Macbeth - Supernatural

Macbeth - Supernatural

1. THE WITCHES

   • The witches are an evil supernatural force
     • their ("strange intelligence") and ability to predict the future gives them power over humans
       • "strange intelligence"
     • they drive the action of the play. macbeth was influenced by the witches
     • they are associated with chaos. they try to impose an unnatural order on whats good and natural.
       • macbeth says they "untie the winds" and make "castles topple"
         • "untie the winds"
         • make "castles topple"
       • the witches are motivated by "destruction" rather than goodness
         • motivated by "destruction"
       • they represent the struggle between natural and unnatural order
   • shakespeare presents them as completely evil
     • they are cruel, inhuman and don't show any remorse - in fact, they celebrate evil

2. VISIONS

   • The visions are ambiguous - they could be real or imaginary
   • The visions fill the characters who see them with fear
     • Macbeth is "blanched with fear" by Banquo's ghost and his language is agitated and nervous
       • "Prithee, see there! Behold, look, lo!"
       • his fear made him lose control of his speech. macbeth calls his own reaction a "strange infirmity" - it links to other signs of madness later in the play
         • "A strange infirmity"
   • Lady Macbeth's language when she sleepwalks is desperate
     • "O, o, o"
       • this shows she's disturbed by the vision of blood on her hands. the doctor says her heart is "sorely charged" - he sees that the vision is the result of her guilty conscience
         • "sorely charged"