling lamp’ - after duncan death (break in natural order)
• "For none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth"


  - witches say this

  - later say "Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth. Beware Macduff"

  
  

  - enjambment foreshadowing

  - irony as this enhances macbeth's hubris (excessive pride), but the audience comes to find out the one he is killed by (Macduff) was born by C-section
• What man dare, I dare.

  Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear,

  The armed rhinoceros, or th' Hyrcan tiger;

  Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves

  Shall never tremble.' - Macbeth in Banquet scene when he sees Ghost of Banquo


  - hyperbole

  - sense of masculinity (old, brave Macbeth reminder that he is a warrior and would fight anything for his country e.g. a Russian bear or a Hyrcan tiger', however he is afraid of something that doesnt even exist (Ghost)

  - CONTEXT:

  - On stage, there is a choice between having a person be there as a representation of the ghost of banquo, or for there to be NOBODY there - for the contemporary, deep-rooted believers in the supernatural - this wouldve freaked out the jacobean audience and perhaps Shakespeare was warning them about the dangers of regicide and general problems with going against God and the natural order.