Crib sheet- Supernatural in Act I Macbeth
Pointers below require close quoting from text to flesh out
Several aspects of the supernatural – Three witches – Lady Macbeth –
Setting
themselves
blasted heath – thunder/lightning/storm – apparently created by witches
Character – appearance – wildly attired – androgynous (both male and female characteristics –
beards – have animal ‘familiars’
Language – of paradox, equivocation, rhymes (contradicting riddles) – examples of each –
cause confusion
Nature - evil, vengeful, malevolent, - act mysteriously Powers - tremendously powerful and utterly wicked - control weather – make
predictions/prophesy – e.g predict Macbeth’s coming (mortals come to them) - can exact
revenge (as in sailor) but cannot kill – possibly immortal – influence to evil/ plant seeds of
treachery
Lady Macbeth
Calls upon spirits to unsex her – equating femininity with softer nature – seeks ability to be cruel
Speaks of the raven as Duncan enters – her belief in superstition
Overall – fair is foul and foul is fair dominates whole play as each character’s intentions undergo
change