Shakespeare query and replies

Malevolent spirits in Shakespeare's plays.

Not just spirits, but all manner of supernatural creatures including but not limited to faeries, witches, ghosts etc. I have read Macbeth, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Throught all this, I have noticed that all the supernatural beings aren't exactly hostile towards humans, they vary from indifferent to friendly, but none that are actually out to harm people.
The witches are kinda neutral as they only present Macbeth with what is the truth, without regard to his outcome. The ghost of Hamlet's father is stolid and indifferent. Oberon is actually sympathetic to Helena's plight and seeks to rectify it.
So far so good, but I'm wondering if there is any supernatural creatures in any of Shakespeare's plays who are out to do some harm? Like REAL harm.

posted by Jerm on 2004-07-29 16:29:40
last updated 2004-07-29 16:29:40

Agree, with reservations

I agree that most of the spirits in Shakespeare are fairly neutral or positive.

Your view of the witches in Macbeth is controversial. Some view the witches, as apparently you do, as merely predictive. Others view them as inciting or at least energizing and reinforcing Macbeth's initial thought of murder.

The most evil supernatural creatures in Shakespeare, in my view, are the gods of King Lear. "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport." (The quote may not be exact, I did it from memory). In King Lear, Lear's pleas for divine justice are answered by a thunderstorm soaking him, but leaving the evil ones dry. Gloucester's desire not to see King Liear hurt triggers the gouging of his eyes. God, the gods, fate - whatever you call it or them -- are cruel in King Lear.

posted by Dave J on 2004-07-29 18:57:30
last updated 2004-07-29 18:58:54

Ah.. non-characters not included...

Be that as it may, though the gods seem "cruel" to King Lear, it can be argued that King Lear gets soaked because of himself. I mean, if you went outside and railed at the sky, till you either pass out from sunstroke, or get soaked in the rain, or keel over from exhaustion, can you say that God has been cruel to you and good to that neighbour you always hated just because he/she went inside long before you did? But, that aside, I was trying to get at supernatural characters who actually APPEAR in a play to get a feel at how Shakespeare felt about supernatural beings.

posted by Jerm on 2004-07-30 17:37:03
last updated 2004-07-30 17:37:03