Discuss the Supernatural in Macbeth.

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner dictionary, `supernatural' refers to things that cannot be explained by natural or physical laws. The presence of supernatural forces in "Macbeth," provides for much of the play's dramatic tension and the mounting suspense. In this paper we shall look at some of supernatural elements in the play.

We'll first talk about the witches. Thunder occurs every time when the witches show up. In Act I sence i, it indicates the theme of discorder. When the witches enter, there is stormy weather. The storm attends the three witches when they are gather to express their exploits. They cast a spell that they are going to meet Macbeth. "There to meet with Macbeth." Also, thunder occurs at Act I scene iii, Act III scene iv and Act IV secne i.

In Act I secne iii, the appearance of the witches is supernatural. " You should be woman. And yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so." Witches shows us what their unnatural looks are like. They amaze Banquo when he first sees them. He wonders about their appearance. Banquo's description of the witches is important in seeing how unnatural they are. Their facial hair questions the definition of Gender who look like should be human. But in them the human form is unnaturally distorted. The witches are not existing in nature and we cannot explain them according to natural laws in our world.

Also in Act I secne iii, The main plot line of the play is established when the three witches make their first appearance with Macbeth and Banquo. They are objective that both Macbeth and Banquo can see the witches and even talk with them. It reveals that the witches are real instead of being a product of the imagination of Macbeth.

The witches have superna...

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... claims that Macduff cannot hurt him. He decided to do something before considering the consequences of his actions. Therefore, Macbeth orders the murder of Macduff and his family in order to eliminate the threat of Macduff. The prophetic information that Macbeth got from the apparitions lead to his actions in the play later, which finally push him to death at the end.

The apparitions has the supernatural power that they can predict the future of Macbeth and they come true at the end of the play, they are supernatural elements.

We can conclude that there are 5 important events showing the supernatural elements in Macbeth. Namely, the witches, the air-drawn dagger, the unnatural happenings, the ghost of Banquo and the apparitions.

References

Shakespeare's Macbeth (Cliffs Complete) by Christopher Morrow & Sidney Lamb

Yorks Notes: Macbeth by James Sale