of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost and the apparitions provides the

backbone of the climax and "excuses" for Macbeth s change of character. Because

conscience plays such a central role in Macbeth s tragic struggle, many critics use spiritual

and supernatural theories to illuminate the drama s character development.

The play opens with the use of the supernatural when three witches encounter Macbeth on

his way home from a battle and proceed to predict his fate. This gives the audience a

glimpse of the path the play will follow. The witches plan to meet again, "When the battles

(battle is) lost and won " (I. I. 1-4). This theme becomes recurring throughout the play. It

can be noted that the witches meet after every battle is lost and won, and every battle,

whether man against man, man against nature or man against himself it will always be lost

by one side and won by another. Eventually Macbeth will lose the battle for his soul.

Literary critic, Charles Lamb quotes, "When we read the incantations of the Witches in

Macbeth, though some of the ingredients of their hellish composition savour of the

future, so how he went about getting there did not concern Macbeth. Had the three sisters

other as punishment." (Snider 289) If you refer back to the text you will find just as the

hardworking and honest traits than others. Macbeth was deceitful and dishonest, therefore

would have been altered and the plot would be non-existent.

man who chooses can easily withstand the devil?" (Flathe 200) Any given person s human

supernatural forces that cause the fall of Macbeth. "His benumbed isolation before, during

witches appear before Macbeth the first time, the plot to murder King Duncan begins and

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth, Manyard Shakespeare, Shakespeare Macbeth, King Duncan, Duncan Macbeth, Macbeth Duncan, Duncan Jekels, Shakespearean Literature, Ludwig Jekels, Macbeth Lamb, king duncan, murder king, lost won, murder king duncan, battle lost won, suffered consequences, throughout play, devil macbeth, battle lost, macbeth future, duncan chamber, experience macbeth,
Approximate Word count = 983
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)