The Supernatural in Macbeth Essays -- Macbeth essays

The Supernatural in Macbeth More than a few elements of the supernatural can be observe within the action and dialogue of Shakespeares plays. However, the extent and nature of those elements differs to a tumescent degree. There are traces of it to be found in Henry V, Pardon, gentles all,/The categorical unraised record that hath dard...to bring forth/So great and object (Lucy 1). There are also elements of it apparent in Winters Tale, What I did not well I meant well (Lucy 1). The supernatural is used most fearsomely in Hamlet, with the ghost of Hamlets father representing the most frightening apparition in all of the Bards plays. However, the supernatural is used to an almost whimsical degree in A Midsummers 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 materialize than one that is sharp evil as in Macbeth or pure foul and most unnatural as it is in Hamlet (Shakespeare 1078). In A Midsummers Night Dream there is a great share of mirth and whimsy and the supernatural elements are more of a pestiferous variety than any kind of sinister entities. For example, in keeping with the zany order of the day within the play, Shakespeare gives us elements of the supernatural that add to the surliness and theme of the piece. For instance, we see supernatural forces in characters like Oberon, a spirit of another sort, lord of the Realm of Dreams who represents the white light of break of day (Lucy 8). Queen Mab and a host of faeries also inhabit this realm of mortals who would be fools. The overall effect o... ...nopsis.htm Dec. 20, 1998 1. To Strut And Fret Upon The Stage. http//www.io.com/jlockett/Grist/English/macbethsources.html Dec. 20, 1998 1-4. William Shakespeares Macbeth. http//www.angelfire.com/biz2/NOTES/macbeth.html Dec. 20, 1998 1-8. Bloom, H. Shakespeare The Invention Of The Human. Riverhead Books, NY 1998. Hodara, S. A Midsummer Nights Dream. http//web.syr.edu/shodara/midsummer.html Dec. 20, 1998 1-6. Lucy, M. Shakespeare And The Supernatural. http//www.mwsc.edu/eng368/summer97/public/7.24.97-10.55.59.html Dec. 20, 1998 1-13. Noda, M. Weird Creatures And Weird Imagination. http//www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6630/macbeth.htm Dec. 20, 1998 1-3. Shakespeare, W. The Complete plant life Of Shakespeare. Gramercy Book, NY 1975.