In what ways does Shakespeare make use of the supernatural in Macbeth?

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Alice Green 10n

In what ways does Shakespeare make use of the supernatural in Macbeth?

When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in the early 1600s the King of England was James I. James was king of Scotland too. He ruled in Scotland before coming king in England in 1603 as well. James was supposed to have descended from the real Banquo. Some people often think that Shakespeare wanted to flatter James I by writing this play by showing James that he was nothing like Macbeth. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth it has been discovered that Shakespeare did not create he play from scratch. He used history books such as Chronicles of England and Scotland and Ireland. The people in Macbeth are based on real people but the way they are portrayed to act in Macbeth the play is very different to how they acted in real life.

Shakespeare uses supernatural in Macbeth in many different ways. He uses the supernatural in the witches, Lady Macbeth, nature, the vision, the ghost and the apparitions-these are all key elements in this play. I think that the supernatural means that it does not belong to the natural world.

As there was no scenery or lighting, the actors (as women were not allowed to enter or act in he theatres) would have a bigger effect on the audience and would really bring out the supernatural elements in Macbeth. Around the time that Macbeth was written people believed in witchcraft and wizardry. Even the king at the time, James I, wrote a book containing witchcraft called ‘daemonology’. The people in Shakespearian times would truly believe that the witches and the events that take place could actually come true and happen in real life; but of course today we do not really believe in witchcraft. If you were thought to have been talking to evil spirits it was assumed that you would be sent to hell when you died. Sometimes, single old women with pet cats were accused of being witches and some were actually killed. So some people watching Macbeth in the 1600s would have been genuinely scared of the characters and happenings in the play.

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The sense of supernatural encourages Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to be led into dangerous events. Macbeth's character completely changes from the valiant soldier to the wicked king. Lady Macbeth's character also changes from being a loving wife to madwoman. The use of supernatural also makes the play intriguing to the audience, and which also makes Macbeth an interesting play to study.                                                                         The use of ...

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