Discuss the importance of the supernatural in Macbeth.

Macbeth is a play with background based on English History.  Beside this,people had tried to kill James I and therefore, witches have a very deep effect in his mind.  In the other hand, James I believes the existence of witches with their mysterious power.

At the beginning of the play, the three witches crowded together in a dark, lonely place.  This gives a sense of mystery which supports James I¡¦s event.

The three witches made prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1 Scene 3.Many different points and clued are involve.

The main short-term result of the prophecies is Macbeth became more and more powerful.  Then, the long-term result is Macbeth is become king eventually.

However, his power will all disappear once Macduff appear, the moving forest then, the power which Macbeth has will then disappears totally.

Not with standing, part of the prophesies is not realistic to Macbeth as the extensive forest stands absolute no chance for moving.  Therefore,, Macbeth discussed all the happened event with Lady Macbeth.

The ambitious Lady Macbeth gave all her best to plan the killing of Duncan, to help Macbeth every step to become king.

Macbeth does not agree to kill even to harm the kind king Duncan at all.
But,, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to step forward for his first step to become a king who has every power in his hand.

Later on in the play, Macbeth visits the witches again.  Macbeth went to
visit the witches again because he wanted to know what was coming up in his future.  I can recognised this because in the beginning of Act 4 scene 1 when Macbeth saw the witches, the first thing Macbeth said is "How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags!  What is't you do?"  By this speech I can notice that Macbeth was interested about what the witches wanted to do or what they are planning to do next.  After I read the lines 50-61I can more understand that Macbeth was trust the witches very much.  From his speeches I recognised that Macbeth was thinking the witches were very powerful.  I can see this point at the lines 52-60 when Macbeth said "Though you untie the winds and let them fight against the churches ¡K"
At the lines 60-61 this can tell me that Macbeth got something to ask the witches.  "Answer me.  To what I ask you."
The witches give him a false sense of security because they had told Macbeth to aware Macduff, the Thane of Fife. After the first apparition told Macbeth to aware the Macduff and then he gone.  Macbeth heard this but he did not think this was enough for him to know because he wanted to know some more about his future so he say "What'er thou art, for thy good cautopn thanks; Thou hast harped my fear aright.  But one word more." And then the witches send a second Apparition to Macbeth.

After this, Macbeth has Banquo murdered to make sure his power is afe¡¦!
Then, the appearance of the ghost appeared to Macbeth.  This made a very deep effect on Macbeth as this drove him crazy in some way.  This builds up the tension of the play.

However, the supernatural helped the story to develop a lot.  This story
would not have written without all the supernatural event to James I and Macbeth.  Without the supernatural, no killing and fights would have happened.

To us, the audience, the supernatural is a non-explainable event. Therefore, this is not only can make the play more interesting and also,
more surprising.  This also builds up the tension, but also enabling the
structure of the plot develop the way Shakespeare wanted to be.

No particular event needed to be explained to the audience with ¡¥real¡¦
reason but SUPERNATURAL.

As we are modern audience with all the new technology, knowledge and many different views and learning to supernatural event, there is no doubt that we may have different reactions towards the play.  However, as we can still not able to explain them, our reaction of which would not be too different to the Shakespearean one.

Supernatural is still a mystery.