Introduction:
Macbeth is a Shakespearean tragedy that shows how the title character becomes King of Scotland. The witches are Supernatural characters in the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Three Witches, Banquo’s ghost, and Hecate are the representation of supernatural forces in the play.
More Notes: Macbeth
The supernatural elements in Macbeth:
Supernatural is something that is above and beyond what is natural. It implies the events which cannot be directly explained by known laws and observation. There are a number of supernatural elements in Macbeth. They are;
- The Witches,
- the ghost of Banquo
- the unnatural portents, and
- the divine powers of the English kings.
The play opens with a meeting of the Witches who make to Macbeth and Banquo certain prophecies that provide the necessary inspiration for the action of the play. Witches are mischievous by nature. They deceive people in the guise of friends. In Macbeth’s Tragedy, the witches bring about the tragic end of Macbeth’s life through their prophecies. Then Banquo’s ghost is another sign of supernatural elements. Nobody can see the ghost of Banquo but Macbeth at the royal banquet. The ghost is to be regarded as a personification of Macbeth’s sense of guilt in having murdered an innocent man. The ghost helps remind Macbeth’ about his crime. Then the shaking of the earth, the killing of a falcon by a mouse, and Duncan’s horses eating each other, these supernatural incidents inspired Macbeth for murdering Duncan. Besides the English king, Edward the Confessor’s power to cure an incurable disease, and his gift of prophecy are examples of the supernatural. The purpose of mentioning these supernatural powers is to establish a contrast between the wickedness of Macbeth and the king. Thus the supernatural elements give the play a rich ground that raises the tragedy to a cosmic degree.
Conclusion:
Three Witches, Banquo’s ghost, and Hecate are the representation of supernatural forces in the play. This technique helps to develop the play.
