How did the Elizabethan audience respond to the play ‘Macbeth’

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How did the Elizabethan audience respond to the play ‘Macbeth’

The Elizabethan audience would be able to relate to the play ‘Macbeth’ quite easily as then, they believed that supernatural beings existed, such as ‘The weird sisters’.

In their time, most people were aware and obsessed with the whole idea of Witches and were determined to hunt them down. The signs that proved a woman was a witch were: If she had herbal remedies, she was sexually promiscuous or independent and had enough money. Witches were seen as evil beings that cursed humans, spread diseases and caused destruction. People believed that Witches (although normal in appearance) were sent by the Devil. People were being brainwashed with hype so the play was encouraging them more. Even the government was blaming the witches for every struggle they faced.

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        When the witches are on stage, the Elizabethan audience would know that the whole play would be about a fight between good and evil because of the sound affects (e.g.) thunder and this extract, which proves they are witches as witches meet in bad weather.

The Elizabethan audience would feel very sorry for Macbeth because they would see Macbeth as a victim of the witches, as they are the prey as well.

The Elizabethan audience would hate all evil characters, even lady Macbeth, as she would be seen as a witch as well because she ‘called upon ...

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