How does Shakespeare present ideas about Witchcraft and the Supernatural throughout the play?

Question 1

Act 1 Scene 1 (foul):

Answer 1

“Fair is foul and foul is fair: hover through fog and filthy air”

Question 2

Act 2 scene 1 (Hecate):

Answer 2

“Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse curtain’d sleep ; witchcraft celebrates pale Hecate’s offerings, and wither’d murder”

Question 3

Act

Answer 3

”

Question 4

Act

Answer 4

”

Question 5

The rule of three in supernatural [4]:

Answer 5

• 3 witches
• Macbeth is introduced in act 1 scene 3
• Act 3 is the turning point of the play where natural order has shifted
• The number 3 may be significant in this play as it is odd and therefore demonstrates an imbalance that the supernatural helps to cause

Question 6

The witches [5]:

Answer 6

• Arguably without the witches’ corruption Macbeth may have remained ‘brave Macbeth’
• The witches manipulated Macbeth into a false sense of security as they failed to mention the circumstances of Macduff’s birth
• They speak in rhyme and trochaic tetrameter unlike all the nobles who speak in iambic pentameter
• They also have beards which is not normal for humans
• often they are referred to by dehumanising pronouns

Question 7

Lightning [2]:

Answer 7

• Means the witches’ involvement in an event

- Examples: beginning of the play, Duncan’s death