FREE ESSAY ON MACBETH 87

MACBETH 87

In the play Macbeth, there were many interesting sections which could be concentrated on
due to the suspense and the involvement of the supernatural. The use of the supernatural
in the witches, the visions, the ghost, and the apparitions is a key element in making
the concept of the play work and in making the play interesting. Looking through each Act
and Scene of the play, it is noticed that the supernatural is definitely a major factor
on the play's style. 
The use of the supernatural occurs at the beginning of the play, with three witches
predicting the fate of Macbeth. This gives the audience a clue to what the future holds
for Macbeth. When the battles lost and won (Act I, Scene I, l.4) was said by the second
witch. It says that every battle is lost by one side and won by another. Macbeth's fate
is that he will win the battle, but will lose his time of victory for the battle of his
soul. After the prophecies of the witches' revealed the fate of Macbeth, the plan in
which to gain power of the throne is brought up. The only way to gain power of the throne
was for Macbeth to work his way to the throne, or to murder King Duncan. Murdering the
king was an easier plan since the motivation in his dreams urged him on. Lady Macbeth
also relied on the supernatural by her soliloquy of calling upon the evil spirits to give
her the power to plot the murder of Duncan without any remorse or conscience (Act I,
Scene V, ll.42-57). The three sisters are capable of leading people into danger resulting
in death, such as the sailor who never slept (Act I, Scene III, ll.1-37). 
Lady Macbeth has convinced her husband Macbeth to murder King Duncan. On the night they
planned to kill Duncan, Macbeth is waiting for Lady Macbeth to ring the signal bell to go
up the stairs to Duncan's chamber. He sees the vision of the floating dagger. The
interest of the dagger is that it leads Macbeth towards the chamber by the presence of
evil of the dagger being covered with blood. Then the bell rings and Macbeth stealthily
proceeds up the staircase to Duncan's chamber. Once the murder has been committed,
eventually Banquo has his suspicions about Macbeth killing Duncan to have power of the
throne. There is constantly more guilt and fear inside Macbeth and his wife that they
decide to have Banquo killed. Macbeth and his wife attend a banquet in which a ghost
appears. Once the murderer notified Macbeth that the deed was done, he observed the ghost
of Banquo sitting in his regular seat. This caused Macbeth to act in a wild manner,
making people suspicious of his actions. (Act III, Scene VI, ll.31-120). The use of the
supernatural has increased the suspense now that Macbeth is constantly relying on the
prophecies of the three witches. Hecate, the Queen of witches is angry with the three
sisters for not involving her in their encounters with Macbeth. The witches plan to lead
Macbeth to his downfall by making him feel over-confident. (Act III, Scene V, ll.1-35). 
Further on in the play, Macbeth finds his way to the witches' cave and demands to know
what lies ahead for him. The three witches predict what he is going to ask and produce
the first apparition which is an armed head. Macbeth!, Macbeth!, Macbeth!, beware of
Macduff; beware thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough. (Act VI, Scene I, ll.77-78). The first
apparition tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Then the second apparition appears (a
bloody child), and says: Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man,
for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. (Act IV, Scene I, ll.85-87). This apparition
informs Macbeth that no man born from a woman can harm him. finally, the last apparition
appears and is a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. The apparition is saying that he
will never be defeated until Great Birnam wood shall come against him to High Dunsinane
Hill. Be lion melted, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers
are: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to High Dunsinane Hill
shall come against him. (Act VI, Scene I, ll.98-102). These apparitions convinced Macbeth
that this was his fate and became over confident, and lead him to his death. 
The use of the supernatural in Macbeth results quite well with the respect of the
unknown. Without the witches, the ghost, the visions, and the apparitions, Macbeth would
have been a dull and tiresome play. Even today's readers need motivation to read, and
this ancient superstition of spirits enhanced the play dramatically.
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