Macbeth and Gothic Dimensions
Macbeth and Gothic Dimensions; Scene 1
Shakespeare immediately and emphatically introduces the Gothic theme in the first scene within the first Act. This is demonstrated with him setting the scene using the stage direction “Thunder and lightning”. Such weather is a typical gothic dimension exploited by several authors, thus aiding the construction of a gothic play, and arguably is prophesising the future turmoil and disintegration of order. The ‘thunder and lightning’ displays the reckless elements of nature which create turmoil and fear, leaving the audience in a state of despair. It may be argued that this weather and disturbance of nature is a premonition of the immediately impending presence of the supernatural witches, but also it is used to represent the future disruption to human nature, in particular the protagonist, Macbeth’s. This weather sets the tone for the arrival of the witches, who represent the supernatural within the play, another prominent gothic dimension. The supernatural aura that the witches bring to the first scene similarly adds to the confusion and terror since they directly conflict with that which is natural. The presence of these foul witches, together with the disruption of nature evokes anxiety in the audience, thus enhancing the gothic tone of the play.
Confusion and chaos is used immediately to manipulate the play as a gothic one, with the first line of the entire play being a question, ‘When shall we three meet again…?’. These words are spoken by one of the witches, who possess supernatural powers, yet themselves find themselves in chaos and confusion. This may be significant in foreshadowing a theme embedded within the rest of the play, which is chaos and turmoil, both in nature and in the mind. To add to this element of turmoil and uncertainty, the second witch speaks of ‘when the hurly-burly’s done’, with hurly-burly referring to commotion and unrest that is looming. She then goes on to create even more confusion with the
Shakespeare immediately and emphatically introduces the Gothic theme in the first scene within the first Act. This is demonstrated with him setting the scene using the stage direction “Thunder and lightning”. Such weather is a typical gothic dimension exploited by several authors, thus aiding the construction of a gothic play, and arguably is prophesising the future turmoil and disintegration of order. The ‘thunder and lightning’ displays the reckless elements of nature which create turmoil and fear, leaving the audience in a state of despair. It may be argued that this weather and disturbance of nature is a premonition of the immediately impending presence of the supernatural witches, but also it is used to represent the future disruption to human nature, in particular the protagonist, Macbeth’s. This weather sets the tone for the arrival of the witches, who represent the supernatural within the play, another prominent gothic dimension. The supernatural aura that the witches bring to the first scene similarly adds to the confusion and terror since they directly conflict with that which is natural. The presence of these foul witches, together with the disruption of nature evokes anxiety in the audience, thus enhancing the gothic tone of the play.
Confusion and chaos is used immediately to manipulate the play as a gothic one, with the first line of the entire play being a question, ‘When shall we three meet again…?’. These words are spoken by one of the witches, who possess supernatural powers, yet themselves find themselves in chaos and confusion. This may be significant in foreshadowing a theme embedded within the rest of the play, which is chaos and turmoil, both in nature and in the mind. To add to this element of turmoil and uncertainty, the second witch speaks of ‘when the hurly-burly’s done’, with hurly-burly referring to commotion and unrest that is looming. She then goes on to create even more confusion with the