This essay explores the research question “How does the use of supernatural elements in literature serve to reflect the nature of humanity?” and focuses on fairy tales, Hamlet and Macbeth. It begins by outlining and examining the role of supernatural elements in promoting struggles between characters and groups within the plot. We then proceed to show how using these elements to create struggles within the plot helps the author delineate the social struggles of his time period within the literary work. This essay then goes on to examine how and why the use of supernatural elements plays a role in the adaptability of a literary work across time and region. From there, this essay explores how important supernatural elements are in making the stories they are a part of more intricate and interesting. Next, the role of supernatural elements in aiding character development and the role of certain characters within the plot will be examined. Supernatural elements – religious figures and activities, ghosts, witches, and anthropomorphized animals among others – have been used throughout the history of literature since its origins. origins in oral folk tales, in the works of Shakespeare, in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Throughout the history of literature, supernatural elements have been useful in developing themes that reflect the nature of humanity. Supernatural elements are often used to outline and comment on conflicts and power struggles: both within the plot of the work and within society at the time of the work's publication. These otherworldly components are also commonly used to adapt, expand, and make a literary work more applicable to its settings. Supernatural elements also play an important role... middle of paper... BBC. Network. October 1, 2013.Northrup, Mary. "Multicultural Cinderella Stories." American Library Association offices. American Library Association, nd Web. 11 September 2013.Perrault, Charles. "Cinderella; or, The Glass Slipper." . Np, October 8, 2003. Web. October 1, 2013.Pettegree, Andrew. "The English Reformation." History of the BBC. BBC, 17 February 2011. Web. 1 October 2013. Rowling, JK Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. Print.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Spark Publishing, 2003. Print.Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Spark Publishing, 2003. Print.Zipes, Jack. Breaking the Spell: Radical Theories of Fairy Tales and Fairy Tales. Revised and expanded ed.. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 1979. PrintZipes, Jack. Why fairy tales stick: evolution and relevance of a genre. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print.