Macbeth: The Supernatural

Macbeth: The Supernatural

1. The Witches

   • "Fair is foul and foul is fair"
     • Alliteration sounds like the witches are casting a spell/curse on the entire play
       • They have power over everything that goes on in the plays which scares the audience
     • Paradoxical language
       • Confuses the audience
       • Shows the witches are content in chaos because they are in control
   • They speak in trochaic tetrameter
     • Opposite to what Shakespeare normally uses so goes against all our expectations
   • Omnipotent beings
     • Have power over the protagonist, Macbeth
       • One of the first things Macbeth says is "so fair and foul a day I have not seen"
         • He's talking about the battle he recently fought
         • Echoing the witches earlier speech
         • Shows the witches already have control over Macbeth
       • "Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more"
         • Macbeth is intrigued by the supernatural from the beginning
         • The witches have control over Macbeth straight away
         • "Imperfect" suggests that he knows the witches are evil
     • "When the battle's lost, and won"
       • It doesn't matter to the witches who wins and loses
       • Shows that they are greater than humans and wars don't effect them as they will survive no matter what
         • Other worldly
   • Largely believed in by the Jacobean audience so is really playing on their fears
     • Witch hunts were a massive thing which had gone on for 150 years.
   • We first hear Macbeth's name because the witches are talking about him
     • "There to meet with Macbeth"
     • Immediately links him to the devil

2. Macbeth

   • He is intrigued from the supernatural from the beginning
     • "Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more"
       • Look at the witches for more detail
     • "Come what may"
       • Macbeth says to let whatever happens happen
       • Suggests he doesn't feel like he needs to act upon the witches prophecies
         • He trusts that whatever the witches say will come true by itself
         • Makes it seem like he doesn't really care about what the witches are telling him
       • He only says it to Banquo so we don't know if he really means it or is saying it to comfort Banquo
   • He doesn't realise that the witches are toying with him until the end
     • "Juggling fiends"
       • Macbeth knew all along that the witches were linked with the devil
       • The witches have been playing with Macbeth on purpose and with skill to play on his character flaws
     • "That falter with us in double sense,"
       • The witches have told many half truths
         • "For none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth"
           • "Beware Macduff"
             • The witches do warn Macbeth against Macduff
           • This leads Macbeth to believe that no one can harm him as he believes everyone is born of woman
           • Tricks him into a false sense of security
         • "Macbeth shall never vanquish be until/Great Birnam Wood to high/Dunsinane Hill/Shall come against him"
           • MAcbeth knows that woods cannot move so isn't worried about this point
       • He now knows that he was only seeing what the witches wanted him to see
   • The dagger
     • Symbolises the supernatural because we never know if it is real or part of Macbeth's imagination
   • Banquo's ghost
     • This is important because it symbolises Macbeth's guilt at killin his bestfriend

3. Lady Macbeth

4. Key Scenes

   • Act 1, Scene 1
     • The witches open the play
   • Act 5, Scene 7
     • After Macbeth finds out that Macduff wasn't born by woman, he no longer trusts the witches