Supernatural beings are used to create dramatic emphasis in all forms of literature. Shakespeare uses witches, ghosts, and apparitions in his play, Macbeth, to generate this effect. Supernatural beings are effective in provoking a reaction in audiences today, so it is easy to imagine how these specters would have alarmed the people of the Elizabethan era. The population of the Elizabethan era had certain ideas about witches, which the three witches in Macbeth were based upon. The witches added an element of the supernatural to Macbeth, as did the appearance of Banquo’s ghost and the apparitions that emerged at Macbeth’s final rendezvous with the three witches. All of these occurrences created a more dramatic atmosphere of suspense.
The theatrical production, Macbeth, is filled with references to the supernatural, as well as the actual appearance of them. The witches in the story are like prophets, foretelling Macbeth’s future, or perhaps they can be considered harbingers of doom. They seem to enjoy playing with Macbeth’s mind. The witches chant together in an alarming fashion: “The weïrd sisters, hand in hand,/ Posers of the sea and land,/ Thus do go about ,about:/ Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,/ and thrice again, to make up nine./ Peace! The charm’s wound up.” (I, iii, 83-87) They seem to belong to a genre of an evil cult, and cults are not well known for producing positive actions and reactions in society.
Banquo’s ghost appeared at Macbeth’s banquet, but Macbeth was the only one who was able to see him. This disturbed the guests who thought he was having guilt-induced hallucinations after murdering his best friend. Macbeth was quite unnerved by this experience, and when the ghost was present, he seemed to completely lose touch with reality. When his wife tried to calm him down, he did not even acknowledge her presence.
The images that appeared to Macbeth when he returned to the witches for reassurance before the battle against Malcolm and the English forces, were conjured by the witches.
Free Macbeth Essay: Macduff as Hero
Macduff – The Hero in Macbeth
Some people are just meant to be heroes. In this wonderful play by Shakespeare Macduff is a good choice and born to be a hero. Throughout Macbeth there are several examples of Macduffs heroism and bravery. Macduff is a loving, caring man of action, Thane of Fife and a Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship. When he leaves his loving family to flee to England to join Malcolm, Macbeth has Macduff’s wife and children murdered. At the end of the play, Macduff (who was born through a caesarian section) kills Macbeth bringing prosperity back to Scotland, and proving the truth in the witches prophecy that “no man of woman born” can harm Macbeth and his true heroism.
Macduff ends up putting his country ahead of his family, whom he loves dearly when he quickly decides to flee to England. Macduff made the hardest decision of his life and a decision he had to make to bring prosperity back to Scotland. Lady Macduff questions her husband’s wisdom as she sees no reason for him to leave his family and home behind. “Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles in a place from where himself does fly?” Lady Macduff yells in question. Although fleeing to England to Malcom’s side was a very questionable decision, there was no doubt in Macduff’s mind of what had to be done.
Madduff is a man of action rather than a man of words. There are several occasions where Macduff acts on his thoughts rather than sitting down and talking about it showing his courage, passion and bravery. Macduff left his family whom he loves dearly, and fled without words to England. “My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out!,” Macduff yells his savage rage, and beheads Macbeth in the final wager of battle. Macduff is truly the hero in this magnificent piece by Shakespeare as he takes the head of Macbeth for Scotland.