basis for Macbeth’s storyline. Such predictions force Macbeth to murder Duncan and Banquo and ultimately drive him to hysteria. The witches foresee Macbeth to become Thane of Glamis, his current title. However, prior to the previous prediction, the witches predict that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor, however as far as Macbeth knows; the Thane of Cawdor, Macdonald, is still alive. The third prediction that pushed Macbeth was that he “shalt be king,” Each of these predictions emerge as truth, showing the power and influence of the witches. This ability to predict future events would undoubtedly lead the audience to conclude that the witches and supernatural influenced the play’s events.
Parallel to many medieval European cultures, mediaeval Scotland held a belief in witches, including their ability to make prophecies and influence the outcome of certain occurrences. Shakespeare’s representation of Macbeth’s encounters with the witches developed upon both Scottish belief in witches in the eleventh century and English belief in witches in the Renaissance. Witchcraft was widely viewed as an occult activity, involving some kind of direct connection with the devil, and was therefore perceived as a threat to social stability. Scottish governments often carried out extreme measures against witchcraft, such as the declaration by King Kenneth that witches who called spirits for supernatural help should be brutally murdered.

The supernatural is also presented through Lady Macbeth conversing with evil spirits, where she demands ‘take my milk for gall’. The fact Lady Macbeth is talking to spirits is a clear link to the supernatural. The fact she believes they can take her feminine attributes of milk, shows how powerful the supernatural were seen in Jacobean society. Furthermore, ‘gall’ may represent how abhorrent and destructive the supernatural was seen. ‘Take’ may also be Shakespeare referencing the brutal treatment of those suspected to be engaging with the supernatural. Therefore, the supernatural is presented as powerful and feared through Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy, in which she interacts with evil spirits. It may not be Lady Macbeth, it could be the supernatural