Timed essay

Explore the dramatic use Shakespeare makes of occult and supernatural elements in 'Macbeth'. (1 hour)

Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare extensively refers to the occult and supernatural. An example of the occult elements is the Three Witches or Weird Sisters. Every time these characters are mentioned, the Shakespeare uses the stage direction of “Thunder,” this has many connotations. Firstly, the line could highlight the amount of power the Witches have over both the weather and other characters. This could also relate to the change in weather mentioned in Act 2 scene 4 by Ross. The inclusion of thunder also relates to the Gothic theme of weather. An alternative interpretation of the line is that, it highlights the unnatural elements of the Witches to the audience. In production, this would be an automatic trigger for the audience, when the thunder is heard, for them to recognise the presence of the Witches. It can be inferred that, without the witches there would be not as greater plot. This is because these characters first prophesise Macbeth’s rise in kinghood and hence is eventual fall.

In terms of speech, the witches constantly speak in verse, with rhyming couplets, and this differs greatly from that of the other characters. This could be seen to emulate the idea of incantations and hence focus on Act 4 scene 1 where they appear to cast a spell on Macbeth. However, at certain moments throughout the play, the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth sometime speak in the same form of verse with the rhyming couplets. This could show how greatly the witches have affected both characters. In addition, this could show that the Macbeths have given the witches such a high status that they are trying to emulate them, to achieve the same power and status. The witches are also described as having “beards” this could highlight as outcasts of society rather than powerful supernatural. Because of this, it can be inferred that the characters are attempting to seek revenge upon the upper classes by playing on the superstitious minds. To a modern reader, the witches could be seen as hallucinations caused by the horrors of war. This can be taken to be true as the only characters to see the witches are Macbeth and Banquo who had just returned from fighting Norwegian invaders.

                                           

An element of the supernatural that is included by Shakespeare is the involvement of apparitions and visions. Examples of these are Macbeth seeing the dagger just before killing Duncan and the apparitions conjured by the witches in Act 4 scenes 1. In the dagger speech of Act 2 scene 1, Shakespeare uses the line “A dagger of the mind, a false creation, of a heat oppressed brain.” The use of the phrase “false creation” could be seen to imply that the dagger that he sees is not real and is therefore only in his head. From this interpretation, it can be taken that, Macbeth is not mentally stable; this could be a result of increased and crazed ambition. The use of the word “heat” could refer to the forging of a dagger and this therefore could imply that the image is not real. An alternative interpretation of the words “creation” and “heat oppressed” is that it reveals the state Macbeth is in has been manufactured and created. The creators could be seen to be the witches as they initiate his intense, crazed ambition for Kinghood. In addition, the warlike connotations of the dagger could also foreshadow the murders that take place later in the play. Furthermore, by including such visions, Shakespeare may be playing on the superstitious perceptions of a 17^th century audience.

Overall, the inclusion of the supernatural and occult elements forces the plot of the play to move at a quickened pace.  A further vision that Shakespeare includes is that of Banquo’s ghost. The involvement of ghosts can be seen in other Shakespearean works, with ghosts appearing in Hamlet, Richard 3^rd and King Lear. These elements could have been included