For the few things known about Shakespeare, it is clear he has read The Discover of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot and A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures by Samuel Harnett. These books were exceptional on the topics of witchcraft and exorcism. It is no surprise that Shakespeare would be intrigued by these kinds of superstitions (Muir, Kenneth). In his own work, Shakespeare's Superstitions of Witchcraft, he states that "what the vulgar superstition must have been may be easily conceived, when men of the greatest genius or learning credited the possibility, and not only a theoretical but possible occurrence, of these infernal phenomena" (Muir, Kenneth). William Shakespeare's works usually have a stem of folklore in them. Shakespeare makes many allusions to the popular superstitions of witchcraft that was festering in the 16th and 17th century in Europe. (Thiselton-Dyer, T.F.).
Symbolism was much employed. There have been many debate if the supernatural elements in Shakespeare's works should be taken literally or as an allegory, the language and the imagery which he employed could be interpreted differently. With this interpretation, Shakespeare was not merely describing scenes of witchcraft but his knowledge of the human nature. These supernatural elements are the embodiment of the inward temptations men struggle with. The witches in Macbeth tempt the two men into their own undoing (Lucy, Margaret). Banquo does fight against the temptation but even so it still made his mark, entering into his thoughts and held over him as “wicked dreams abuse / the curtain'd sleep” as Macbeth describes it (2.1.62-63)
Symbolism was much employed. There have been many debate if the supernatural elements in Shakespeare's works should be taken literally or as an allegory, the language and the imagery which he employed could be interpreted differently. With this interpretation, Shakespeare was not merely describing scenes of witchcraft but his knowledge of the human nature. These supernatural elements are the embodiment of the inward temptations men struggle with. The witches in Macbeth tempt the two men into their own undoing (Lucy, Margaret). Banquo does fight against the temptation but even so it still made his mark, entering into his thoughts and held over him as “wicked dreams abuse / the curtain'd sleep” as Macbeth describes it (2.1.62-63)