In Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth is a hero that is plagued with many internal feelings, which eventually lead to his defeat. His downfall is due in part to ambition and fearfulness that is created by specific episodes in the play. The main root of all this ambition and fearfulness is the occurrences of supernatural events throughout the story. The main occurrences that take place, and that also shape Macbeth’s development, are supernatural episodes that are also symbolic of the ambition Macbeth faces. The first set of prophecies by the Witches (1.3.49) is the beginning of the shift in Macbeth’s behavior. The appearance of the dagger (2.1.33) and Banquo’s ghost at the feast (3.4.88) also play a role in Macbeth’s guilt. The last supernatural occurrence that takes place is again involving the witches and their apparitions (4.1.71). The supernatural occurrences in the story help to generate Macbeth’s ambition and lead him to his own defeat.

In Act 1, when Macbeth and Banquo joined the three witches upon the heath, the witches gave Macbeth and Banquo some predictions of the future. They proclaimed Macbeth to be “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of

After analyzing the supernatural events that shape the story of Macbeth, their importance emerges as a major factor to the plot. Starting with the witches’ prophecies for Macbeth and Banquo, the plot takes shape and the characters develop personalities in the reader’s eye. The appearance of the dagger and Banquo’s ghost both show how supernatural events help to show how a character is feeling. The three apparitions near the end of the story provide the advancement of the plot toward Macbeth’s defeat. Collectively, all of the supernatural occurrences throughout the story illustrate exactly how ambition can destroy the most powerful leader.

Early in Act 4, after the witches make their brew, Macbeth arrives and demands more predictions for the future. The witches give Macbeth his predictions in the form of three apparitions; an armed head saying to beware Macduff, a bloody child saying Macbeth will not be harmed by someone of woman born, and a crowned child telling him he will not be harmed until Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane Hill (4.1.77). When the apparition states that Macbeth should beware of Macduff, Macbeth reveals that he already feared Macduff; “Thou hast harped my fear aright” (4.1.74). This further proves the supernatural accuracy of the witches. Later in the story we learn that the second appar

Some topics in this essay:
Macbeth Macbeth’s, Macbeth Macbeth, Macbeth Banquo, Birnam Wood, Thane Cawdor, Macduff Macbeth, Duncan Macbeth, Banquo Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Dunsinane Hill, supernatural occurrences, supernatural events, thane cawdor, macbeth banquo, guilty conscience, macbeth’s guilty conscience, lady macbeth, macbeth’s guilty, witches macbeth, ambition fearfulness, birnam wood,