This essay was written as a closed book in class assessment on the significance of the supernatural in Macbeth, which received a grade 9 (27/30). It was written in the summer of 2022 and has level 6 AO1 and AO2. The given extract is Act 4 scene 1- revelation of apparitions
How does Shakespeare present the
Supernatural in Macbeth?
In the tragic play ‘Macbeth’ a key theme is the supernatural. Furthermore, it would have intrigued
the Jacobean audience as they firmly believed in the supernatural and how it caused disruption to
the hierarchy- The Great Chain of Being which is where God allot spaces for humans and nature. The
significance of the supernatural is that it is a corrupting force for Macbeth which ignites his ambition
and ultimately leads to his tragic downfall as he was too invested in the witches’ prophecies and was
determined to maintain his position as the unrightful king. The supernatural at least to some extent
caused him to commit devious acts which strongly highlights the witches’ influence on him.
In Act 4 Scene 1, Macbeth returns to the witches, eager to find out if he has any threats to his
unrightful reign and is introduced to four apparitions. Shakespeare characterises Macbeth as curious
yet selfish who is fearless of the supernatural and goes to discover things that will benefit him. This is
evident in ‘Thunder third apparition: a child crowned, with a tree in his hand’. This is extremely
important as it foreshadows danger creeping its way to Macbeth through thunder. Generally, harsh
weather conditions are an implication that the witches are causing disorder and the Jacobeans
believed this was due to the disruption of The Great Chain of Being (GCoB). This theory is reflected in
the text, as Macbeth disturbed the GCoB when he committed sacrilegious regicide to be the
unrightful king. Moreover, perhaps the child is meant to represent Fleance as in the prophecies, it
stated that Banquo’s descent will rule. As Macbeth truly believed in the prophecies, he will believe
this as well and is unaware of his threats which indicates the troubles of believing the witches and
how his reign is not going to be easy. The ‘child’ symbolizes youth and hope which is vital as the
country under Macbeth’s rule is creating a sense of disorder that no one in Scotland is getting sleep
and that ‘[their] country is suffering’ said by Lennox to the lord. This direct criticism accentuates
Macbeth's reign as wrongful as the Thanes are even complaining. Moreover, perhaps the ‘tree’ is
nature that symbolises peace which they require because, in Act 2 Scene 2, Lennox describes the
weather conditions as horrific which highlights the consequences of trusting the supernatural. In
addition, Macbeth's selfishness as king has put the country in sufferance which are consequences of
evil acts due to putting his trust forward to the witches and prophecies. This apparition is significant
a sit foreshadows that Macbeth’s reign is nearing an end as there are righteous kings like Malcolm
and Banquo’s descendants that can rebuild what Duncan had left. The Jacobean audience may have
felt a sense of relief which is uncommon as the supernatural has connotations of harm. However, it
shows that Scotland has hope and will eventually be a place of order and prosperity.
Shakespeare characterises Macbeth as mentally disturbed in Act 4 Scene 4 where Banquo’s Ghost
‘appears’ in front of him but in reality, Macbeth is hallucinating. This reveals the consequences of
believing the supernatural and how he resorts to murder to secure his position as king as it brings
him contentment. However, it's clear the supernatural has negative effects and is no longer working
in favor of Macbeth. Macbeth describes the ghost as ‘shak[ing] its gory locks at me’. The graphic
imagery crafts Banquo as a terrifying ghost who has bloody matted hair. In front of his guests at the
banquet, Macbeth is shaken by this vision which highlights his mental instability therefore unfit to be
a powerful resilient king. He is no longer ‘Brave Macbeth’ and has failed to promote himself to the
Thanes and Lords of Scotland as banquets typically are a celebrative time for the King to showcase
his hospitality.
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