Macbeth Supernatural

More than a few elements of the supernatural can be discovered within the action and dialogue of Shakespeare's plays. However, the extent and nature of those elements differs to a large degree. There are traces of it to be found in Henry V, "Pardon, gentles all,/The flat unraised spirit that hath dar'd�to bring forth/So great and object" (Lucy 1). There are also elements of it apparent in Winter's Tale, "What I did not well I meant well" (Lucy 1). The supernatural is used most fearsomely in Hamlet, with the ghost of Hamlet's father representing the most frightening apparition in all of the Bard's plays. However, the supernatural is used to an almost whimsical degree in A Midsummer's Night Dream and The Tempest. In both of these plays the supernatural does not assume an evil demeanor, though it does wreak havoc on the lives of those in its midst. Yet, the supernatural is connected more with a generic nature of chance than one that is pure evil as in Macbeth or pure "foul and most unnatural" as it is in Hamlet (Shakespeare 1078).

In A Midsummer's Night Dream there is a great deal of mirth and whimsy and the supernatural elements are more of a mischievous variety than any kind of sinister entities. For example, in keeping with the humorous order of the day within the play, Shakespeare gives us elements of the supernatural that add to the mood and theme of the piece. For instance, we see supernatural forces in characters

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Banquo does not trust the witches because they appear to be not of this realm. Because of their appearance he does not trust them and so if not affected by them. His reaction to their appearance tells us as much. "What are these/so wither'd, and so wild in their attires,/That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,/And yet are on't" (Shakespeare 1046). Later on in the same speech, Banquo says, "you should be women,/And yet your bears forbid me to interpret/That you are so" (Shakespeare 1046). The witches are thus evil, ugly, sexless and their appearance and descriptions add to the evil mood of the play from the beginning and throughout its action. They, like Lady Macbeth, are unsexed by their evil nature. The witches are not completely in control of men; they still have free will. However, we see early on that when they wish to wreak havoc on men's lives, they are capable of doing so. When they appear in Act I, Scene iii, they say they will drain men dry as hay, they sleep will not come day or night, and that they will slowly causes the deterioration of men's souls, "I'll drain him dry as hay:/Sleep shall neither night nor day/Hang upon his penthouse lid./He shall live a man forbid:/Weary se'nights nine times nine/Sh

Category: Literature - M