"Explore the significance of the witches and the supernatural in the play Macbeth"

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"Explore the significance of the witches and the supernatural in the play Macbeth"

King James I strongly believed in witchcraft, and Shakespeare used this idea to appeal to him. Shakespeare used the ideas of witchcraft, kingship, and the moral order to develop the play, as these themes were greatly admired in the Jacobean ere. The opening of the play contains many subtle links to the supernatural. The three witches open the scene in an open place with thunder and lightning, which was believed in superstitious times that fierce storms released forces of evil, and were omens of unrest in individual people and whole countries.

I will be investigating the significance of the witches and I will be looking at the supernatural effects they have on the play 'Macbeth'.

Nowadays Macbeth is referred to by many people as 'The Scottish Play' and within the theatres it would be considered bad luck to mention the name of 'The Scottish Play' whilst there are plays taking place on stage. So this goes to show that the supernatural aspect of the play has been carried forward to this very day.

Shakespeare's tragedy is about Macbeth's bloody rise to power,