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In the play "Macbeth, " there were many interesting parts which could be looked at due to the interest of the supernatural. The use of the supernatural in the visions, the ghost, the apparitions and especially the witches are all elements that influence the theme of the play and make it interesting. Looking through each act and scene of the play, it is noticed that the supernatural is definitely a major part in the play's concept. The first influence of the witches occurs at the beginning of the play, when the three are predicting the fate of Macbeth. This foreshadows what the future holds for Macbeth. Macbeth, that shalt be called King hereafter!
exclaims one witch (I. III. 54 - 55). Macbeth's fate is that he will win the battle to be king, but will lose his soul and mind for the victory of his battle. Macbeth's first impression is not to believe their wild talk, which will change later in the play. After the prophecies of the witches' has revealed the fate of Macbeth, the plan in to gain the power of the throne is brought up. The only way for gaining power of the throne was for Macbeth to murder King Duncan.
When Lady Macbeth hears the news of the witches she relied on the unnatural by calling upon the evil spirits to give her the power to be evil and plot the murder of Duncan without any remorse or conscience (I. V. 42 - 57). Evil Lady Macbeth then convinced her husband 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. This is when he sees the vision of the floating dagger. The importance of the dagger is that it leads Macbeth towards the chamber and shows his first mental instability.
Then the bell rings and Macbeth stealthily proceeds up the staircase to Duncan's chamber and kill him. Once the murder has been committed, Banquo has suspicions about Macbeth killing Duncan to have power of the throne. There is constantly more guilt and fear inside Macbeth and his wife that Macbeth now has Banquo killed, his second murder. Macbeth and his wife attend a banquet in which ghost appears. Once the murderer notified Macbeth that the deed was done, he observed the ghost of Banquo sitting in his regular seat (III. IV. 45 - 46).
This caused Macbeth to act in a wild manner, making people suspicious of his actions. By now the use of the supernatural has increased the suspense since Macbeth is constantly relying on the prophecies of the three witches. Hecate, the Queen of witches is angry with the three sisters for not telling her of their encounters with Macbeth. The witches plan to lead Macbeth to his downfall by making him feel over-confident.
Further on in the play, Macbeth finds his way to the witches' place and demands to know what lies ahead for him. The three witches produce the first of three apparitions, which is an armed head. "Macbeth! , Macbeth! , Macbeth! , beware of Macduff; beware thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough, " (VI. I. 80 - 83). 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, " (IV.
I. 89 - 91). 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. "Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam wood to High Dunsinane Hill shall come against him, " (VI. I. 104 - 106). These apparitions convinced Macbeth that this was his fate and he becomes over confident as a result of the witches.
This will lead him to his death. Without the witches, the ghost, the visions, and the apparitions, "Macbeth" would have been a dull and tiresome play. The witches play an important role in progressing the play. If they were not present the play would have suffered. These things combined with the language of Shakespeare make for an excellently written play.
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Research essay sample on Murder King Duncan Great Birnam Wood
