macbeth - supernatural Flashcards
what characters were supernatural?
witches
why did Lady Macbeth talk to the spirits?
to get more power, to remove feminine qualities
what happened to Lady Macbeth after calling on the spirits?
she gradually gets driven insane by guilt
what does Lady Macbeth repeatedly do in the sleep walking scene?
washed invisible blood of her hands
what does her washing blood of her hands repeatedly link to in the rest of the play?
Macbeth- after killing Duncan- says that the Oceans couldn’t get rid of the blood from his hands
why would the witches seem believable and frightening to the original audience?
they thought witches were real
what are the writers techniques about supernatural?
the supernatural elements add to the atmosphere- play more frightening
what does Shakespeare warn of?
the dangers of supernatural- when meddling with it things do not go to plan
what are the witches hinted at being?
completely evil
what do the witches represent?
the struggle between the natural and unnatural order
what does Macbeth seeing Banquos ghost represent?
his guilty conscience
why did Shakespeare include supernatural in the play?
James 1 (the king) liked all things supernatural and he wanted him to enjoy the play
