How Does Shakespeare Present The Supernatural In Macbeth

The play ‘Macbeth’ was written in 1606 by William Shakespeare. The play was written for King James I in the Jacobean era. The supernatural theme is used in this play as a catalyst for action as well as an insight into the characters. The supernatural was a very real worry in the Jacobean era, and the majority of Shakespeare's contemporaries would have feared it. It was an especial worry for King James I as he was paranoid of supernatural powers trying to drown him at sea, as referenced in the play by a witch saying she would "drain him dry as hay" (referring to a sailor). The supernatural is portrayed throughout ‘Macbeth’ in three main ways, these being: the three Wyrd sisters, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth. Shakespeare presents the three Wyrd

This is symbolic, as it shows Lady Macbeth wants to bring death where she should give life. This is supernatural, as it is disrupting the natural order. This, paired with the quote "Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark," shows how she does not want to be seen, especially by a higher power. This once again shows the supernatural theme, as it implies the sinful nature of what will occur and suggests demonic forces disrupting her future actions. This would be especially prudent for a deeply religious Jacobean audience watching and, hence, would help create tension and unease in the audience as well as engage them in the plot. These quotes are seen in a soliloquy to show the independent moral and mental destruction of Lady Macbeth and describe how she is perhaps overly obsessed with Macbeth becoming king. Lady Macbeth is once again seen as supernatural as she encourages Macbeth to "'look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it." This arguably refers to the book of Genesis to emphasise the duplicity of Lady Macbeth as well as show her as evil. In the Jacobean era, a serpent was seen as an instrument of Satan, further reinforcing her connection to the