macbeth supernatural Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the thesis statement of Macbeth regarding the supernatural?
Shakespeare presents the supernatural in Macbeth as a powerful, corrupting force that distorts reality, fuels ambition, and disrupts the natural order. Through the witches, hallucinations, and dark imagery, Shakespeare explores how the supernatural manipulates characters—especially Macbeth—ultimately leading to his downfall.
How do the witches symbolize chaos in Macbeth?
Shakespeare uses the witches to symbolize evil, fate, and unnatural disruption.
Quote: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”
What is the effect of the witches’ prophecy on Macbeth?
Their prophecy sparks Macbeth’s ambition but offers no moral guidance.
What belief did the Jacobean audience hold regarding witches?
Jacobean audience believed witches made pacts with the Devil; King James I wrote Daemonologie.
How does Shakespeare depict Macbeth’s vulnerability to supernatural influence?
Shakespeare presents Macbeth as vulnerable to supernatural influence due to his ambition.
Quote: “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”
What do the quotes ‘Supernatural soliciting / cannot be ill, cannot be good’ reveal about Macbeth?
Ambiguity and rhetorical conflict reflect Macbeth’s moral confusion.
What do hallucinations represent in Macbeth?
Shakespeare blurs the line between supernatural influence and psychological torment.
Quote: “Is this a dagger which I see before me…?”
What does Banquo’s ghost symbolize for Macbeth?
Banquo’s ghost represents Macbeth’s guilt and fear of consequences.
What effect do hallucinations have on the audience?
Raises uncertainty—are these real supernatural events or madness?
What does the quote ‘Unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles’ signify?
It shows that Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness is a result of invoking dark powers.
What symbolism reinforces chaos in the state of Scotland?
Darkness, storms, and strange omens (e.g., “eclipse”, “owl that shrieked”) reinforce chaos in the state.
What is the consequence of regicide according to the play?
The belief that regicide disturbs the natural and spiritual worlds.
How does the supernatural affect Scotland in Macbeth?
The supernatural doesn’t just destroy Macbeth—it poisons Scotland itself.
What is the conclusion regarding the supernatural in Macbeth?
Shakespeare presents the supernatural as a key destructive force in Macbeth—it ignites ambition, breaks moral boundaries, and causes both personal and national ruin.
How would a Jacobean audience perceive the supernatural in Macbeth?
To a Jacobean audience, the supernatural would be seen not just as fiction, but as a real threat to order, morality, and the authority of the king.
