Supernatural Spark in Macbeth

At a certain point during Shakespeare’s career, superstitions, and belief in mystic, magical things were popular. Because of this, Shakespeare incorporated such things into his plays. This is present in “Macbeth.” However, this is not the only reason why there are supernatural characters and occurrences in the play. These elements have purpose; they spark the plot and bring things together.
The very first scene opens with the witches talking to each other about what is about to happen. They are going to meet with Macbeth to make some prophesies. However, Macbeth does not know they are going to meet with him. In act one scene three, after winning a battle for his king, Macbeth and Banquo run into the witches. They predict that Macbeth with become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king. They then predict that Banquo will never be king, but someone in his line will become king. The first prediction comes true. Later on, because of Macbeth’s actions, he becomes king, fulfilling the second prophesy. Other supernatural elements are present throughout the play. In act two, scene one, Macbeth is waiting for Lady Macbeth’s signal to go ahead and murder King Duncan. While waiting, he sees a floating dagger in front of him. Once he has killed Duncan, nature goes haywire. Because the natural order of things has been changes, and the ordained king killed, everything else has to turn its ways. Still, later, in act three, scene four he once again hallucinates and sees the ghost of Banquo. The witches return in act three scene five and act four, scene one to make even more predictions about Macbeth. They tell him to fear Macduff, but not to fear until the woods of Birnam come to Dunsinane. They also predict that no man born of a woman can harm him.
When “Macbeth” was written, people believed in a divinely appointed king. Since the play was performed in front of the king of England, and an audience that believed in these things, it was appropriate to put them in to appeal to his spectators. Having such elements in his play tied in reality. Shakespeare also does this when a doctor refers to the king of England, saying that the king has been healing his people.

The added, supernatural elements also complete the play and tie things together. The plot would not seem right with just hallucinations of turns of nature alone. Bizarre and paranormal essentials are what spark the plot. They are the premise of the story and make it complex and complicated. They tie the physical to the supernatural.
The presence of the witches makes Macbeth’s transfer from good to evil smooth. As a tragic hero, the character of Macbeth must bring himself to his own destruction. Because Macbeth is good at the start of the play, it would not be an easy transition to evil without something to spark his ambition. He is loyal to his king in the beginning; he knows that he is not invincible and thinks he is content with his life. The witches’ prophesies are what give him his fuel. Once he knows that he will become king, he realizes that he can get away with murdering Duncan and anyone who gets in his way. When he goes back to the witches in act four, and they make even more predictions, his pride and ambition grow even more. Because he knows that no man born of a woman can harm him, he feels safe. The witches give him a false sense of security and confidence. Without them, he has nothing to turn his ways. With his growing ambition and false shelter, he fulfills the qualities of a tragic hero, and ultimately brings himself to ruin.
Visions, ghosts, healings, mystic happenings, and unusual characters are what make the plot whole. They give the plot a reason to exist. Without the witches, Macbeth would never have had his given potential to be king. If the witches had not made the prediction, there would not have been reason for Macbeth to want to become king. He would not have written to his wife, and she would not have encouraged him to murder Duncan. Historical significance also contributes to the use and role of the supernatural. With the obvious impact of these things, the play is complete so that everything transitions smoothly and makes sense.