thesis statement for supernatural in macbeth

Supernatural in “Macbeth” Play by Shakespeare Essay

In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth , the supernatural plays a crucial part in inspiring Macbeth’s actions. Supernatural elements create dramatic tension, with the witches’ predictions in Scene 3 of Act 1 as a critical instigating incident. Macbeth’s desire to replace Duncan as Scotland’s monarch is driven by otherworldly forces. The presence of the supernatural encourages the protagonists to feel superior and arrogant. The supernaturally manufactured predictions lure Macbeth and Banquo with the idea of power, leading Macbeth to plot the cruel murder of Duncan. Macbeth believes that by murdering his close friend Banquo, he will finally be able to live up to the prophecy that he will become king. At an earlier gathering that night, he had a supernatural encounter with the ghost of a recently departed friend. The prophecies of the three witches inspire Macbeth’s desire to murder Banquo, but he digs himself into a deeper hole in the process. The play’s sense of mystery is enhanced by Macbeth’s use of the bizarre (Hibbs and Hibbs 275). The play’s supernatural aspects drive the plot and elevate its tragic elements by leading the protagonist further away from the passage of the typical hero.

Any supernatural effect on his choices, particularly those involving murder, is purely voluntary. It is only fair that he takes some responsibility for the many failures and catastrophes he is brought on by depending on them. On the other hand, without the supernatural, it is unlikely that Macbeth would even have the courage to consider such notions, much alone act on them. Macbeth begins his journey of murder when he tells Lady Macbeth about the witches. He recalled how “these Weird Sisters hailed me and pointed to the advent of time with ‘Hail, the king that shalt be,’” as he put it (Shakespeare). The influence of the supernatural on his wife, Lady Macbeth, drove him to murder King Duncan; had he not informed her about his vision, events could have turned out differently. Once he reveals to Lady Macbeth the divine prophesy he got, he loses all chance of returning to his former noble life. The supernatural plays a significant role in Macbeth’s universe.

In Scene 1 of Act IV, Macbeth returns to the Weird Sisters and demands to see visions of his future. Macbeth is warned of Macduff’s vengeance by a severed warrior’s head. In the second scene, a little boy, covered in blood, promises Macbeth that no man “of woman born” can kill him. Macbeth will not be beaten in battle, the young king swears, as long as Birnam wood is physically transported to Dunsinane. Upon learning of these impossibilities, Macbeth exclaims, “reign in this kingdom?” (Schojbert 1). The witches have Banquo leading a ghostly parade of imaginary kings. This only infuriates Macbeth more, and he goes so far as to admit to the audience that he wants to murder the whole Macduff family because of his pride.

In this play, the supernatural aspect is genuine or verifiable. Since both Macbeth and Banquo see the witches, their presence is confirmed. The supernatural aspect adds to the drama by validating and concretizing the hero’s internal struggles. Therefore, Macbeth’s witches represent the guilt deep within his psyche. However, the supernatural aspect does not exert an overbearing force, and the hero is never made helpless or absolved of responsibility for his actions. Although it is only suggestive, the hero is under no obligation to act upon it. The supernatural plays a vital role in accelerating the hero’s demise and elevating the tragedy within the play but ultimately teaches the weight of responsibility for personal actions.

Works Cited

Schojbert, Haley. The Supernatural, the Demonic, and Witchcraft in Early Modern English plays: Macbeth, the Witch, the Witch of Edmonton, and Doctor Faustus . 2020. The State University of New York at New Paltz, MA thesis.

Hibbs, Thomas, and Stacey Hibbs. “ Virtue, Natural Law, and Supernatural Solicitation: A Thomistic Reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth .” Religion and the Arts, vol 5, no 3, 2001, pp. 273- 296, Web.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Wordsworth Classics, 1992.

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IvyPanda. (2024, January 9). Supernatural in "Macbeth" Play by Shakespeare. https://ivypanda.com/essays/supernatural-in-macbeth-play-by-shakespeare/

"Supernatural in "Macbeth" Play by Shakespeare." IvyPanda , 9 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/supernatural-in-macbeth-play-by-shakespeare/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Supernatural in "Macbeth" Play by Shakespeare'. 9 January.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Supernatural in "Macbeth" Play by Shakespeare." January 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/supernatural-in-macbeth-play-by-shakespeare/.

1. IvyPanda . "Supernatural in "Macbeth" Play by Shakespeare." January 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/supernatural-in-macbeth-play-by-shakespeare/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Supernatural in "Macbeth" Play by Shakespeare." January 9, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/supernatural-in-macbeth-play-by-shakespeare/.

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The Supernatural

The supernatural and the mind.

Macbeth sees a dagger and Banquo's ghost among other visions. These could be hallucinations or supernatural forces at work.

• Macbeth has visions throughout the play, such as the dagger before he kills King Duncan, ‘Is this a dagger which I see before me’ (2,1).
• These could be psychological (of the mind) or they could be premonitions (feelings that something bad is going to happen) and Macbeth is experiencing the supernatural.
• Because he has interacted with the witches, the audience might think that he has made himself vulnerable to evil.

Banquo's ghost

• We could argue that this hallucination is a symptom of Macbeth’s mind becoming more and more unbalanced because of the guilt he feels, as well as the overwhelming amount of power he suddenly has.

The Supernatural and Evil

It is important to remember the context of the play for this theme: King James I believed in witches. He thought they were evil and could harm people.

Role and significance of the witches

• The witches are the first characters the audience see in the play. This shows that they are very significant for what is to come.
• They manipulate (control to their advantage) Macbeth to show the evil within himself.

Lady Macbeth and the supernatural

• Lady Macbeth calls on spirits too. She does this like the witches themselves: ‘Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here’ (1,5).
• She uses imperative language ( ‘come’ and ‘unsex’ ) which suggests that she thinks she has control over them. This labels her as an evil character who wants supernatural beings to help her.
• We don’t know whether this is something she has done before or whether the opportunity to take the crown has made her want to try to contact them. But it could just be words. Perhaps she is simply showing how far she is prepared to go.

Cause bad events

• Macbeth and Lady Macbeth only hatch the plan to kill King Duncan because the witches tell Macbeth that he will be the king one day – we could argue that, without the witches, none of the events of the play would have happened.

1 Literary & Cultural Context

1.1 Context

1.1.1 Tragedy

1.1.2 The Supernatural & Gender

1.1.3 Politics & Monarchy

1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Context

2 Plot Summary

2.1.1 Scenes 1 & 2

2.1.2 Scene 3

2.1.3 Scenes 4-5

2.1.4 Scenes 6-7

2.1.5 End of Topic Test - Act 1

2.2 Acts 2-4

2.2.1 Act 2

2.2.2 Act 3

2.2.3 Act 4

2.3.1 Scenes 1-3

2.3.2 Scenes 4-9

2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Acts 2-5

3 Characters

3.1 Macbeth

3.1.1 Hero vs Villain

3.1.2 Ambition & Fate

3.1.3 Relationship

3.1.4 Unstable

3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Macbeth

3.2 Lady Macbeth

3.2.1 Masculine & Ruthless

3.2.2 Manipulative & Disturbed

3.3 Other Characters

3.3.1 Banquo

3.3.2 The Witches

3.3.3 Exam-Style Questions - The Witches

3.3.4 King Duncan

3.3.5 Macduff

3.3.6 End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo

3.3.7 End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff

3.4 Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1 Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions

4.1.1 Power & Ambition

4.1.2 Power & Ambition HyperLearning

4.1.3 Violence

4.1.4 The Supernatural

4.1.5 Masculinity

4.1.6 Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order

4.1.7 Appearances & Deception

4.1.8 Madness & Blood

4.1.9 Women, Children & Sleep

4.1.10 End of Topic Test - Themes

4.1.11 End of Topic Test - Themes 2

4.2 Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1 Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.2 Extract Analysis

5 Writer's Techniques

5.1 Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1 Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony

5.1.2 Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism

5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques

Jump to other topics

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Macbeth — Supernatural Powers In The Play “Macbeth” By William Shakespear

Supernatural Powers in The Play "Macbeth" by William Shakespear

• Categories: Macbeth William Shakespeare

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Published: Jan 21, 2020

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The Supernatural in Macbeth: Planning an essay

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

7 December 2021

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Notes and model essay plan looking at essay technique and using context in essays through a focus on the theme of the supernatural in Macbeth. (3 pages, used for 1hr of tutoring) Designed for GCSE AQA English.

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Mr Salles Teaches English

My AQA Macbeth Prediction 2024!

Includes model answers.

Predicted Question 2024

The question will be on the role of the witches or the supernatural in Macbeth.

The extract is likely to be on the prophecies:

APPARITION. Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth.

[ Descends. ]

MACBETH. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live; That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder.

[ Thunder. An Apparition of a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand, rises. ]

What is this, That rises like the issue of a king, And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty?

ALL. Listen, but speak not to’t.

APPARITION. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him.

MACBETH. That will never be: Who can impress the forest; bid the tree Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements, good! Rebellious head, rise never till the wood Of Birnam rise, and our high-plac’d Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath To time and mortal custom.—Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art Can tell so much, shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom?

ALL. Seek to know no more.

How likely is my prediction to come true?

Historically, about 50%., essay on the supernatural from 2018 (22/30 level 5).

(This is from my guide . The extract in 2018 was when Macbeth first meets the witches).

In this extract Macbeth is sceptical of the witches’ prophecies. He knows he should be cautious, as they are “ instruments of darkness ”. However, the witches used “ supernatural soliciting ” and planted his ambition and his desire to know further prophecies.

In CONTRAST , Shakespeare presents Banquo as not tempted by the witches. He recognises that they are both deceitful and wicked, and should therefore be resisted. He describes them as “ instruments of darkness ”. This acts SYMBOLICALLY . “ Darkness ” represents the horrors of evil. Banquo implies the witches are tools of Satan , used to manipulate people towards evil by deceiving them. This is why he cautions Macbeth that the supernatural try to “ win us with honest trifles to betrays in deepest consequences ”. Perhaps * Banquo is certain the prophecies are a supernatural trap for Macbeth. He might* believe that the witches will manipulate Macbeth so that he too becomes deceitful, and he might * foresee Macbeth’s tragedy.

We can see that Macbeth can’t resist them, and is curious: “ this supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given earnest of success ”. Here he questions whether the prophecies are good or evil. He knows the witches are untrustworthy, just as the audience of 1606 would not trust them. They would be viewed as Satanic and witch hunters would burn them to death . Despite this, he focuses on the prophecies he likes. Alternatively, we might* argue that he remains a sceptic. He welcomes his good fortune, but he still knows they are untrustworthy.

Earlier, Banquo described the witches as inhuman, “ so withered and wild in their attire that look not like the inhabitants of the earth ”. Shakespeare may* do this to create an aura of fear for his audience who would already fear the supernatural in 1606 . Also earlier, Macbeth pleads with the weird sisters to “ stay, you imperfect speakers ”. This reveals how he is being controlled by his ambition, as he is desperate to discover when and how he will become king. This went against Jacobean custom, where to try to rise above your station in life was to defy God. The Great Chain of Being meant that God chose your status for a reason. This ambition shows how Macbeth is stained with sin.

In conclusion, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth so that the audience can see his true character and ambition in this extract. In CONTRAST , Banquo is portrayed as noble, suspicious of the supernatural, and concerned at Macbeth’s curiosity about the witches .

Original 561 words

Thesis Statement No

Explanations 12

Named Methods 3

Society/era/patriarchal/Jacobean/contemporary/ historical reference 5

Shakespeare 3

Exploratory Could, Might, May, Perhaps, Probably 4

Conclusion Yes

Paragraphs 5

Words per paragraph 112

My Comments

There it is again .The first 3 paragraphs are all about the extract. (In my guide I keep seeing students fail to get grades 7, 8 and 9 because they start with the extract). This one is better than most - you can get grades 7, 8 and 9 starting with the extract, it is just much harder.

The student does this very well, and in the third paragraph they also weave in relevant context to explore Shakespeare’s viewpoint.

The student deals with the later prophecies – ‘the prophecies he likes’ – very, very briefly. Imagine if they had dealt with a few more incidents of the supernatural in the play. This is a student who could have smashed this question.

Once again, it is an answer anchored by the extract. The ‘supernatural’ has meant only the witches because of this. But it could have involved:

The dagger of the mind

Lady Macbeth and her murdering ministers.

Banquo’s ghost!

All 3 of these could be linked to Shakespeare’s ideas about divine punishment, the psychology of guilt, the desire to flatter King James, the misogynistic, patriarchal view of women.

Easy marks!

They wrote fewer than 600 words, at least 200 fewer than they could have written in the time limit.

Lazy? Or, are they just having to spend too much time thinking about the extract, rather than simply picking on knowledge they already have, which is quick and easy.

Examiner Comments

This answer is Level 5 because of the overall approach to the essay, writing about the witches in the whole play, and linking this to relevant context about how Jacobeans perceived witches.

To improve, the student should focus more on Shakespeare’s ideas, and how he presents them.

You can read this guide, and 24 more , entirely for FREE here: click .

I wrote a full grade 9, 30/30 answer to my 2024 prediction, and asked Gemini to shorten it for you. Here it is:

Shakespeare's witches in Macbeth serve a dual purpose: flattering King James' fascination with demonology and exploring the interplay between free will and fate in Macbeth's tragic downfall.

The Witches' Duality

Shakespeare introduces the witches in Macbeth to cater to King James' interest in witchcraft. Their unsettling presence and cryptic pronouncements resonate with James' writings on demonology, like "Daemonologie." However, Shakespeare also uses them to explore a deeper theme: the conflict between free will and fate. They tempt Macbeth with prophecies, but it's his ambition that drives him to regicide (e.g., "why do I yield to that suggestion").

Banquo as a Foil

Banquo's contrasting perspective on the witches reinforces the ambiguity surrounding their role. Unlike Macbeth, who sees them as instruments of fate, Banquo views them with suspicion, calling them "instruments of darkness" (foreshadowing the internal darkness that consumes Macbeth). This contrast highlights the witches' ability to manipulate individuals based on their vulnerabilities.

Shifting Blame

Macbeth's soliloquies reveal a struggle between his ambition and his conscience. Initially, he contemplates leaving things to "chance," suggesting a belief in free will. However, the witches' prophecies awaken his ambition, leading him to see them as a justification for his actions. The dagger vision further blurs the lines, leaving him unsure if it's an external force or a manifestation of his own guilt ("a dagger of the mind").

The Witches' Power

While the witches offer prophecies, they don't control Macbeth's actions. Their pronouncements are riddled with ambiguity, like the prophecy of "none of woman born" that ultimately misleads Macbeth. Shakespeare emphasizes this through the witches' childlike pronouncements delivered in trochaic tetrameter ("By the pricking of my thumbs"). Unlike Mephistopheles in Marlowe's Faustus, they lack the power to directly influence events.

Macbeth's Downfall

As Macbeth descends into tyranny, he becomes increasingly isolated. His nihilistic final speech reflects his acceptance of his fate, but there's no blame directed at the witches. He sees himself as a "poor player" trapped in a meaningless existence ("a tale told by an idiot"). This underscores that his downfall is a consequence of his own choices, not external manipulation.

In conclusion, the witches in Macbeth are a multifaceted element. They appease King James' fascination with the supernatural while serving as a catalyst for exploring the complexities of free will and fate. Ultimately, the play emphasizes personal responsibility for one's actions, with Macbeth's tragic downfall serving as a cautionary tale.

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My Grade 9 Answer (30/30)

Shakespeare includes the witches in Macbeth to flatter King James, and his belief in witchcraft. He uses them to warn of the terrible consequences of evil and regicide. However, he ultimately shows that men, not supernatural evil, are responsible for their own hamartia and downfall.

Shakespeare gives us alternative interpretations about the Weird Sisters’ power. To King James, they have the power to control the weather, so they decide whether to meet “ in thunder, lightning or in rain ”. But another possibility is that they have no control, only foresight of the future.

They plan “ to meet with Macbeth ” and appear to have picked him specifically. Shakespeare alludes to Greek Tragedy here, where the Weird Sisters represent the three Fates. In tragedy, the Fates pick on a hero and destroy him because of the major flaw in his character, his hamartia.

They don’t give Macbeth any instructions when they meet him. They simply prophesise that Macbeth will become “ Thane of Cawdor ” and then “ king hereafter ”, while Banquo “ shall get kings ” through Fleance.

Macbeth immediately begins thinking of regicide, a powerful sin because it attacks God, who has chosen the king to head The Great Chain of Being. Macbeth has been delighted to slaughter in battle, unseaming Macdonwald “ from the nave to the chops , but murdering his king horrifies him. He asks, “ why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair? ” He also cannot understand what his hamartia is or “why” he has these thoughts so suddenly.

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