Topic: The supernatural. Specifically, what do the apparitions, ghosts, and unexplainable sightings mean?
In Macbeth, supernatural forces have always been a strong focus of debate. There is some controversy as to how much emphasis Shakespeare meant for us to put on the supernatural elements of the play. Some would go so far as to say that Shakespeare never wrote some of the paranormal experiences and that they were added by a different author after Shakespeare’s initial publication. For example, three of the main characters, the Weird Sisters, are rumored to have been inserted by another author. It is unlikely that the play would have been altered so drastically, but still a definite possibility. Assuming that Shakespeare did weave all the ghosts and witches into his story, we of course have no way of knowing for certain what they are all supposed to mean.
Some of the strongest examples of the paranormal in the play are the different spirits Macbeth sees. Macbeth sees several of these miraculous visions throughout the course of the play, but in each example he is the only in to witness anything out of the ordinary. Were they hallucinations caused by the stress of the moment or were they all deliberate and well thought out p

The third apparition is a child wearing a crown and holding a tree which tells “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill to come against him.” This apparition is said to represent Malcolm, first son of Duncan, as he would eventually be King. The tree in the child’s hand is a symbol for the branches Malcolm’s army held in their hands to disguise their numbers. That reinforces Macbeth’s overconfidence in maintaining the crown with the idea that no forest can ever move therefore no one will ever vanquish anyone.

There are infinite ways to interpret these paranormal events; that is exactly what makes this play intriguing to so many. The previous are just some of the more common views of what the apparitions mean. One could go on forever finding new ideas as to what is all meant by the ghosts and spirits vague appearances. There will always be speculation as to what Shakespeare really meant for all the supernatural occurrences. That is why Shakespearean literature has been, is, and will forever be so ageless.

Next is a bloody child symbolizing Macduff after being delivered from his mother through a caesarian section. This apparition tells him “for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” Macbeth doesn’t use logical scientific thought to count how many of his potential enemies had to go through a c-section at birth. Instead he feels that there is no man alive who can challenge him, supporting a false sense of security.

The first to rise is a head wearing a knight’s helmet representing the coming battle between Macduff and Macbeth at the end of the play. It scares Mac