Super natural in
Shakespeare’s playsIn the time of
William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the
supernatural. Thus, the supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of Mr.
Shakespeare¹s plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is
an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for
action, an insight into character, and augments the impact of many key scenes.
The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied forms. In Hamlet there
appears perhaps the most notable of the supernatural forms, the ghost. However,
in Macbeth, not only does a ghost appear but a floating dagger, witches, and
prophetic apparitions make appearances. The role of the supernatural is very
important in Hamlet and Macbeth. A ghost,
appearing in the form of Hamlet¹s father, makes several appearances in the
play. It first appears to the watchmen, Marcellus and Bernardo, along with
Horatio near the guardsmens’ post. The ghost says nothing to them and is
perceived with fear and apprehension, ³It harrows me with fear and wonder². It
is not until the appearance of Hamlet that the ghost speaks, and only then
after Horatio has expressed his fears about Hamlet following it, ³What if it
tempt you toward the flood, my lord, or to the dreadful summit of the cliff². The
conversation between the ghost and Hamlet serves as a catalyst for Hamlet¹s
later actions and provides insight into Hamlet¹s character. The information the
ghost reveals incites Hamlet into action against a situation he was already
uncomfortable with, and now even more so. Hamlet is not quick to believe the
ghost, ³The spirit that I have seen may be a devil… and perhaps out of my
weakness and my melancholy..abuses me to damn me², and thus an aspect of
Hamlet¹s character is revealed. Hamlet, having no suspicion of the ghost after
the production by the players, encounters the ghost next in his mother¹s room.
In this scene the ghost makes an appearance to ³whet² Hamlet¹s ³almost blunted
purpose². Hamlet is now convinced of the ghost and he no longer harbors any
suspicion. He now listens to it, ³Speak to her, Hamlet². In Hamlet, the
supernatural is the guiding force behind Hamlet. The ghost ask Hamlet to seek
revenge for the King¹s death and Hamlet is thus propelled to set into action a
series of events that ends in Hamlet¹s death. The
supernatural occurs four times during the course of Macbeth. It occurs in all
the appearances of the witches, in the appearance of Banquo¹s ghost, in the
apparitions with their prophesies, and in the ³air-drawn² dagger that guides
Macbeth towards his victim. Of the
supernatural phenomenon evident in Macbeth the witches are perhaps the most
important. The witches represent Macbeth¹s evil ambitions. They are the
catalyst which unleash Macbeth¹s evil aspirations. Macbeth believes the witches
and wishes to know more about the future so after the banquet he seeks them out
at their cave. He wants to know the answers to his questions regardless of
whether the consequence be violent and destructive to nature. The witches
promise to answer and at Macbeth¹s choice they add further unnatural
ingredients to the cauldron and call up their masters. This is where the
prophetic apparitions appear. The first apparition is Macbeth¹s own head (later
to be cut off by Macduff) confirming his fears of Macduff. The second
apparition tells Macbeth that he can not be harmed by no one born of woman.
This knowledge gives Macbeth a false sense of security because he believes that
he cannot be harmed, yet Macduff was not of woman born, his mother was dead and
a corpse when Macduff was born. This leads to Macbeth¹s downfall. A child with
a crown on his head, the third apparition, represents Malcolm, Duncan¹s son.
This apparition also gives Macbeth a false sense of security because of the
Birnam Wood prophesy. The appearance
of Banquo¹s ghost provides insight into Macbeth¹s character. It shows the level
that Macbeth¹s mind has recessed to. When he sees the ghost he reacts with
horror and upsets the guests. Macbeth wonders why murder had taken place many
times in the past before it was prevented by law -²statute purged the gentle
weal²- and yet the dead are coming back. The final form
of the supernatural is the ³air-drawn² dagger which leads Macbeth to his
victim. When the dagger appears to him, Macbeth finally becomes victim to the
delusions of his fevered brain. The dagger points to Duncan¹s room and appears
to be covered in blood. The dagger buttresses the impact of this key scene in
which Macbeth slays King Duncan. The
supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of the plays by William Shakespeare.
In Hamlet and Macbeth the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of
the plot. In these plays the supernatural provides a catalyst for action by the
characters. It supplies insight into the major players and it augments the
impact of many key scenes. The supernatural appeals to the audience¹s curiosity
of the mysterious and thus strengthens their interest.
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