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Supernatural in Macbeth

In the play Macbeth, there were many interesting sections that could be further analyzed due to the suspense and the involvement of the supernatural. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost, and the apparitions is a key element in making the concept (What concept?  State it or you may confuse your reader.) of the play work and in making the play interesting. By examining the play, it is noticed that the supernatural is definitely a major factor on the play's style.

 

The use of the supernatural occurs immediately at the beginning of the play with three witches predicting the fate of Macbeth. The predictions of the witches gives the audience a clue to Macbeth’s future.  When the second witch said, "When the battles lost and won" (Act I, Scene I, l.4), she meant that one side loses every battle and another side wins. Macbeth's fate is that he will win the battle, but he will also lose his time of victory for the battle of his soul.

 

After the prophecies of the witches revealed the fate of Macbeth, the plan in which to gain power of the throne is brought up. (Reword.  Unclear.)  The two ways to gain the power of the throne was for Macbeth to either inherit the throne or to murder and succeed King Duncan. Murdering the king was the easiest plan since the motivation in Macbeth’s dreams urged him on. Lady Macbeth also relied on the supernatural by her soliloquy, calling upon the evil spirits to give her the power to plot the murder of Duncan without any remorse or conscience (Act I, Scene V, ll.42-57).  The three sisters are capable of leading people into danger resulting in death, such as the sailor who never slept (Act I, Scene III, ll.1-37).  (Double-check citations.)

 

Lady Macbeth convinced her husband Macbeth to murder King Duncan.  On the night they planned to kill Duncan, Macbeth waited for Lady Macbeth to ring the signal bell to go up the stairs to Duncan's chamber. He sees the vision of a floating dagger. The interest of the dagger is that it leads Macbeth towards the chamber by the presence of evil of the dagger being covered with blood. (Reword to make more sense.  Avoid the passive voice and saying “of the” so frequently.)  Then the bell rings and Macbeth stealthily proceeds up the staircase to Duncan's chamber.  (Careful of switching tenses.  “planned” vs. “waiting”)

 

Once the murder has been committed, eventually Banquo develops suspicions about Macbeth killing Duncan to gain power of the throne. Guilt and fear heighten inside Macbeth and his wife when they decide to have Banquo killed. Macbeth and his wife attend a banquet in which a ghost appears. Once the murderer notified Macbeth that the deed was done, he observed the ghost of Banquo sitting in his regular seat.  This caused Macbeth to act in a wild manner, making people suspicious of his actions. (Act III, Scene VI, ll.31-120).  (State the location within your statement or blend a quote within it.)

 

The use of the supernatural has increased the suspense now that Macbeth is constantly relying on the prophecies of the three witches.  Hecate, the Queen of witches is angry with the three sisters for not involving her in their encounters with Macbeth. The witches plan to lead Macbeth to his downfall by making him feel over-confident. (Act III, SceneV, ll.1-35). Further on in the play, Macbeth finds his way to the witches' cave and demands to know what lies ahead for him. The three witches predict what he is going to ask and produce the first apparition which is an armed head.  "Macbeth!, Macbeth!, Macbeth!, beware of Macduff; beware thane of Fife.  Dismiss me: enough." (Act VI, Scene I, ll.77-78). The first apparition tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Then the second apparition appears (a bloody child), and says: "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." (Act IV, Scene I,ll.85-87). This apparition informs Macbeth that no man born from a woman can harm him. Finally, the last apparition appears and is a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. The apparition is saying that he will never be defeated until Great Birnam wood shall come against him

to High Dunsinane Hill. "Be lion melted, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnamwood to High Dunsinane Hill shall come against him." (Act VI, Scene I,ll.98-102). These apparitions convinced Macbeth that this was his fate and became over confident, and lead him to his death.

 

The use of the supernatural in Macbeth results quite well with the respect of the unknown. (Consider rewording to make clearer.) Without the witches, the ghost, the visions, and the apparitions, "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.

 

Works cited?

 

Review MLA format and citations.  Try experimenting with various uses of quotes and citations within your writing.

 

You have a lot of good ideas, but your writing is difficult to comprehend.  Work on rewording, making your statements concise and precise.

 

If the use of the supernatural is what you are focusing on, then you need to focus on that more clearly.  Use words to emphasize that throughout the essay.  “The supernatural effect of a floating dagger . . .” 

 

Revise and work on another draft.  You’ll have a fine essay if you keep working at it.

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