The Motifs Of The Supernatural In Shakespeare's Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the motif of the supernatural to control the characters and add a new element to the play. In his era, there was an outburst of belief in witchcraft and superstition which led the people of that time to have a strong hatred for witches who held various tests and trials to determine fate. Throughout the play, we see Macbeth go through a transformation after he is told he will become Thane of Cawdor and then king by three witches. This prophecy from the witches causes Macbeth to lose his mind and to do things he would not have done if he was sane. Shakespeare uses the three witches, the dagger, and the ghosts as supernatural elements in Macbeth to show how they influence the character’s minds,

In act one, Banquo and Macbeth are walking from the battlefield when the three witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and King of Scotland. Banquo is told by the witches that his sons will become kings but he will not be one. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (Shakespeare 19). Macbeth expresses his fear that the prophecies of the witches will come true. He believes that the only way he will become king is if Banquo is dead and makes it clear that he must eliminate Banquo and his sons to rise to power. “To make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings. Rather than so, come fate into the list, and champion me to th’ utterance” (Shakespeare 85). The three witches cause Macbeth to fall deeper into insanity because of the prophecies they have given, causing him to order the murders of Macduff, Banquo, and King

During the banquet, the ghost of Banquo appears to only Macbeth. He becomes frightened and almost loses his sanity; this becomes a turning point in the play. “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee. Thy bones are marrowless; thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes which thou dost glare with” (Shakespeare 105). The appearance of Banquo’s ghost gives the audience an understanding of Macbeth’s character and the deterioration of his state of mind. The ghost is a supernatural symbol of all the crimes Macbeth has committed, also showing that there could have been a better path to