Comment on Shakespeare’s use of Supernatural elements in Macbeth

Answer

Comment on Shakespeare’s use of Supernatural elements in “Macbeth.”

The usage of Supernatural Elements in literature is common. ‘Supernaturalism’ has been derived from Medieval Latin supernaturalis, from Latin super- (above, beyond, or outside of) +natura (nature). It means a way of thinking that believes in things beyond natural laws. The greatest English dramatist, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), employs this technique through several incidents and characters in his remarkable tragic play “Macbeth” (1623) to create a doomy environment. Let us explore how the supernatural plays a vital role in this play.

The Witches and Their Prophecies: The play opens with three witches welcoming Macbeth after a victorious war. They are also known as the Weird Sisters. Their mysterious and scary presence set the tone for the entire play. When Macbeth and Banquo meet them, the witches greet Macbeth with three titles:

First Witch:

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch:

All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch:

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

These creatures and their prophecies are all supernatural, as they are totally absent in the mundane world. Their words spark Macbeth’s ambition and lead him to murder and tyranny.

The Bloody Dagger Scene: In Act 2, scene 1, before murdering King Duncan, Macbeth experiences a powerful supernatural vision. He sees a floating dagger leading him to Duncan’s chamber. This is an image of the same weapon he will use to kill Duncan. The description of this scene is evident in the following lines:

Is this a dagger which I see before me,

This vision has multifaceted meanings. It symbolizes the protagonist’s inner conflict and feelings of guilt. The dagger represents his murderous intentions and his feeling that fate pushes him toward the deed despite his hesitation and fear.

The Presence of Banquo’s Ghost: Macbeth kills Banquo, hiring some murderers to prevent his descendants from taking the throne. After murdering, he is haunted by Banquo’s ghost during a banquet. This supernatural occurrence reflects Macbeth’s overwhelming guilt and worry. The ghost’s appearance terrifies Macbeth and reveals his unraveling sanity to the guests. It marks the beginning of the decline of Macbeth’s rule and power.

Hecate and Her Words: In Macbeth, Hecate is the controlling mistress to the three witches. She appears only two times in the play to scold the witches for interfering with Macbeth without involving her. She instructs them to hail visions and spirits to give Macbeth a false sense of security. Hecate’s presence and the witches’ following actions highlight their role as manipulators of fate and Macbeth’s vulnerability to their influence. Their deceptive visions lead Macbeth to believe he is unbeatable, ultimately contributing to his downfall.

Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking: Act 5 of the play is full of misery and hopelessness. It begins with Lady Macbeth’s most famous scene – ‘Sleepwalking’. Her descent into madness is marked by her sleepwalking and hallucinations of blood on her hands. Here is a famous line from the text to help you understand the point.

Out, damned spot!

Out, I say!

These famous lines reveal her overwhelming guilt for her role in the murders of Duncan, his two guards, and Banquo, undermining her emotional stability. The supernatural elements of her sleepwalking episodes illustrate how deeply the consequences of the previous heinous actions have affected her psyche, leading to her tragic end.

In “Macbeth,” Shakespeare masterfully uses supernatural elements to explore themes of ambition, guilt, fate, and madness. The witches’ prophecies, ghostly apparitions, and haunting visions drive the characters towards their inevitable fates. These supernatural forces move the plot and deepen the characters’ psychological complexity, making “Macbeth” a timeless and influential tragedy.