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Role Of The Supernatural In Macbeth

"Look like the innocent flower,

But be the serpent under it."

-William Shakespeare

The Tragedie of Macbeth by the English playwright, William Shakespeare is a renowned

tragedy of the 17th century focusing on political ambition and its physical and psychological

aftermaths. The play has association with the then reigning monarch, James I. Europe has a long

history when it comes to witchcraft and superstitions. King James, who ruled England during

that period, has researched and written about witchcraft in his book Daemonologie. To a certain

extent, we can say that the production of Macbeth was strongly influenced by both the book and

the king. King James was concerned that a group of witches were plotting for his destruction and

actively participated in the North Berwick witch trials, which involved dozens of victims accused

of witchcraft and resulted in several executions. Shakespeare used “witchcraft” in his plays to

communicate to his audience that Scotland was in a weak and unsteady condition. Witches were

dangerous because of their unbridled ambition and readiness to sell their souls for power (in their

case, supernatural rather than political). Similarly, Macbeth succumbs to the same inclinations.

The stage time given to the witches in the play may seem very insignificant. However,

they are one the most important characters in the story. They play an inevitable role in the

progression of the plot. We first witness the supernatural when the three witches foresee
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Macbeth's fate, telling he shall be the King thereafter. This adds to the anticipation by giving the

spectator a glimpse into Macbeth's destiny. Thunder would have been created in the original play

to give the impression that the witches were extremely strong, capable of influencing the weather

and possibly the natural order of the earth. The scheme to steal the throne is proposed after the

witches's prophecies disclose Macbeth's doom. Either Macbeth has to work his way to the throne

or kill King Duncan in order to acquire power.

The witches appear to live somewhere between this realm and another, less physical

plane, a mixture of being and non-being symbolised by the knife Macbeth has in his hand. The

dagger is not an actual presence, as Macbeth's statement makes clear, yet the sight of it is real

enough to Macbeth that it is in doubt. We cannot conclude that the witches are not a figment of

Macbeth’s imagination driven by ambition, as Banquo also witnessed the same. However, we

may argue that the sighting of paranormal occurrences may have something to do with the strong

desire towards power that fumes inside Macbeth. Because of the witches' predictions, Act 1

Scene 3 is most certainly the play's most supernatural incident.

The three prophecies provided by the witches for Macbeth alter the course of the play and

serve as the foundation for Macbeth's storyline. These prophecies motivate Macbeth to murder

Duncan and Banquo, finally driving him to insanity. They expect Macbeth to rise from the

position of Thane of Glamis, which he then occupied. Their next prediction, though, is a bit more

ambitious. They foretell that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, even though the Thane of

Cawdor is still alive, according to Macbeth's knowledge. Macbeth was spurred by the third

prediction, that he would become King of Scotland. Even though Macbeth is enthused by the

prophecy, he remains in a state of confusion. But if it wasn't for the fulfilment of the first

prophecy he may not have gone with the rest nor showed any interest in them. Lady Macbeth’s
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persuasion triggers Macbeth further towards taking the profane deed. Altogether Macbeth began

to encourage his ambition and to go forward with the foretold prophecy which resulted in murder

of the king of Scotland. As he ascends the throne, he is then consumed by guilt and compunction.

However, his fear towards the third prophecy consequently fuels his insecurities and makes him

ruthless. He murders his possible opponents in hopes of prolonging his reign. It is his

determination to escape his fate that eventually leads to his downfall.

Much like Oedipus, we question the notion of free will in Macbeth as well. Macbeth was

predestined to be doomed, as per the prophecies. The fear and faith owing to the prophecies are

the main reason for Macbeth’s aggression. Supernatural images in Macbeth, such as Banquo's

ghost and the visions shown to Macbeth by the Weyard sisters, could be interpreted as powerful

symbols of fear. In Macbeth, the word "fear" appears frequently. Both Macbeth and his wife are

terrified of Duncan's murder, he in contemplation and she in the execution. The king's sons,

Malcolm and Donalbain, leave in terror after their father is killed. So does Fleance, granted that

Banquo instructs him to run. We witness Macbeth react wildly when the spirit of Banquo appears

to him, insisting that the ghost not blame him. The premonitions, the first two of whom look to

be quite frightening, present an intriguing dichotomy by exposing what Macbeth should be afraid

of while also deferring his anxieties. Despite the fact that Macbeth appears to accept the

interpretation that he would remain undefeated, he retires to Dunsinane and strengthens its

fortifications as a precaution. In retrospect, it appears that Dunsinane was the one area he should

have avoided in order to prevent the visions' predictions from becoming reality.

Perhaps the most damaging examples of equivocation are the witches' misleading

predictions. They assure Macbeth that no one "of woman born" may harm him, but they fail to

mention that Macduff was surgically removed from his mother's womb and hence does not fall
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into that category. Similarly, they inform Macbeth that he can't be conquered until Birnam Wood

arrives in Dunsinane, but they don't warn him that the opposing force may march on his castle

under the protection of Birnam tree branches. However, these deceptions play an inevitable role

in the climax of the story and therefore, can't be discarded as mere loopholes. As the prophecies

can be interpreted differently according to other’s perspectives, we can almost agree upon the

fact that these were deliberately told in an ambiguous manner hoping for misconception among

characters. Just as Macduff is about to murder Macbeth, he declares that he would never again

believe those "juggling fiends'' who manipulate words and talk "in a twofold sense". It's possible,

however, that the three Weird Sisters aren't "fiends" or demons at all, but rather agents of

morality who use Macbeth's own techniques to bring him to justice.

The story may have taken a completely different turn had there not been any influence by

the supernatural. Rather than compulsion, the witches make use of deception for hastening

Macbeth’s fate. At its core, Macbeth finds inspiration from the prophecies, believing it to be true.

Consequently, this is what prompts him to become cruel and what contaminates his mind with

guilt and remorse. Lady Macbeth commits suicide when she is unable to bear the weight of her

conscience. Macbeth, without a doubt, is a tragedy that concludes with the death of the

protagonist in the end. On a suggestive note, I feel that Macbeth’s life could've ended on a

positive note even if the prophecies prevailed as his positive ambition could have helped him

achieve the throne. His destiny could’ve been fulfilled without the bloody plans and insecurities.

Had there not been any prophecy, maybe Macbeth wouldn't have resorted to cruelty or madness

and would have stayed loyal to King Duncan. Excluding the supernatural elements, Macbeth is a

play that took inspiration from the then King James and his life. Furthermore, that was one of the

reasons why Macbeth gained popularity despite the superstitions that revolved around it.
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Readings

● Deva Jesheway, How Now, Hecate? The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Tragedies,2009,

VOL. 1 NO. 12

● Jeremy S Page, “Inventing Their Own Plots” The Agency and Ambition of Cromwell and

Macbeth, 2010 VOL. 2 NO. 2

● Michael Neill, “English Revenge Tragedy” in A Companion to Tragedy, ed. Rebecca

Bushnell, ( U.K: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. , 2005), p.328.

● Michelle A. Labbe, Corruption and Theories of Kingship in Macbeth, 2010 VOL. 2

NO. 2

● William Shakespeare, Macbeth. (Penguin Classics. 2015)