Macbeth: a Timeless Tale
"What is there about Shakespeare that would interest a contemporary audience?"
If being “contemporary " means being focused on reality TV, greed, casual sex, money, sports, The Family Guy, professional wrestling, technology or State of Origin ... then the answer is probably "Nothing."
Life in reality though, is a play that forces individuals to choose between right and wrong and, like Macbeth, decisions we make can have a lasting effect and decide the outcome of our future. As Shakespeare deals with basic human issues the answer to my initial question must be ‘everything’.
Good Morning Mrs _______ and fellow students. Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells a timeless tale of ambition, greed and treachery. Its themes are universal in nature, as is the construction of a tragic hero and for these reasons it continues to be relevant to audiences today. The litany of interpretations and adaptions such as Polanski’s 1971 classic, give credence to the argument that Macbeth remains relevant.
Macbeth, in a fashion similar to modern teens (or so the media would have us believe) has a great deal of trouble deciding the difference between moral and immoral during his rise to power. Consequently, Shakespeare’s message is as relevant today as it was during the Elizabethan era. Macbeth is introduced as a kinsman to the Scottish King (I,II,24), and a brave and successful military general (I,ii, 15-23), thus earning the praise and esteem of the king(I,ii,66-69). Unfortunately though, he (perhaps like many in my audience) allows himself to be influenced by those “whose horrid image, doth unfix” his hair and “make his seated heart knock at his ribs”, who prophesy both further titles and kingship, immediately arousing Macbeth’s ambition (I, iii, 127-129).
This conflict between good and evil is not only confined to Shakespeare’s play. It is a theme that we see repeated over and over again in contemporary literature and film. As a character, Macbeth is magnificent. He
If being “contemporary " means being focused on reality TV, greed, casual sex, money, sports, The Family Guy, professional wrestling, technology or State of Origin ... then the answer is probably "Nothing."
Life in reality though, is a play that forces individuals to choose between right and wrong and, like Macbeth, decisions we make can have a lasting effect and decide the outcome of our future. As Shakespeare deals with basic human issues the answer to my initial question must be ‘everything’.
Good Morning Mrs _______ and fellow students. Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells a timeless tale of ambition, greed and treachery. Its themes are universal in nature, as is the construction of a tragic hero and for these reasons it continues to be relevant to audiences today. The litany of interpretations and adaptions such as Polanski’s 1971 classic, give credence to the argument that Macbeth remains relevant.
Macbeth, in a fashion similar to modern teens (or so the media would have us believe) has a great deal of trouble deciding the difference between moral and immoral during his rise to power. Consequently, Shakespeare’s message is as relevant today as it was during the Elizabethan era. Macbeth is introduced as a kinsman to the Scottish King (I,II,24), and a brave and successful military general (I,ii, 15-23), thus earning the praise and esteem of the king(I,ii,66-69). Unfortunately though, he (perhaps like many in my audience) allows himself to be influenced by those “whose horrid image, doth unfix” his hair and “make his seated heart knock at his ribs”, who prophesy both further titles and kingship, immediately arousing Macbeth’s ambition (I, iii, 127-129).
This conflict between good and evil is not only confined to Shakespeare’s play. It is a theme that we see repeated over and over again in contemporary literature and film. As a character, Macbeth is magnificent. He