- Great fear of magic and witchcraft
- Witches were blamed for unexplainable events i.e plague, poor harvest or crop, deaths etc.
- Resulted in witch hunts and trials
- Used torturous methods to decide if the accused was innocent or guilty
- Wise women (women who knew how to use herbs) were prosecuted
- Women who kept pets were investigated as well
Superstitions in Modern Days
Superstitions in Modern Days Continued
- When umbrellas were used as protection from the sun; opening one inside was an insult to the sun god who would then curse you with bad luck.
- You cannot sweep dirt out of a new house (or apartment) with a new broom unless you sweep something in first.
- Crossing your fingers helps prevent bad luck
- 13 is an unlucky number - cursed and is a source of ill fortune
- Saying "bless you" is more than a gesture of politeness.
- If a bird poops on you, your car or your property, it is a sign of good luck
- If you open an umbrella indoors you are asking for bad luck to “rain on you”.
Introduction
- Superstition: a belief that is not based on reason or knowledge but rather a belief in supernatural influences
- Avoid doing certain activities to prevent a bad outcome
- Do certain activities because they think it will bring good luck
- Many of the superstitions that are popular today originated in the Elizabethan Era
Supernatural Elements
The Elements found in Macbeth
The Role of Supernatural Elements in Macbeth
- Completes plot
- Helps interest audience
- Gives insight on characters
- Causes impact on key scenes and dominates in Macbeth
- Influences character's actions
- develop different atmospheres and give different emotions to audience (Fear)
Witches
- symbolize evil
- interest audiences with prophecies
- adds to theme and atmosphere
Floating Dagger
- Demonstrates Macbeth's change in character
- It reveals Macbeth is a victim
- Intrigues audience with questions on whether Macbeth is innocent or bad?
Superstitions in Elizabethan Era
- Origins are based on trust in magic or chance
- Saying “bless you” after someone sneezed – Elizabethans believed that the devil can enter the body when you open your mouth to sneeze
- Touch wood to guard against bad luck
- Do not walk under ladders
- Shoes on a table invites imminent death
- Spilling salt or pepper was bad luck
- All of these are examples of the superstitions they believed in
Superstitions in the Elizabethan Era & Supernatural Elements in Macbeth
Witchcraft and Persecution of Women
- The accused was majority women
- Out of the 270 recorded witch trials 247 women were tried
- Old, poor women or widows were usually prosecuted
Why the Superstitions
- Weird sisters song
- More Swordplay
- Theaters in debt
- Rumors of Globe Theater being burned down
- First Actor of Macbeth died
- Lady Macbeth died during play
- Macbeth cursed by angry witches
- Real witchcraft preformed in the play
Elements found in Macbeth Continued
Ghosts & Apparitions
- Reveals Macbeth's state of mind
- Path Macbeth chose and his mistakes
- Reveals Macbeth's ambition
- Causes fright to the audience
Protective Elements
Superstitions Surrounding Macbeth
- Avoid saying Macbeth at all times
- Refer to it as "Scottish play"
- Never practice lines before performance
- Openly speaking of play outside of theater is fine
- The following steps must be preformed if an actor says Macbeth in the theater
-Leave building
-Spin around three times
-spit
-curse
-knock to be allowed back in
- Charms were used to ward off witches and ghosts
- Flowers were carried in pockets, scented wood was burned and bouquets were carried to protect against plagues
- Horseshoes were used to ward off demons
- Cream was left out to please fairies
- Spitting in fire was suppose to bring good luck
Work Cited
Smith P. Jeremy. " Macbeth curses and superstitions very much alive". The Western Star. www.thewesternstar.com. Web. February 28, 2014
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