Supernatural themes in Macbeth

Team 2: Dinithi, Dhruv, Terence and Annee

The use of the supernatural themes in Macbeth is shown in the witches, the visions, the ghost, and the apparitions this inturn creates the dramatic suspense and tension. The theme supernatural is tied in to show the intensity of the human mind. This is a key and vital element in making the concept of the play work and interesting. The utilisation of supernatural themes arises from the medieval and renaissance periods and the Holinshed chronicles.

The themes can be seen at the start of the play with the witches predicting the fate of Macbeth. Banquo’s ghost is also a sign that supernatural themes are used in Macbeth. The apparitions were so strong and suggestive (the dagger Act 2 Scene 1) became over-confident and decided his fate, which was eventually, death. This shows the depth and strength and more importantly the mental stability of the human mind like mentioned above.

Origin of the witch story from the Holinshed’s chronicles:
Shakespeare's primary source for Macbeth was Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, first published in 1577. The outlines of Shakespeare's story are derived from Holinshed's account of Kings Duncan and Macbeth. In addition, Shakespeare seems to have taken many particulars from Holinshed's account of King Duffe, who died eighty years before Macbeth did.

Origin of the witch story from the witch lore of the Celtics:
In the witch lore of the Celts, witches are seen as triple goddesses, as in Macbeth. But it has been modified a bit as the witches are presented as hags.
In Irish folklore witches are the children of Cailidin, who plot Cu Chulainn’s death and in Welsh legend we find the hags of Gloucester, warrior women. The witches speak in three’s, this being a sacred number for the Celts. The witches in Macbeth seem to be more like the Elizabethan stereotype, than to the idea of the three supernatural goddesses of destiny.

Views on witchcraft during the Renaissance:
During the Renaissance period people blamed unexplainable events as the work of witches. Women were those most often accused of being witches! This was largely due to the fact of the invention of the printer the books that were published Bibles and other hold books promoted the ideas about witchcraft and witches. The hysteria and paranoia regarding witches, which was experienced in Europe, did not fully extend to England during this turbulent period. However, Queen Elizabeth I passed a new and harsher witchcraft Law in 1562 leading to witch hunts and the prosecution of witches. Thus women of law class calibre were targeted especially those with knowledge of herbs.

The use of supernatural themes in MacBeth creates many functions within the play. They create dramatic tension; suspense and more importantly foreshadow told events. Thus without the use of these supernatural themes in Macbeth, “the character of “Macbeth” and his kingdom would not exist” 1

1 "The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Macbeth." 123HelpMe.com. 01 Feb 2009