The Role Of Supernatural In Shakespeare's Macbeth

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Mikuljan 1
Maja Mikuljan
Ms. M. Hill
ENG-3U
March 9, 2016
Role of Supernatural in Macbeth
Shakespeare uses the supernatural in Macbeth to help bring different aspects to the play. Throughout Macbeth the supernatural is seen through various apparitions, the witches and their prophecies and the disruption of the natural order following Duncan 's death. These supernatural events bring dimension to the play and helps the reader understand the play at a deeper level.
Shakespeare will commonly use the weather
These supernatural appearances help the reader understand what Macbeth is feeling on the inside. These apparitions show a part of Macbeth that has weakened. The first apparition Macbeth sees is the floating dagger. While Macbeth was walking to murder Duncan he had a hallucination of a floating dagger in front of him and said, "Is this not a dagger which I see before me,/ The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.../ A dagger of the mind, a false creation," (2.1.33-38) Macbeth is envisioning a dagger floating in front of him and towards Duncan 's room, Macbeth uses this dagger as a psychological motivation to go kill Duncan. Macbeth has to imagine a supernatural image, another world 's creation just to get him to walk to Duncan 's room. This apparition that Macbeth is seeing is giving his weaknesses strength. Macbeth 's need to imagine a fake object gives insight on Macbeth not being as strong as he shows to be. The other apparition that highlights Macbeth 's weakness is the ghost of Banquo. While Macbeth is at his dinner he sees the ghost of Banquo sitting in his seat at the dinner table. When told by Ross to sit down Macbeth says, "The tables full." (3.4.41) Macbeth is seeing Banquo 's ghost at the table because he truly feels guilty of having Banquo killed. Macbeth sees Banquo 's spirit and proceeds to freak out, he screams at the lords saying, "Thou canst not say did it; never shake," (4.3.50) Macbeth believes someone has put Banquo 's actual body at the table. These apparitions show a side of Macbeth that is not as manly as he comes off to

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