Occult and Supernatural Elements in Macbeth - 1402 Words

Although Macbeth is not classed as being a supernatural play or a play of the occult, there are some elements in the play that Shakespeare uses to effect. It is necessary however, to define what is meant by the terms ‘occult’ and ‘supernatural’: the term ‘occult’ is defined as being ‘supernatural beliefs, practises or phenomenon’ and the term ‘supernatural’ is defined as being ‘attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature’; both these terms can be associated with gothic writing. Gothic writing usually involves elements that invoke a feeling of fear, repulsion and abhorrence from its readers or audience. Writers use imagery of the supernatural to achieve this effect, for example in Shelley’s Frankenstein†¦show more content†¦This dagger represents the point of no return for Macbeth: he can continue to follow the path and kill the King or he can turn away fro m it all. When the play is being performed, stagecraft plays an important role in making the appearance of the dagger as dramatic as possible for the audience. In Roman Polanski’s 1971 film of Macbeth the camera shows Macbeth’s point of view with a glowing dagger in front of him, then cuts to a side view showing Macbeth facing empty space. Shakespeare intended for the appearance of the dagger to be visually dramatic and so stagecraft is important when invoking emotions from the audience associated with this supernatural image. Similarly to the dagger, Macbeth imagines the ghost of Banquo appearing at a banquet in Act III Scene 4. At first Macbeth believes that the ghost is real and that others are able to see it, as Shakespeare writes: â€Å"Which of you have done this?† ... ... â€Å"Thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me.† Macbeth suspects that someone has staged the appearance of the ghost of Banquo but then he addresses the ghost himself by denying his guilt – â€Å"Thou canst not say I did it†. The ghost of Banquo is seen as a symbol of Macbeth’s guilt: he feels guilty that he had his companion killed, albeit not done by his own hand, and so he imagines the ghost of Banquo as his conscience isShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Mood in Macbeth1161 Words   |  5 PagesThe Use of Mood in Macbeth Noah Webster, author of Websters Dictionary, defines mood as the temporary state of the mind in regard to passion or feeling and a morbid or fantastic state of mind. E. L. Thorndike and Clarence L. Barnhart, authors of Scott, Foresman Advanced Dictionary, define mood as the overall atmosphere or prevailing emotional aura of a work. Shakespeares Macbeth, especially the pivotal and ominous second act, exemplifies both denotations of mood. The act has an overallRead MoreSupernatural Soliciting Within Shakespeare s Macbeth1728 Words   |  7 PagesJulia Sawicka Ms. Paolone ENG3U1d Monday, November 6th, 2017 Supernatural Soliciting within Shakespeare s Macbeth Shakespeare’s Macbeth is broadly known as a cursed play by a myriad of individuals globally. Given its appalling history of death and disorder, as well as the supernatural elements present within the play, many have come to the latter conclusion. To add, Macbeth is also a tragedy, adding more malediction to the already allegedly accursed play. To create such a tragic, ill-fatedRead MoreSupernatural Influence Of The Witches1756 Words   |  8 PagesSupernatural Influence of the Witches in Macbeth To the modern reader, it may seem laughable to think that the witches in Macbeth are truly supernatural. In this era of skepticism and scientific thinking, superstition is typically relegated to children’s stories and fantasy novels. Today’s just-the-facts mentality makes it difficult for audiences to suspend disbelief as to the nature of the witches. However, it is vital to consider the time period in which the text was written as the prevailingRead MoreHow Does Shakespeare Create an Atmosphere of Evil in Act 4, Sc. 1?1058 Words   |  5 Pagescauldron. ThunderÂ…. The site is instantaneously evident to the audience as the curtains are opened, so even before any action takes place the public can sense the mood the scene is to portray. As the witches brew their charm to bring disgrace to Macbeth we come across numerous suggestions of evil and mystery. br brTheir chanting, Double, double, toil and trouble: Fire burn and cauldron bubble is rhythmic and has an almost a n hypnotic quality to it, even so that it is still one of the most famousRead More The Influences of C.G. Jung Essay2026 Words   |  9 PagesThe Influences of C.G. Jung      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Carl Gustav Jung was influenced by literature, symbolism, religion, and the occult From a very young age. Jungs influencs remained with him as he became a doctor of medicine and a psychological theorist. The philosophical, the supernatural, the symbolic, the religious, and the occult all influenced Jungs area of psychological expertise, making Jungs psychology not only unique to Jung, but also pioneering in the field of general psychoanalysis.    Read MoreEssay on Motivations for Faustuss Rebellion1485 Words   |  6 Pageswho sold his soul to the Devil, and who became identified with a necromancer of the sixteenth century. Written in a time of religious uncertainty and social upheaval, the tale of Doctor Faustus explores the elements involved when a rebellion is made on an individual basis, but with supernatural means and disastrous consequences. The Medieval times were over and the Renaissance was emerging. However, influences of both can be found in the play and are reflected in Faustuss circumstances as a man