Explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo to the supernatural.
Quotes:
P1: untouched by supernatural - “valiant cousin” “brave macbeth” “carved out his own passage”
→ collective ambition, servant of courage, saviour of scotland, capable of smth more sinister
P2: extract, susceptible to supernatural influence: “stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more”
“these instruments of darkness tell us truths…betray us” imperative language, foil as banquo,
facade of virtue begins to crack, “imperfect” acknowledges that they shouldn’t be trusted but
stays anyway – “instruments of darkness” aligns them with the devil, banquo is morally sound
and juxtaposes macbeth’s desire
P3: “is this a dagger i see before me?” → supernatural AND/OR psychological manifestation of
madness/corruption, soliloquy → isolation, sword to dagger symbolises the pivotal moment that
macbeth crosses the moral boundary between virtue and sin “i fear thou playst most foully for it”
→ euphemism however challenges the authority of macbeth, even as king, sound moral
compass
P4: “life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts upon the stage … heard of no more”
→ acting metaphor to show how he was nothing but a substitute in his own play, not the rightful
king therefore his efforts were pointless, following the supernatural does nothing but lead to
nihilism → heard of no more - fruitless crown, no legacy / soliloquy, isolation, lady macbeth dead
so insubstantial life
Arguably, Shakespeare presents both Macbeth and Banquo’s attitudes to the supernatural in
diametrically opposing ways. Macbeth is characterised as someone who actively engages with
the witches from the start of the play, despite their alignment with demonic forces, whereas
Banquo acts as his foil and rejects their interference with the Divine Right of Kings due to their
prophecies. Therefore, I will argue that Shakespeare highlights to his Jacobean audience the
consequences of blindly following the corruptive influence of the supernatural and straying away
from piety and virtue.
In Act 1 Scene 2, at the start of the play, Macbeth is introduced as “valiant” and “brave”, who is
“worthy of (his) name”, and described as “carving out his own passage” from the Norwegians.
Macbeth is characterised as a paragon of virtue and utterly loyal to his King and country, with
the imagery of courage conveying how Macbeth, at this point, is seen as the saviour of Scotland
in the face of adversity. His collective ambition to further the growth and prosperity of his country
amplifies his success and standing within society, and he is rewarded greatly as he becomes
“Thane of Cawdor”. The phrase “carving out his own passage” could perhaps symbolise
Macbeth’s innate brutality and violence, insinuating he is capable of deeds far more sinister, that
is easily exploited by the witches. Perhaps it is this dormant ambition for his country that
contributes to his devolution, as this leaves him more susceptible to the witches’ harmful
prophecies – the witches’ don’t create his hamartia, but awaken it. However at this point, he
Quotes:
P1: untouched by supernatural - “valiant cousin” “brave macbeth” “carved out his own passage”
→ collective ambition, servant of courage, saviour of scotland, capable of smth more sinister
P2: extract, susceptible to supernatural influence: “stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more”
“these instruments of darkness tell us truths…betray us” imperative language, foil as banquo,
facade of virtue begins to crack, “imperfect” acknowledges that they shouldn’t be trusted but
stays anyway – “instruments of darkness” aligns them with the devil, banquo is morally sound
and juxtaposes macbeth’s desire
P3: “is this a dagger i see before me?” → supernatural AND/OR psychological manifestation of
madness/corruption, soliloquy → isolation, sword to dagger symbolises the pivotal moment that
macbeth crosses the moral boundary between virtue and sin “i fear thou playst most foully for it”
→ euphemism however challenges the authority of macbeth, even as king, sound moral
compass
P4: “life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts upon the stage … heard of no more”
→ acting metaphor to show how he was nothing but a substitute in his own play, not the rightful
king therefore his efforts were pointless, following the supernatural does nothing but lead to
nihilism → heard of no more - fruitless crown, no legacy / soliloquy, isolation, lady macbeth dead
so insubstantial life
Arguably, Shakespeare presents both Macbeth and Banquo’s attitudes to the supernatural in
diametrically opposing ways. Macbeth is characterised as someone who actively engages with
the witches from the start of the play, despite their alignment with demonic forces, whereas
Banquo acts as his foil and rejects their interference with the Divine Right of Kings due to their
prophecies. Therefore, I will argue that Shakespeare highlights to his Jacobean audience the
consequences of blindly following the corruptive influence of the supernatural and straying away
from piety and virtue.
In Act 1 Scene 2, at the start of the play, Macbeth is introduced as “valiant” and “brave”, who is
“worthy of (his) name”, and described as “carving out his own passage” from the Norwegians.
Macbeth is characterised as a paragon of virtue and utterly loyal to his King and country, with
the imagery of courage conveying how Macbeth, at this point, is seen as the saviour of Scotland
in the face of adversity. His collective ambition to further the growth and prosperity of his country
amplifies his success and standing within society, and he is rewarded greatly as he becomes
“Thane of Cawdor”. The phrase “carving out his own passage” could perhaps symbolise
Macbeth’s innate brutality and violence, insinuating he is capable of deeds far more sinister, that
is easily exploited by the witches. Perhaps it is this dormant ambition for his country that
contributes to his devolution, as this leaves him more susceptible to the witches’ harmful
prophecies – the witches’ don’t create his hamartia, but awaken it. However at this point, he
