Comment on the use of supernatural elements in Macbeth.

I have to divide the post in two parts for its length.

Part 1:

In the play Macbeth, the supernatural elements primarily include the “weird sisters” and their gang. These elements are used to pave way to show Macbeth the path of his ultimate downfall.

The three witches instigate Macbeth's inner ambition and greed by luring him. And this they do through their so-called prophecies. The predictions of the witches and the apparitions are nothing but equivocations in the name of prophecies. The witches, at first, tell Macbeth that he would be the Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland soon. This is not something extra-supernatural they do, since, it is a matter of common-sense that, Macbeth, if he would have fought courageously and shown his man-of-the-battle attitude, he would definitely get rewarded, and if he continues to go after his ambition, would be the king possibly. Later, the apparitions prophesy that the no human born of women can kill Macbeth ever, and he would not be killed unless Birnam wood would come closer to his fort. The first prophecy is a lie in a sense that, Macduff, who is born of his dead mother's body via surgery, kills him. The second one is an equivocation also, since, though Birnam Wood does not come closer, yet the soldiers of the opposition hide them under the leaves of the forest, and this makes him think as if the forest itself is moving towards him, and he loses all his hope and courage to fight further. It is clear hence that, what the prophecies told was half-truth to destroy Macbeth. Ambiguity they create in Macbeth's mind throughout the whole play. Ambiguity, or conflict between appearance and reality, is one of the key themes in this tragedy. The witches just equivocate in a dubious way; implying that, lie in a way which seems apparently true. And this they do solely to win his trust and make him a devil like them.

The witches know that, Macbeth is an ambitious man who just needs a spur in order to rouse his ambition and let it develop fully to achieve his end. They show him what he wanted to see. They tell him what he wanted to hear. Their prophecy awakens his inner demon and instigates his voracity. Macbeth is thus deceived. He is told that no human born of woman can kill him; neither would he be killed till the Birnam Wood come close to his fort. Later, when he finds that the Birnam Wood does not come nearer, rather soldiers hiding themselves under leaves come closer, and Macduff is found to be born out of surgery probably because of his mother's illness or death, he understands clearly that, he has been deceived by the witches' dubious prophecy. In act 5, scene 7, disillusioned Macbeth tells to Macdufff: "Accursed be that tongue... / That palter with us in a double sense, / That keep the word of promise to our ear/ And break it to our hope." So, it is clear that, the witches prophesies contributes to influence and instigate him towards evil deed.

In fact, Lady Macbeth's greed and cruelty increases more once she is aware of the witches' prophetic statements.