Macbeth Research Paper
Michael Fliess
11/20/16
English Literature
The Supernatural and Witches in Macbeth
For nearly all of humanity’s existence, people have believed in some form of the supernatural. Whether it be, ghosts, witches, demons, etc., the supernatural has always has a place in human culture and society. In the renaissance, the idea of witches specifically began to take a prominent place in Renaissance culture. As the ideas of witches and the supernatural spread in Renaissance culture, writes like William Shakespeare began to incorporate these ideas into their work. In one of Shakespeare’s signature works, Macbeth, he incorporates the ideas of witches and the supernatural into the plot and Macbeth’s rise and fall. Elizabethan beliefs are present in …show more content…
During the first witch encounter, one of the witches says, “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I.iii.50). Obviously, this may be the most significant line for the plot of Macbeth as a whole, and for the theme that everyone is a victim of fate. This line alone is really what ultimately sets Macbeth down his path towards kingship, and eventually, mental breakdown and defeat. After Macbeth heard this line, he began contemplating how he would become king, and Macbeth immediately thought about killing Duncan, which would fatefully lead to his downfall. Another example of how the supernatural reinforces the theme everyone is a victim of fate is when the second apparition says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.79-81). This deceiving and ultimately, mostly false, prophecy from the apparition is really what give Macbeth his final false confidence to openly challenge Macduff to a final fight on the battlefield. Macduff eventually reveals that he was born by cesarean section, which would technically make Macduff not born of woman, and fatefully Macbeth is then slain by Macduff. Ultimately, due to the predictions of the witches, Macbeth was a tragic victim of his own
11/20/16
English Literature
The Supernatural and Witches in Macbeth
For nearly all of humanity’s existence, people have believed in some form of the supernatural. Whether it be, ghosts, witches, demons, etc., the supernatural has always has a place in human culture and society. In the renaissance, the idea of witches specifically began to take a prominent place in Renaissance culture. As the ideas of witches and the supernatural spread in Renaissance culture, writes like William Shakespeare began to incorporate these ideas into their work. In one of Shakespeare’s signature works, Macbeth, he incorporates the ideas of witches and the supernatural into the plot and Macbeth’s rise and fall. Elizabethan beliefs are present in …show more content…
During the first witch encounter, one of the witches says, “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I.iii.50). Obviously, this may be the most significant line for the plot of Macbeth as a whole, and for the theme that everyone is a victim of fate. This line alone is really what ultimately sets Macbeth down his path towards kingship, and eventually, mental breakdown and defeat. After Macbeth heard this line, he began contemplating how he would become king, and Macbeth immediately thought about killing Duncan, which would fatefully lead to his downfall. Another example of how the supernatural reinforces the theme everyone is a victim of fate is when the second apparition says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (IV.i.79-81). This deceiving and ultimately, mostly false, prophecy from the apparition is really what give Macbeth his final false confidence to openly challenge Macduff to a final fight on the battlefield. Macduff eventually reveals that he was born by cesarean section, which would technically make Macduff not born of woman, and fatefully Macbeth is then slain by Macduff. Ultimately, due to the predictions of the witches, Macbeth was a tragic victim of his own