- Superstitions Background
- Origin of Superstitions
- Superstitions and Witches
- Witchcraft Superstitions
- Superstitions
- Macbeth Superstitions
- Superstitions also dealt with chants
omens, names, and numbers.
- Elizabethans viewed the world as a delicate balance
of good and evil spirits in the world.
Superstitions Background Cont.
- The balance was suppose to go beyond the spiritual world and
also have affects on the laws of the natural world.
- The Elizabethans believed that making things more attractive
would also make them healthier.
- The beliefs are now called sympathetic magic.
- Dates back to traditional times
- Took part of the beliefs of their conquerors
- Believed in magical properties of animals and of herbs
- Believed in magic
Origin of Superstitions Cont.
- New superstition on witches
- Belief in close alignment of real
and spiritual world
- Belief that factors not part of an event
could affect its out come
- Superstitions spread from fear and ignorance
Superstitions and Witches
- Some superstitions during the Elizabethan era
came forth due to belief in witchcraft and witches.
- Women during the Elizabethan period were accused
most of being witches.
- There were 270 witch trials of those trials 247 of the
trials were women and only 23 were men.
Superstitions and Witches Cont.
- People blamed unexplainable things on witchcraft and witches like the bubonic plague.
- People who were accused of witchcraft were old, poor single, and wise women, and widows who kept pets or familiars
- Familiars are an evil spirit in the form of an animal that witches used to cast spells and conduct other witch-like things.
- “Witches” were able to fly which explained how they could travel far distances quickly, a broomstick was then added to this because it is what women usually had around there household.
- A witch was also seen as a old women or ugly women (without any man to protect her against witch accusations made against her.)
Witchcraft Superstitions Cont.
- Witches were also believed to live alone in an isolated area
like a house in the woods.
- Witches were known to keep animals that were there “familiars.”
Animals such as cats, frogs, pigs, ravens, goats, wolves, goose, crows, bats, and mice.
- Witches also created magic potions over a cauldron.
- The superstition is that any acting company who performs the play will be cursed with bad luck.
- Also if there is any quoting of the play or just the name Macbeth being said anywhere in the theatre “will lose a person acquainted with the stage nearly all his or her theatrical friends.”
- Belief in witches was common in Shakespeare's time.
Macbeth Superstitions Cont.
- This Superstition began in the old days where stock companies knowing that they weren’t going to break even decided to put on a crowd favorite; Macbeth.
- Macbeth often marked the end of the company and would frequently foreshadow a company’s end.
- The fear of Macbeth was a fear of bad business or putting a whole company unemployed.
- Saying "God Bless You" following a sneeze - Elizabethans believed that the devil could enter your body when you opened your mouth to sneeze - the blessing warded off the Devil
- An eclipse was seen as an omen of evil
- It was unlucky to keep the feather of a peacock
(the eye-shape on the feathers of peacocks were seen as the 'Evil-eye')
- Pin bay leaves to your pillow on the Eve of St Valentine, one at each corner
and one in the middle and you will then dream of your future husband
- Shoes on a table - If you put shoes on a table it was very bad luck - inviting an imminent death
- Spilling Salt or pepper - Seen as bad luck - the cost of these spices were extremely expensive during the Elizabethan era
- It was unlucky for a black cat to cross your path ( Black is the color associated with
evil magic and a cat was strongly associated with a witch's familiar
- The 'seventh son of a seventh son' was believed to possess supernatural powers
- Touch wood to guard against bad luck. This Celtic superstition dates back to the Dark Ages when it was believed that a tree possessed magical powers
- Not to walk under ladders - considered bad luck as ladders are associated with the gallows and executions
The End
By Rob.
For E-Line English
Superstitions Background
Superstitions Background Cont.
- Superstitions also dealt with chants, omens, names, and numbers.
- Elizabethans viewed the world as a delicate balance of good and evil spirits in the world.
Outline
- Superstitions Background
- Origin of Superstitions
- Superstitions and Witches
- Witchcraft Superstitions
- Superstitions
- Macbeth Superstitions
Elizabethan Era Superstitions
- The balance was suppose to go beyond the spiritual world and also have affects on the laws of the natural world.
- The Elizabethans believed that making things more attractive would also make them healthier.
- The beliefs are now called sympathetic magic.