The Dimensions of Supernatural and Metaphysical Power in Shakespeare's Plays Macbeth as an Example | ||
| LARQ JOURNAL FOR PHILOSOHPY , LINGUISTICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| Article 1, Volume 6, Issue 15, September 2014, Pages 292-340 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The Dimensions of Supernatural and Metaphysical Power in Shakespeare's Plays Macbeth as an Example Abstract This research deals with the subject of the supernatural powers in Shakespeare's plays. Supernatural powers are those that cause events that man cannot control because they exceed the level of his ability. The existence of supernatural powers is a phenomena that constitute a key element in the dramatic text and display since the emergence of the theatre and it increased during the Elizabethan age due to the belief of the communities, then this belief decreased after the trend towards realism and naturalism. This research addresses this phenomenon in the Shakespearean theatre because it was full of supernatural powers. The play of 'Macbeth' is rich of supernatural powers that appear in different, clear and multiple shapes. The researcher tries to identify the phenomenon of supernatural powers and disclose the dimensions of its existence and its dramatic importance in Shakespeare's plays. The theoretical background falls into two sections. The first section discusses the religious and historical origins of the existence of this phenomenon through analyzing two texts ( Oedipus the King) by Sophocles and (Dr. Faustus) by Goethe. It is found out that the existence and impact of the supernatural powers and the related events that happened depend on the receiver's belief in the supernatural powers, the director/author's ability to convince the people of its existence and the power of delusion of the text/display in creating public psychological atmosphere. The second section discusses the dramatically significance of the supernatural powers in the Shakespearean drama. It is found that the supernatural powers has a significance in Shakespeare's theatric project because it is one of the aesthetics where ambiguity lies and it also contains an action which attracts the audience's attention to what is expected to happen later. The supernatural powers have the role of carrying out transformations in the dramatic action, for example, in 'Hamlet' the starting point is the appearance of the ghost and the same thing happen in 'Macbeth' when the basic situation and the starting point is the meeting among Macbeth, Bunko and the magicians and the release of predications which help building the following parts of the play. In the procedures of this research, the play of 'Macbeth' is analyzed according to sections and chapters in detail, all the supernatural powers that appear in the actions of the characters and the events, the predictions that have been made, and the results of the dramatic progressing events till the end of the play. The last section of this research discusses the results that lead to the conclusion that there are three dimensions of the supernatural powers in Shakespeare's plays: 1. The social dimension which is manifested by the Elizabethan audience when they use and display something that they believe in and it becomes part of their culture. As a result, the existence of the supernatural powers is a social need and a means to draw the audience's attraction. 2. The historical dimension when Shakespeare depends on recalling historical events in most of his plays that he dramatically drafted. One of these is the meeting between the magicians and Macbeth that appear in history literature. 3. The historical/dramatic dimension. The Elizabethan theatre is considered an extension to the Greek and Roman theatres that are rich of the supernatural powers and predictions that Shakespeare has used as dramatic means to deliver his thoughts to the receiver/audience. | ||
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