The Supernatural
Bradley describes the supernatural elements of Macbeth and Hamlet, emphasizing the darker and sinister elements:
"Portents once more fill the heavens, ghosts rise from their graves, an unearthly light flickers about the head of the doomed man."
Using this imagery, Bradley establishes the tone of these plays and the dark presence of the supernatural.
Macbeth imagery
Bradley compares the supernatural elements in Macbeth and Hamlet, stating that:
"The solemn majesty of the royal Ghost in Hamlet, appearing in armor and standing silent in the moonlight, is exchanged for shapes of horror, dimly seen in the murky air or revealed by the glare of the caldron fire in a dark cavern, or for the ghastly face of Banquo badged with blood and staring with blank eyes."
Here, he emphasizes the powerful, well-known imagery of Macbeth, which reflects the dark tone and subject matter of the play.
Macbeth opening
Discussing the opening of Macbeth, Bradley uses imagery to describe the battlefield:
"Here, the action bursts into wild life amidst the sounds of a thunder-storm and the echoes of a distant battle."
Bradley describes the opening scene of Macbeth, painting a picture of a battlefield with the sinister, underlying presence of the supernatural, symbolized by the thunder-storm.
