The Supernatural in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

The Supernatural in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Supernatural happenings are out of the ordinary and unexplainable in

the natural world, for example ghosts and witches which both play an

important part in Macbeth. In Shakespeare's day, many people believed

in witches and prophecies. It was said that supernatural happenings

were from the devil and some people even got killed because they were

said to be evil. Shakespeare's play Macbeth has many mysteries and

actions that were thought to be supernatural, which could be either

supernatural or real. I am going to write about the different

supernatural happenings in Macbeth, each of them leading Macbeth to

act sinfully.

The supernatural starts the play as the audience are presented with

the three witches. Macbeth is told through them what his future is and

it immediately gives him evil thoughts:

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,

Shakes so my single state of man that function

(Act one Scene three, lines 139-140)

The witches could have put the idea in Macbeths head that he could

become king, making him murder or they could have cast a spell on

Macbeth making him do terrible things. The witches are thought to be

evil characters; they have supernatural powers from the devil:

What! Can the Devil speak true?

(Act one Scene three, line 106)

The witches told Macbeth the prophecies where Macbeth would succeed

and be great, but they didn't tell him the price he would have to pay.

The audience are later introduced to Hecate, the Goddess of

Witchcraft. She is angry with the witches for talking to Macbeth

without her. The witches then prepare a spell:

Your vessels and your spells provide

Your charms, and every thing beside.

(Act three Scene five, lines 18-19)

Macbeth again meets the witches after they have prepared the spells.

The witches ask Macbeth if he wants them or his masters to tell his

future. Macbeth tells the witches to show him the ones from their

master. The first apparition is of an armed head, and tells him to