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A grade 9 AQA GCSE exemplar essay on the title 'Explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in this extract'$7.31
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A grade 9 AQA GCSE exemplar essay on the title 'Explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in this extract'
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
This grade 9 essay can be used to revise the supernatural in Macbeth for AGA GCSE English Literature.
Starting with this moment in the play, explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of
Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in this extract.
In Shakespeare’s eponymous tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, the themes of witchcraft and the
supernatural are of critical importance. Cleverly, Shakespeare employs the character of
Macbeth and his literary foil, Banquo, to show contrasting reactions to interactions with
supernatural beings in the exposition of the play and foreshadow Macbeth’s gruesome
defeat. Their contrasting reactions serve to present the audience with a noble and loyal
response to the supernatural through the character of Banquo and the ruthless, disloyal
reaction from Macbeth. As the action unfolds, Macbeth’s attitude has a devastating impact:
he faces the unravelling of his mind as consequence for placing trust in the supernatural.
Shakespeare uses the witches to explore how man must resist sin and influence from the
supernatural – Macbeth’s painful descent beyond redemption serves as a stark warning for
the audience against meddling with evil beings.
Both Macbeth and Banquo are both portrayed as deep thinking, reflective and ambitious
characters in the play. After having received the prophecies, they are both affected by the
supernatural, however, Macbeth is tempted by the truth of the prophecies and acts upon the
information whereas Banquo is more concerned about the implications of colluding with
advocates of the devil. Banquo demonstrated his awareness of the implications of the witches
tempting Macbeth with one truth when he tells him “the instruments of darkness tell us
truths”, in regard to matters of “deepest consequence”. This metaphor conveys that the
Witches are tools who carry out foul deeds on behalf of evil. Here, Banquo could be warning
Macbeth not to be lulled by their tempting tune. Banquo sees clearly that the supernatural
has its own agenda, and should not be trusted. Moreover, this acts as a similar warning to the
audience to be weary of supernatural beings. With the superlative, “deepest”, Shakespeare
presents Banquo as having a cynical attitude towards the supernatural. The superlative
conveys the severity of the impact that the witches influence will have. In conjunction with
possible implication that Macbeth will become an “instrument of darkness”, the abstract
noun “consequence” foreshadows the punishment that Macbeth will face for acting on the
prophecy.
From the outset, it is apparent that Macbeth is both entranced and concerned by the witches’
prophecies, which he refers to as a “supernatural soliciting”. Linguistically, the sibilance of
“supernatural soliciting” is used deliberately by Shakespeare to communicate that evil can be
smooth and seductive. Macbeths own use of the noun “supernatural” demonstrates
Macbeth’s awareness that he is aware of how unnatural his thoughts and potential plans are.
Furthermore, Macbeth’s conflicting feelings regarding the prophecies in this thought that the
“soliciting… cannot be good; Cannot be ill”. Macbeth’s meeting with the witches and
consequent association with evil would instil great fear in a Jacobean audience who - being
of Christian faith - would be afraid of sin and punishment. Macbeth is quite clearly undecided
on whether to trust the witches entirely, which is the beginning of his downfall as if he were
a faithful Christian, he would never have considered consorting with witches and instead
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