This document summarizes the use of supernatural elements in two of Shakespeare's tragedies, Hamlet and Macbeth. It notes that Shakespeare incorporated strong beliefs in the supernatural that were common during the Elizabethan era, such as witches, ghosts, and spirits. Specifically, it discusses how the ghost of Hamlet's father drives the plot and themes of revenge and internal conflict in Hamlet. Meanwhile, Macbeth features the apparitions of witches, a floating dagger, and Banquo's ghost, all of which influence Macbeth's ambitions and actions. The supernatural elements were an integral part of Shakespeare's plays and helped captivate audiences by seeming plausible within the time period.

1. Name:-Heerva Bhatt
course:-M.A.(sem.1)
Paper no.:-1(The Renaissance Literature)
Roll no.:-14
Batch:-2017-2019
Topic:-Supernatural elements in shakesperian tragedy.
Email Id:-heervabhatt96@gmail.com
Submitted :-Smt.S.B.Gardi,Department of English,Bhavnagar.

2. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
• William Shakespeare was an English poet,playwright and actor,widely regarded as the
greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist.He is
often called England’s national poet and the “Bard of Avon”.
He was born in 26 April 1564 and died in 23 April 1616.
His great four tragedies:-
1. Julius Caesar
2. Othello
3. King Lear
4. Macbeth
The supernatural elements that are apparent in most of Shakespeare’s
plays,significantly in Hamlet andMacbeth ,which we are going to elaborate further,have
their roots in the Elizabethan era and their beliefs in supernatural creatures,such as
witches,ghosts and fairies.

3. • In the time of Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the
supernatural.
• Thus,the supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of Shakespeare’s plays.
• In two such plays ,Hamlet and Macbeth ,the supernatural is an integral part of
the structure of the plot.
• The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied forms.
• In Hamlet there appears perhaps the most notable of the supernatural forms,
The ghost .
• However,in Macbeth,not only does a ghost appear but a floating
dagger,witches and prophetic apparitions make appearances.
• The role of the supernatural is very important in Hamlet and Macbeth.

5. Supernatural elements in Hamlet.
• The ghost of the dead king Hamlet is the supernatural element of
the play.
• Shakespeare uses the ghost of Hamlet’s father as the guiding force
of the play to create suspense,develop the prevalent theme of
revenge,and cause Hamlet’s internal conflicts.
• Hamlet’s father,creates dramatic suspense and an aura of doubt
around the values with which it is associated.

6. Macbeth
• In Macbeth,not only does a ghost appear but a floating
dagger,witches and prophetic apparitions make appearance.
• The supernatural occurs four times during the course of Macbeth.
• It occurs in all the appearances of the witches,in the appearance
of Banquo’s ghost,in the apparitions with their prophesies,and in
the air-drawn dagger that guides Macbeth towards his victim.
• The witches represent Macbeth’s evil ambitions.

7. • Supernatural elements in the story influence the plot
development and character’s behaviour.
• Personages are likely to believe witches and ghosts speeches.
• Supernatural elements are important and integral aspects of the
story and Shakespeare did everything in order to make people
believe them and be captured by possibility of their
manifestation in real life.
• Human is the focus of the entire Shakespeare’s drama,and the
image of human in all his complexity,signifience and dynamics of
spiritual development is the most important artistic achievement
of this great writer.
• Goethe noted that,”the great foundation of his works is the
truth and the life itself.”

8. Thank you.