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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help


The short answer

is that whenever ghosts or witches or any sort of otherwordly spirits show up in an Elizabethan drama, it is a sign that something is out of order or balance in the world of the play. That disturbance usually manifests in the main character in some way.

Also, from a purely theatrical standpoint, the Elizas really enjoyed blood and gore and spectacle - competition being what it has always been in the theatre, the more "cool stuff" one could find to awe the audience with, the better. The witches in Macbeth may have been a conscious gift from the Bard to King James, the patron of his company, who is known to have been fascinated by witchcraft.

This is a very intriguing topic - the long answers would take pages. Hope this was of some use- good luck!

Posted by Lillith on April 14, 1997 at 09:44:57
In Reply to "***DIRECTED TO LILLITH AND HAMLET***" posted by Petunia on April 14, 1997 at 08:17:09


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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help