Macbeth Drama Essay, Research Paper

In the play "Macbeth," there were many interesting sections which

could be concentrated on due to the suspense and the involvement of the

supernatural. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the

ghost, and the apparitions is a key element in making the concept of the play

work and in making the play interesting. Looking through each Act and Scene of

the play, it is noticed that the supernatural is definitely a major factor on

the play’s style. The use of the supernatural occurs at the beginning of the

play, with three witches predicting the fate of Macbeth. This gives the audience

a clue to what the future holds for Macbeth. "When the battles lost and

won" (Act I, Scene I, l.4) was said by the second witch. It says that every

battle is lost by one side and won by another. Macbeth’s fate is that he will

win the battle, but will lose his time of victory for the battle of his soul.

After the prophecies of the witches’ revealed the fate of Macbeth, the plan in

which to gain power of the throne is brought up. The only way to gain power of

the throne was for Macbeth to work his way to the throne, or to murder King

Duncan. Murdering the king was an easier plan since the motivation in his dreams

urged him on. Lady Macbeth also relied on the supernatural by her soliloquy of

calling upon the evil spirits to give her the power to plot the murder of Duncan

without any remorse or conscience (Act I, Scene V, ll.42-57). The three sisters

are capable of leading people into danger resulting in death, such as the sailor

who never slept (Act I, Scene III, ll.1-37). Lady Macbeth has convinced her

husband Macbeth to murder King Duncan. On the night they planned to kill Duncan,

Macbeth is waiting for Lady Macbeth to ring the signal bell to go up the stairs

to Duncan’s chamber. He sees the vision of the floating dagger. The interest of

the dagger is that it leads Macbeth towards the chamber by the presence of evil

of the dagger being covered with blood. Then the bell rings and Macbeth

stealthily proceeds up the staircase to Duncan’s chamber. Once the murder has

been committed, eventually Banquo has his suspicions about Macbeth killing

Duncan to have power of the throne. There is constantly more guilt and fear

inside Macbeth and his wife that they decide to have Banquo killed. Macbeth and

his wife attend a banquet in which a ghost appears. Once the murderer notified

Macbeth that the deed was done, he observed the ghost of Banquo sitting in his

regular seat. This caused Macbeth to act in a wild manner, making people

suspicious of his actions. (Act III, Scene VI, ll.31-120). The use of the

supernatural has increased the suspense now that Macbeth is constantly relying

on the prophecies of the three witches. Hecate, the Queen of witches is angry

with the three sisters for not involving her in their encounters with Macbeth.

The witches plan to lead Macbeth to his downfall by making him feel

over-confident. (Act III, Scene V, ll.1-35). Further on in the play, Macbeth

finds his way to the witches’ cave and demands to know what lies ahead for him.

The three witches predict what he is going to ask and produce the first

apparition which is an armed head. "Macbeth!, Macbeth!, Macbeth!, beware of

Macduff; beware thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough." (Act VI, Scene I,

ll.77-78). The first apparition tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Then the

second apparition appears (a bloody child), and says: "Be bloody, bold, and

resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm

Macbeth." (Act IV, Scene I, ll.85-87). This apparition informs Macbeth that

no man born from a woman can harm him. finally, the last apparition appears and

is a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. The apparition is saying that he

will never be defeated until Great Birnam wood shall come against him to High

Dunsinane Hill. "Be lion melted, proud, and take no care who chafes, who

frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great

Birnam wood to High Dunsinane Hill shall come against him." (Act VI, Scene

I, ll.98-102). These apparitions convinced Macbeth that this was his fate and

became over confident, and lead him to his death. The use of the supernatural in

Macbeth results quite well with the respect of the unknown. Without the witches,

the ghost, the visions, and the apparitions, "Macbeth" would have been

a dull and tiresome play. Even today’s readers need motivation to read, and this

ancient superstition of spirits enhanced the play dramatically.