Similarities Between Shakespeare And Goold Version Of Macbeth
Dakota McBay
Mrs. Miller
English 12 CP Period 2
19 April 2015
Shakespeare and Goolds Version of Macbeth
The play The Tragedy of Macbeth was written as a fictional story that never really happened! Although if one takes a look at the past it’s possible to see how the introduction of ambition then and now can change the path that people take. Ambition can be a very useful trait in ones life but too much ambition can cause one to commit unspeakable actions. In this story about Macbeth this misuse of ambition releases the evil that lives within the characters.
The Tragedy of Macbeth circa 1604 by the famous playwright William Shakespeare. This masterpiece tells of a worthy and loyal Scottish general named Macbeth that turns on everyone in his life. This all happens after he comes across …show more content…
these witches that release the ambition that lies deep within Macbeth.
These witches give Macbeth a prophecy that he could only but dream to come true. Macbeth takes what he had had been told and makes it a reality by turning into a deceitful murderous tyrant that shows no merci to anyone that gets in his path to the throne. Macbeth’s greed for power and pursuit of his ambition turn out to become his own worst enemy. This playwright written over 400 years ago has been acted out on stage millions of times but just recently it has been turned into the form of a movie. This movie called Macbeth was produced in 2010 and was directed by Rupert Goold. This movie along with many other movie representations is not always word for word and scene for scene of the plays or stories that are being told. Movie directors of plays and stories that were never
written for movie production have a difficult task of imagining what the original author would have wanted. For this reason they have to decide what will best represent the original text. They also have the daunting task of making a movie appeal to the more modernized way people view movies. The directors may have to change scenes and maybe even the entire setting to make it more acceptable by viewers. They also may want to make the story their own by changing the way the story is told. This is exactly what Rupert Goold does in his version of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
The movie Macbeth not only does an excellent job of telling the story, but also is a close representation of how it may have originally been wrote if Shakespeare had the technology to produce movies. The movie defers from the original text in many ways, but some of the changes that are made help viewers see the story in a more beneficial way. The most beneficial changes are the portrayal of the nurses, the death of Banquo, and the death of Macbeth.
The portrayal of the witches in the movie differs from the way that they are portrayed in the original text. In the Shakespeare’s version they appear to be women but have characteristics of foreign creatures where in the movie they are portrayed as women playing roles that women would play. One of the most significant quotes that is said by the witches is “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.12). This is quote which is said in the beginning and is a theme that the entire play revolves around. One of the basic meanings is what is good in one man’s eyes is bad in the eyes of another man and vice versa. It can also be compared to how someone feels and what that same person is really showing. In a more general term its basically the vice versa of any topic or situation that may occur. However in the play the witches only appear two times where in the play they show up numerous times. They are in all the scenes that they are suppose to be in according to the play, but they play many different roles other than just witches that give prophecies to Macbeth. They show up as nurses, cooks and even waiters in a dinner scene. This is significant because it helps viewers see that these witches are indeed constantly influencing Macbeth. Its almost as if they have some power over Macbeth to keep him on the path that they gave him with their prophecies. It also compares to the quote previously mentioned that the witches are continuing to make sure their foul ideals stay fair in the eyes of Macbeth. These numerous appearances really help the viewer see that they are a very essential part of the story and with out them Macbeth may have never seen how such foul acts could seem so fair. The director of the movie does an excellent job of implementing these none verbal messages by adding the witches in on the extra scenes. This can also be related to in the way that Macbeth has Banquo killed.
As Macbeth develops into an evil and diabolical tyrant he has his fellow general and friend Banquo killed. The way and the why differ from the movie and the play but one idea is for sure that Macbeth will continue to destroy anyone that gets in his way of the throne. He manipulates two men into thinking that Banquo is the source of all of their problems and to blame for every terrible event that has occurred recently. In this proceeding quote he tells these two man that he would do the killing but he can’t because of his status as king.
So is he mine; and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who I myself struck down. And thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons (III.i.119-129).
What he is saying in this quote is that they must kill Banquo and they must do it at once. What is interesting is that before Macbeth came in contact with the witches Banquo and Macbeth were friends. They were seasoned warriors and even generals of the same army. So everything the Macbeth says is not really true he just manipulates them into believing that it is. The real reason that he wants Banquo dead is because he suspects that Banquo believes that he killed Duncan. However this is different from what the movie portrayal because in the movie Macbeth knows that Banquo suspects and thinks that he killed Duncan. This shows viewers its pretty clear that regardless of whether or not Banquo had a suspicion of his actions, Macbeth would still have him killed. The death in the play is much different from that of the death in the movie. In the play the murders kill Banquo on the side of the road and it is not a very violent scene. In the movie Banquo is on a train and the murders poison him and than shoot him several times. This scene in the movie is a very violent and is in a public place, which shows that the murderers don’t care who sees it take place. It goes along with what Macbeth says that he doesn’t what anyone to associate him with the murder of Banquo. The director of this movie wants to show this violent death of Banquo because in away Macbeth has an equal part in this death of Banquo. This violent death of Banquo shows how much Macbeth is continuing to devolve. Also there is a reference to the previous quote from the witches that applies to what Macbeth has said. He says that he can’t be involved in Banquo’s death because he must pretend to show empathy around the people in his court. Another positive change from the director was the death of Macbeth. The way that Macbeth dies and the fight that Macbeth has before his death a significantly different from the version that takes place in the play. Right before Macbeth and Macduff begin their battle to the death Macbeth says: “Of all men else I have avoided thee. But get thee back. My soul is too much charged With blood of thine already.” (V.iii.24-27). Macbeth basically says that out of all of the people in the world he has managed to avoid Macduff. He says that he should just go away because he has already killed his family. This quote confirms to Macduff what he already knows about the death of his family. This gives Macduff yet even one more reason to kill Macbeth. This battle that leads up to the death of Macbeth is considerably different than it is in the play because in the play the battle happens mostly off scene. When the director made the change to show the rest of the battle between Macbeth and Macduff he made the movie just that much more appealing to the viewers. In this battle Macbeth has many chances to kill Macduff but does not. This is because he is too distraught by the fact that the witches have tricked him with their prophecies. When the director decided to show these scenes he showed just how much affect the witches had on Macbeth. Macbeths mind slowly degraded to where he, a seasoned warrior could not even fight a simple battle. In the end Macbeth’s own ambition and belief of the foul idealism of the witches caused his own death.
The changes in the movie made from the original play were very significant and helped honor the play in many ways. The strategic placement of the witches and the different roles they played help viewers understand how much influence they really had. The way that both Macbeth and Banquo were killed really showed just how violent the characters of this story were. It also shows the extent that Macbeth was willing to go to in his goal to become king. When it came down to it this need to be king is what caused him to find his death. All of these changes from how the witches are portrayed, and the changes made to deaths of Banquo and Macbeth help viewers see a deeper side of the characters. I think that this movie is a very great representation of how the play was originally written. The director adds lots of changes that were highly beneficial to the viewers of the movie. This also allows you too possibly see the movie in a whole new light. I think that there was a few scenes that could have maybe had upgraded graphics. However I think in resolution the movie does Shakespeare’s original play justice.
Works Cited
Macbeth. Dir. Rupert Goold. PBS Video. WFYI, Indianapolis. 6 Oct. 2010. Web. 16 April 2015. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Open Source Shakespeare. George Mason University. n.d. Web. 16 April 2015
Mrs. Miller
English 12 CP Period 2
19 April 2015
Shakespeare and Goolds Version of Macbeth
The play The Tragedy of Macbeth was written as a fictional story that never really happened! Although if one takes a look at the past it’s possible to see how the introduction of ambition then and now can change the path that people take. Ambition can be a very useful trait in ones life but too much ambition can cause one to commit unspeakable actions. In this story about Macbeth this misuse of ambition releases the evil that lives within the characters.
The Tragedy of Macbeth circa 1604 by the famous playwright William Shakespeare. This masterpiece tells of a worthy and loyal Scottish general named Macbeth that turns on everyone in his life. This all happens after he comes across …show more content…
these witches that release the ambition that lies deep within Macbeth.
These witches give Macbeth a prophecy that he could only but dream to come true. Macbeth takes what he had had been told and makes it a reality by turning into a deceitful murderous tyrant that shows no merci to anyone that gets in his path to the throne. Macbeth’s greed for power and pursuit of his ambition turn out to become his own worst enemy. This playwright written over 400 years ago has been acted out on stage millions of times but just recently it has been turned into the form of a movie. This movie called Macbeth was produced in 2010 and was directed by Rupert Goold. This movie along with many other movie representations is not always word for word and scene for scene of the plays or stories that are being told. Movie directors of plays and stories that were never
written for movie production have a difficult task of imagining what the original author would have wanted. For this reason they have to decide what will best represent the original text. They also have the daunting task of making a movie appeal to the more modernized way people view movies. The directors may have to change scenes and maybe even the entire setting to make it more acceptable by viewers. They also may want to make the story their own by changing the way the story is told. This is exactly what Rupert Goold does in his version of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
The movie Macbeth not only does an excellent job of telling the story, but also is a close representation of how it may have originally been wrote if Shakespeare had the technology to produce movies. The movie defers from the original text in many ways, but some of the changes that are made help viewers see the story in a more beneficial way. The most beneficial changes are the portrayal of the nurses, the death of Banquo, and the death of Macbeth.
The portrayal of the witches in the movie differs from the way that they are portrayed in the original text. In the Shakespeare’s version they appear to be women but have characteristics of foreign creatures where in the movie they are portrayed as women playing roles that women would play. One of the most significant quotes that is said by the witches is “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I.i.12). This is quote which is said in the beginning and is a theme that the entire play revolves around. One of the basic meanings is what is good in one man’s eyes is bad in the eyes of another man and vice versa. It can also be compared to how someone feels and what that same person is really showing. In a more general term its basically the vice versa of any topic or situation that may occur. However in the play the witches only appear two times where in the play they show up numerous times. They are in all the scenes that they are suppose to be in according to the play, but they play many different roles other than just witches that give prophecies to Macbeth. They show up as nurses, cooks and even waiters in a dinner scene. This is significant because it helps viewers see that these witches are indeed constantly influencing Macbeth. Its almost as if they have some power over Macbeth to keep him on the path that they gave him with their prophecies. It also compares to the quote previously mentioned that the witches are continuing to make sure their foul ideals stay fair in the eyes of Macbeth. These numerous appearances really help the viewer see that they are a very essential part of the story and with out them Macbeth may have never seen how such foul acts could seem so fair. The director of the movie does an excellent job of implementing these none verbal messages by adding the witches in on the extra scenes. This can also be related to in the way that Macbeth has Banquo killed.
As Macbeth develops into an evil and diabolical tyrant he has his fellow general and friend Banquo killed. The way and the why differ from the movie and the play but one idea is for sure that Macbeth will continue to destroy anyone that gets in his way of the throne. He manipulates two men into thinking that Banquo is the source of all of their problems and to blame for every terrible event that has occurred recently. In this proceeding quote he tells these two man that he would do the killing but he can’t because of his status as king.
So is he mine; and in such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts Against my near’st of life. And though I could With barefaced power sweep him from my sight And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, For certain friends that are both his and mine, Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall Who I myself struck down. And thence it is, That I to your assistance do make love, Masking the business from the common eye For sundry weighty reasons (III.i.119-129).
What he is saying in this quote is that they must kill Banquo and they must do it at once. What is interesting is that before Macbeth came in contact with the witches Banquo and Macbeth were friends. They were seasoned warriors and even generals of the same army. So everything the Macbeth says is not really true he just manipulates them into believing that it is. The real reason that he wants Banquo dead is because he suspects that Banquo believes that he killed Duncan. However this is different from what the movie portrayal because in the movie Macbeth knows that Banquo suspects and thinks that he killed Duncan. This shows viewers its pretty clear that regardless of whether or not Banquo had a suspicion of his actions, Macbeth would still have him killed. The death in the play is much different from that of the death in the movie. In the play the murders kill Banquo on the side of the road and it is not a very violent scene. In the movie Banquo is on a train and the murders poison him and than shoot him several times. This scene in the movie is a very violent and is in a public place, which shows that the murderers don’t care who sees it take place. It goes along with what Macbeth says that he doesn’t what anyone to associate him with the murder of Banquo. The director of this movie wants to show this violent death of Banquo because in away Macbeth has an equal part in this death of Banquo. This violent death of Banquo shows how much Macbeth is continuing to devolve. Also there is a reference to the previous quote from the witches that applies to what Macbeth has said. He says that he can’t be involved in Banquo’s death because he must pretend to show empathy around the people in his court. Another positive change from the director was the death of Macbeth. The way that Macbeth dies and the fight that Macbeth has before his death a significantly different from the version that takes place in the play. Right before Macbeth and Macduff begin their battle to the death Macbeth says: “Of all men else I have avoided thee. But get thee back. My soul is too much charged With blood of thine already.” (V.iii.24-27). Macbeth basically says that out of all of the people in the world he has managed to avoid Macduff. He says that he should just go away because he has already killed his family. This quote confirms to Macduff what he already knows about the death of his family. This gives Macduff yet even one more reason to kill Macbeth. This battle that leads up to the death of Macbeth is considerably different than it is in the play because in the play the battle happens mostly off scene. When the director made the change to show the rest of the battle between Macbeth and Macduff he made the movie just that much more appealing to the viewers. In this battle Macbeth has many chances to kill Macduff but does not. This is because he is too distraught by the fact that the witches have tricked him with their prophecies. When the director decided to show these scenes he showed just how much affect the witches had on Macbeth. Macbeths mind slowly degraded to where he, a seasoned warrior could not even fight a simple battle. In the end Macbeth’s own ambition and belief of the foul idealism of the witches caused his own death.
The changes in the movie made from the original play were very significant and helped honor the play in many ways. The strategic placement of the witches and the different roles they played help viewers understand how much influence they really had. The way that both Macbeth and Banquo were killed really showed just how violent the characters of this story were. It also shows the extent that Macbeth was willing to go to in his goal to become king. When it came down to it this need to be king is what caused him to find his death. All of these changes from how the witches are portrayed, and the changes made to deaths of Banquo and Macbeth help viewers see a deeper side of the characters. I think that this movie is a very great representation of how the play was originally written. The director adds lots of changes that were highly beneficial to the viewers of the movie. This also allows you too possibly see the movie in a whole new light. I think that there was a few scenes that could have maybe had upgraded graphics. However I think in resolution the movie does Shakespeare’s original play justice.
Works Cited
Macbeth. Dir. Rupert Goold. PBS Video. WFYI, Indianapolis. 6 Oct. 2010. Web. 16 April 2015. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Open Source Shakespeare. George Mason University. n.d. Web. 16 April 2015