Explain how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are influenced by the supernatural in Macbeth.

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Althea Avanzo

English coursework

Explain how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are influenced by the supernatural in Macbeth.

In Shakespeare’s time witches were believed to have many powers. They were believed to talk to the devil, the dead and evil spirits. They were believed to predict the future (act 1. Scene 1 – ‘When shall we three meet again in thunder lightning or in rain?’) and change the weather. People thought they could fly throuhg air and make themselves invisible at will. People also thought they could kill or make  them fall ill at a distance. Many witches were killed in Scotland between 1590 and 1680, more than 4400 women were executed. Most were accused of worshipping the devil in a church at night, flying around a raising stormsto attempt the murder of king James. Most of the supposed powers were included in ‘Macbeth’.

When we fist meet the witches in act 1 scene 1 they are predicting and altering the future with their spells (‘When shall we three… there to meet with Macbeth’). Through out the play the witches also possess animal shaped creatures, in act 1 scene five the ‘raven’ mentioned by lady Macbeth in her speech is an attendant spirit the raven was thought as an evil bird 400 years ago. In Act 1 Scene 1 the witches are waiting for Macbeth, this seems to suggest that

they have something in mind – they are creatures of supernatural origin The witches are presented as evil and powerful, in act 1 scene 3 one of the three witches describes how she is going to torment a sailor whose wife has been rude to her. This is meant to scare King James and show him what the witches can do and how they can influence people and things.

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We find out that ‘Macbeth’ is brave in Act 1 Scene 2 (line 16) and that he is also

the king’s cousin, after he meets the witches his ambition starts growing. When macbeth meets the Witches he is fascinated by them and blinded by his ambition, they tell him he will be Thane of Cowdor and the King of Scotland.  

In Act 1 Scene 3 Macbeth wants to  believe the witches (‘look how our partner’s wrapt’) this is because the witches are telling Macbeth things he likes to hear, that he will become the king of Scotland while ...

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