Starting with this moment in the play, explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural.
In the play, Shakespeare presents the supernatural as to something which inverts and subverts morals through the use of manipulation, and an understanding of the weaknesses of their specific interlockers, and overall as a catalyst for what causes the protagonist’s downfall.
In the extract, the audience is immediately made aware of Banquo’s doubts towards the supernatural, making a remark of how ‘tis strange’. The use of this immediate doubt from Banquo signifys to the audience perhaps his persception for hinesight. This is further amplified by the objectification of the witches as those of ‘instruments’, perhaps a foreshadow of later in the play, where it is clear the witches essentially act as ‘pupeteers’ towards the protagonists. This is further accentuated by using the objectification in relation to ‘darkness’, allowing the audience to understand the underlying evil of the supernatural, alternatively this could be a remark on Shakespeare’s attitude towards the supernatural, or what he is trying to convey throughout the play: the supernatural may tempt those, but ultimately humans are free to resist.
In terms of Macbeth in this extract, in relation to the supernatural being a catalyst for guilt, we are immediately made aware of his eagerness towards the witches’ prophecies, and arguably the naïve reaction. Within the extract we notice a semantic field of contrasting language between the mention of the advantages that come from the supernatural contrasted with the mention of potential consequences as a result. This can be seen through elaborating on the supernatural, mentioning ‘cannot be ill, cannot be good’. This quote ultimately reflects ‘fair is foul and foul is fair’, a paradox used initially in the novel by the witches, establishing the way they subvert morality, whilst also noting on the key theme throughout the novel of appearance versus reality, of which the supernatural play a huge role in. This relation by Macbeth in regards to the prophecies establishes to the reader the inherit traits of the supernatural, how those willing will immedietly begin to revert to their traits, how those willing to be tempted will consumed, of which explains how the supernatural impregnates Macbeth with the traits of ambition, and guilt of which lead directly to his demise.
This notion is accentuated by how Banquo ultimately rejects the prophecies, arguing how there will be ‘deepest consequences’, portraying to the audience how the supernatural can only impregnate those who are consumed by the temptation, not those who reject this.
The quick consumption by tempt seen in Macbeth is further portrayed by questioning ‘against the use of nature’. This is a literal indication of how he will go against nature later in the novel, by murdering Duncan he is commiting a crime so great, against the Diving Right of Kings and ultimately God. The fact Shakespeare foreshadows this, with use of Macbeth questioning the idea portrays to the audience how Macbeth is naïve to what he is capable of, he is naïve to the transition he is about to embark on as a result of the manipulating and tempt inflicted on him by the witches.
In the play as a whole, we immedietly notice Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural, and Banquo’s and Macbeth’s reaction to these, to evoke a reaction from the audience. The play begins with the witches stating “When shall we three meet again”, the structural device of the audience being unaware of what has come prior will quickly interest the audience. Further more, the Jacobean audience was highly superstitious, and had much interest in the concept of witches. It could be argued Shakespeare began his play with the supernatural in attempt to convey his attitudes towards society at the time, his use of supernatural throughout the play acts as a catalyse towards those downfalls, perhaps Shakespeare is trying to warn the audience, or alternatively criticise the notion of those who are ‘inherently evil’ instead suggesting those who are tempted, but we as a race are free to resist the power of evil, perhaps hinting at the Christocentric society.
When the audience first encounter the meeting between Banquo, Macbeth and the witches, Banquo remarks on their appearance, questioning “You are woment, yet your beards forbid me to interpret you so”, we know Shakespeare consistently had the roles of the witches played by elderly males. This highlighted to the audience the power of women, but through how to be powerful, their appearance must hint of those in power, arguably the use of this could be to criticise the society at the time, how if we continue to deprive women of education, and fester within inequality, women will have to revert to the supernatural to exert power on others.
Alternatively, this notion could be undermined by the description of the witches as “the weird sisters, hand in hand”. The use of the witches being descriped as to be ‘hand in hand’ suggests women are reliant on each other, perhaps indicating a misogynistic point of view, as opposed to one for equality of women.
In terms of the supernatural exerting power on others, we can see this explicitly through the protagonist. Macbeth is utterly consumed by the manipulation of the witches, yet his attitude continues to portray a high level of trust. We are aware of the witches sparking the ambition in Macbeth, but what is particularly captivating for the audience is his denial of their wrong-doing. When in panic in the midst of his tyrannous leadership, he reverts to the witches for their apparitions, here exerting one of the crucial examples of appearance vs. reality. The witches state ‘none of women born shall harm Macbeth’, this immedietly lulls Macbeth into a false sense of security, the witches appear to be stating Macbeth is indefeatable, of which is a key attitude he portrays towards the supernatural, as when reverting back for a sense of security, Macbeth states ‘Deny me of this and I will curse light on you’, effectively this makes apparent to the audience how Macbeth believes he has literally inherited the witche’s powers, of which is further portrayed in Lady Macbeth stating “Thick night (could not) peep through the blanket of the dark” after calling on “spirits that tend mortal thoughts”. We can see quite the sheer impact the supernatural has on both of the protagonists in terms of the ‘appearance’ of being secure in their right minds, but in reality, Macbeth’s weakness of consuming ambition and the attitude of being indestructable as a result if the supernatural, and Lady Macbeth impregnated with guilt, leading to both of their mutual demise. (MacDuff born of C-Section).
In conclusion, it is clear to the audience the supernatural is used in different impacts to different characters, Macbeth being consumed, and Banquo doubtful and therefore not impacted, that the supernatural is their to manipulate, but they don’t physically make one do an action, and we are free to resist.
Mark: 30/30 SPAG:4/4
Examiner Comments:
This is a powerfully conceptualised response. The candidate opens with their thesis and then uses the essay to explore and exemplify their ideas (in relation to the specifics of the task). This candidate clearly has a forensic knowledge of the play and this enables them to select with precision and focus judiciously on the moments that help to support their concept. Some of the contextual knowledge is particularly impressive, rooted as it is in the text itself rather than being extraneous ‘historical’ information. This is a response at the very top of what could feasibly be expected from performance at GCSE, and in fact is worth more marks than the mark scheme is able to award.
It's important to not that examiners are not shy to dish out full marks. There's a feeling that it's unobtainable, but if the examiners feels your response justifies full marks, they will not shy away from awarding so.
Remember that some teachers mark harsher, sometimes by a whole grade or two. It's vital you continue to read examiner reports as well as exemplar resources marked by the exam board as this gives you the best indication of how grade 9 is possible.