3.7 - Supernatural
Role of the supernatural in the play
The supernatural drives key events in Macbeth by blending otherworldly influences with human choices. It creates an atmosphere of mystery and dread, while exposing characters' inner conflicts.
Key functions of the supernatural
- Plot catalyst - Supernatural elements spark Macbeth's ambition, leading to Duncan's murder and subsequent chaos.
- Psychological exploration - They reveal characters' moral struggles, such as how temptation uncovers hidden desires without dictating actions.
- Thematic depth - The supernatural raises questions about fate and free will, showing how belief in otherworldly forces can justify harmful decisions.
Contextual connection
Jacobean audiences viewed witchcraft as a genuine danger, influenced by King James I's writings on demonology, which Shakespeare incorporates to heighten the play's tension and critique how such beliefs enable immoral behaviour.
The witches as agents of temptation
The witches tempt Macbeth with visions of power, but they do not compel his choices, emphasising human responsibility. Their presence introduces evil forces that exploit existing flaws in characters.
Characteristics of the witches
- Mysterious and chaotic - They appear in thunder and speak in riddles, embodying disorder with lines like "fair is foul, and foul is fair".
- Temptation without control - They offer prophecies that awaken Macbeth's ambition, yet leave the decision to act entirely to him.
- Evil influence - As agents of darkness, they manipulate through ambiguity, revealing potential for wickedness in those they encounter.
Contextual connection
In Jacobean England, witches were seen as real threats to social order, reflecting widespread fears of the occult that Shakespeare uses to show how temptation exposes innate human evil.
Ambiguity of supernatural apparitions
Supernatural visions in the play blur the line between reality and hallucination, adding psychological complexity. This uncertainty questions whether events like Banquo's ghost stem from genuine forces or guilty minds.
Examples of ambiguous apparitions
- Banquo's ghost - Appears only to Macbeth at the banquet, suggesting it might represent his "heat-oppressed brain" rather than a true spirit.
- Dagger vision - Macbeth sees a floating dagger before Duncan's murder, debating if it is "a dagger of the mind" or a real omen.
- Psychological impact - These elements highlight how guilt manifests as supernatural phenomena, deepening the exploration of madness.
Contextual connection
Shakespeare draws on Jacobean fascination with the spirit world, where apparitions were often interpreted as divine warnings, to illustrate how inner turmoil can project as external supernatural events.
Symbolism of supernatural elements
Supernatural occurrences symbolise the breakdown of natural order following moral crimes. They reflect broader chaos in Scotland, linking personal ambition to widespread disorder.
Symbolic representations
- Unnatural events - After Duncan's murder, reports emerge of horses eating each other, symbolising how regicide disrupts the "great chain of being".
- Mirroring political turmoil - Supernatural signs like darkened skies parallel the kingdom's descent into tyranny under Macbeth's rule.
- Broader implications - These elements show how violating natural laws invites cosmic retribution, emphasising the play's tragic scope.
Contextual connection
The symbolism echoes Jacobean beliefs in the divine right of kings, where disrupting royal authority was thought to cause natural calamities, as seen in contemporary accounts of unusual weather during political unrest.
Prophecies and their dramatic function
Prophecies in the play act as traps through their misleading wording, building tension and false security. They serve as catalysts for action while underscoring the theme of fate versus free will.
Key aspects of the prophecies
- Ambiguous wording - Phrases like "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" create overconfidence, leading to Macbeth's downfall when interpreted literally.
- Catalyst for ambition - The witches' predictions propel Macbeth's "vaulting ambition", yet their riddles highlight the dangers of misinterpretation.
- Dramatic tension - They generate suspense by promising invincibility, only to reveal twists that expose human vulnerability to deception.
Contextual connection
Jacobean society grappled with ideas of predestination from Protestant theology, which Shakespeare uses in the prophecies to debate whether fate controls destiny or merely tempts free will.