Macbeth Essay

People this days are still reading and enjoying Shakespeare because he use an old English words and the characters are really interesting. Shakespeare is regarded as playwright for all the times because he deals with themes that are universal to humans across time. Shakespeare use themes that are universal to Macbeth play and the BBC Macbeth retold, the two themes that I will be talking about are the Ambitious and Appearance vs Reality, it will support on my argument because they will understand what does Ambitious means, I mean like how it effects of being ambitious and the Appearance vs Reality.

My first theme is the universal theme of being ambition and that between good and evil. The text of Macbeth shows one man who is blinded by his own ambition to become King. Spoken as an aside after Macbeth hears of the Witches’ prophecies, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I mist fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” He describes Duncan as a “step” in his way and that he does have “black and deep desires” to be king. He was ambitious, and by his own admission it was ambition which prompted him to the murder of Duncan, “To our own lips, He’s here in double trust: First as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murder shut the door, not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek hath been so clear in his great office…” Macbeth’s ambition had clearly suggested to him the killing of Duncan well before he met the witches as his wife proclaims to him that “nor time nor place did then adhere” Macbeth committing murder and doing everything he needs to do in order to fulfil his ambition for power sees him in leadership

The Ambitious in BBC Macbeth retold, at my first example of being ambitious is that when Joe Macbeth went thru the kitchen and we see that there are a lot of whites stuff and it’s really noisy. When Joe Macbeth stand up in the middle of dangerous stuff, the mid-shot of him showing that there is a magnetic knife hanging in the wall and it is pointing on his head, it shows that there is bad going to happen to him. My second example of being ambitious is that when Joe and Ella Macbeth killed Duncan. Joe and Ella are feeling the strain of the guilt, Joe hallucinates blood everywhere. There is an overhead shot of the sink and it shows the slow motion of water running. The camera fade in Joe and Ella washing their hand while there is an “eerie” piano music, and there is a voice over Ella and said “a little water and we’re clean”. There is a full shot of them sitting in the edge of their bed while they have their private thoughts.

My second theme is the universal theme of Appearance vs Reality that is contrast between reality and appearance. It relates to my text because in the classic dagger scene, when Macbeth is not sure if he can trust his eyes. For instance, he sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet and Lady Macbeth imagines that there is a blood on her hands. First example of my quote “Fair is foul and foul is fair” this quote represents which is a paradox or antithesis, this quote sums up the deceptions and confusion throughout Macbeth. Second example of my quote “Your hand, your tongue; look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” this quote tells that Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to hide his deadly intensions behind welcoming looks. Imagery of the innocent flower and serpent. Third example of my quote “… Mock the time with fairest show, False face must hide what the false hear doth know.” This quote tells that outward of appearance must cover the truth, that Macbeth is “false” by killing Duncan.