Supernatural macbeth banquo shakespeare presents attitudes play prophecies

Text	Starting with this moment in the play, explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural. Write about: • how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in this extract • how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in the play as a whole. AO1 {{c1::The duality of Macbeth’s feelings – should he believe what the witches have prophesied for him? He doesn’t know what to think}} {{c2::Banquo is realistic about the ‘instruments of Darkness’ and the danger of what they can lead him and Macbeth to}} Banquo is keen to hear prophecies for himself and Macbeth is keen to know more {{c4::As the play progresses, Banquo does not act upon his prophecies whereas Macbeth becomes embroiled in them, becoming a murderer and a tyrant – even returning to the witches for more prophecies which he believes completely}} AO2 The prophetic nature of what Banquo says and the witches’ persuasive power {{c6::The seeming contradiction of ‘Cannot be ill; cannot be good’ to reveal Macbeth’s confused feelings – also his use of questions / confusing ideas}} Fearful images to suggest his attitude to the supernatural {{c8::Any dramatic devices such as the appearance of the dagger and of Banquo’s ghost suggest how supernatural forces have overcome Macbeth}} The supernatural drives the plot and drives Macbeth: structural device AO3 Ideas about the supernatural across time / audience reception Supernatural v natural Ideas about the theme of deception Dramatic context – spectacle of the supernatural in the play would be enjoyed

Text

Starting with this moment in the play, explore how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural.

Write about:

• how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in this extract

• how Shakespeare presents the attitudes of Macbeth and Banquo towards the supernatural in the play as a whole.

AO1

{{c1::The duality of Macbeth’s feelings – should he believe what the witches have prophesied for him? He doesn’t know what to think}}

{{c2::Banquo is realistic about the ‘instruments of Darkness’ and the danger of what they can lead him and Macbeth to}}

Banquo is keen to hear prophecies for himself and Macbeth is keen to know more

{{c4::As the play progresses, Banquo does not act upon his prophecies whereas Macbeth becomes embroiled in them, becoming a murderer and a tyrant – even returning to the witches for more prophecies which he believes completely}}

AO2

The prophetic nature of what Banquo says and the witches’ persuasive power

{{c6::The seeming contradiction of ‘Cannot be ill; cannot be good’ to reveal Macbeth’s confused feelings – also his use of questions / confusing ideas}}

Fearful images to suggest his attitude to the supernatural

{{c8::Any dramatic devices such as the appearance of the dagger and of Banquo’s ghost suggest how supernatural forces have overcome Macbeth}}

The supernatural drives the plot and drives Macbeth: structural device

AO3

Ideas about the supernatural across time / audience reception

Supernatural v natural

Ideas about the theme of deception

Dramatic context – spectacle of the supernatural in the play would be enjoyed

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