Shakesperes

How effective is Shakespeare’s presentation of the supernatural in ‘Macbeth’ and how well is this conveyed in the media version which you have seen?

William Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy, ‘Macbeth’, was first performed to a Jacobean audience at Hampton Court in 1606. Shakespeare wrote the play in order to ingratiate himself with King James I presenting two main themes-treason and witchcraft, which James believed to be the two main enemies of the state. These notions were influenced by the storm that was supposedly summoned by witches which nearly caused his boat to capsize whilst he was returning from Denmark and the gunpowder plot in 1605, an attempt to assonate the King and his ministers by blowing up the houses of parliament. The play ‘Macbeth’ deals with the supernatural on Macbeth in particular.

There were many limitations to a Jacobean playhouse, for example, there was no scenery, no lighting and no actresses. Therefore, William Shakespeare had to ove...