The Supernatural Element in "Macbeth"
Unlike many of Shakespeare’s other plays, “Macbeth” explores a realm that changes the rules in a man-made world. The witches signify an element that begs the question: who is the dictator of life: man or fate? In “Macbeth”, we meet the witches right before they tell Macbeth of their vision. The vision that sparks an ambition that was not inside of Macbeth before, the vision to become king.
William Hazlitt writes that “Macbeth is about ‘the wildness of the imagination’” (qtd. in Roychoudhury 217). After reading “Macbeth”, readers must ask themselves if the plot would have unfolded the way it did if the witches had not implanted the singular thought of kingship in Macbeth’s mind. At the beginning of the play, readers understand Macbeth to be a good, loyal, soldier to his cousin King Duncan. He and his friend, Banquo, were dutiful to their king. Of course, none of that matters once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth set sights on the throne.
However, their kingship comes with a price: their sanity. Between the phantom knocks and the ghostly apparitions, it’s “paranoia that leads Macbeth to slaughter” (Roychoudhury 219). After murdering King Duncan, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin to see apparitions that lead them to their deaths. Lady Macbeth's guilt drives her to suicide, while Macbeth's arrogance allows Macduff the opportunity to exact his revenge.
William Hazlitt writes that “Macbeth is about ‘the wildness of the imagination’” (qtd. in Roychoudhury 217). After reading “Macbeth”, readers must ask themselves if the plot would have unfolded the way it did if the witches had not implanted the singular thought of kingship in Macbeth’s mind. At the beginning of the play, readers understand Macbeth to be a good, loyal, soldier to his cousin King Duncan. He and his friend, Banquo, were dutiful to their king. Of course, none of that matters once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth set sights on the throne.
However, their kingship comes with a price: their sanity. Between the phantom knocks and the ghostly apparitions, it’s “paranoia that leads Macbeth to slaughter” (Roychoudhury 219). After murdering King Duncan, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin to see apparitions that lead them to their deaths. Lady Macbeth's guilt drives her to suicide, while Macbeth's arrogance allows Macduff the opportunity to exact his revenge.