Aim : How were the supernatural occurrences in Shakespeare’s plays indicative of the era in which he lived?

1. Aim: How were the supernatural occurrences in Shakespeare’s plays indicative of the era in which he lived? Do Now: If a psychic was able to accurately predict your future, would you want to know the prophecy? Why or why not?

2. Supernatural Beliefs • The Elizabethan superstitions were steeped in the belief in old magic and the mystical properties of animals and herbs. These superstitions were also related to special chants, omens, names and numbers. • New Elizabethan superstitions arose due to the fear of witchcraft and the persecution of witches. • People blamed unexplainable events as the work of witches - the Bubonic Plague, unexplained deaths or unpleasant illnesses, bad harvests or crop failures, the death of animals and unexplained fires.

3. Elizabethan Superstitions • 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- • An eclipse was seen as an omen of evil. • 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 witches. • 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.

4. More Superstitions… • Not to walk under ladders– • Considered bad luck as ladders are associated with the gallows and executions. • 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.

5. The curse of Macbeth • Actors often consider it bad luck to mention Macbeth by name while inside a theatre, and usually refer to it as The Scottish Play, or "MacBee", or when referring to the character and not the play, "Mr. and Mrs. M", or "The Scottish King". • This is because Shakespeare is said to have used the spells of real witches in his text, supposedly angering the witches and causing them to curse the play. As a result, to say the name of the play inside a theatre is believed to doom the production to failure, and perhaps cause physical injury or death to cast members. • A large mythology has built up surrounding this superstition, with countless stories of accidents, misfortunes and even deaths, all mysteriously taking place during runs of Macbeth (or by actors who had uttered the name.)

7. Macbeth: the beginning