Supernatural and Macbeth

Macbeth opens with the witches who are supernatural beings. If we were back in the 16th century, we might feel scared by these women as people back then were more superstitious than we are now. They are described as ugly people: ‘you should be women, and yet your beards forbid me.’ This tells us that the actors should be wearing beards, but act like women. As only men were allowed on the stage this allows the actors to be dressed up like witches but to keep their beards. As well as their appearance, they seem evil because they are involved in black magic. ‘Thrice to thine and thrice to mine and thrice again, to make up nine.’ The witches are chanting, using repetition and rhyme to create a rhythm. The number nine is significant in black magic rites as well, so this presents the theme of the supernatural as something dark and scary.