...Dramatic Review of Macbeth The Classical Theatre Project’s rendition of the “cursed” play is simply brilliant. In this professional production presented at the distinguished Winter Garden Theatre, Director Charles Roy delves into Macbeth through the viewpoint of modern military regimes. While each director will view Macbeth with different perspectives, Roy does an outstanding job by transforming Macbeth from a friendly hero to a Stalinesque tyrant. It is clear that the entire ensemble cast had created a production that was true to Shakespeare’s intent, true to their characters and true to our modern times. Having watched several renditions of Macbeth in the past, I was certainly surprised when I found myself thoroughly engaged and intrigued throughout out the entire show. Opposed to other performances, I found the this play to be exceptionally well executed because of the well trained actors, unique sets, gorgeous costumes, stunning special effects and the brilliant modernization of the play. One of the many things I specifically enjoyed was that the Witches were portrayed as nurses to fit into the modern military regime. I really enjoyed the first act in the beginning scenes when the Witches told the prophecy to Macbeth and Banquo because of how Roy added a touch of humour to that part lifting the "darkness" that typically clouds the play. One part I did not like however was the fact that the witches seemed to be not evil or mysterious unlike the text where the witches...
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...Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Theatre Review. There are many who do not know the famous tale of ‘Macbeth’ by the literacy mastermind, William Shakespeare. For those few who are not familiar with the story, it is one of pride, fate, deception and treachery. Macbeth, who returns from battle is confronted by three witches who have foreseen that he will become King of Scotland. The present king of Scotland, Duncan decides he will confer the title of the traitorous Cawdor on the heroic Macbeth. Macbeth makes the decision to murder Duncan, unaware of Duncan’s plan, and thus claims the throne for himself, placing the blame on the King’s guards. What follows can only be described as madness, as Macbeth and his wife become consumed with guilt, leading Macbeth on a road to insanity, which ends in a violent spectacle… I became excited to see this adaptation of Macbeth, as I had seen from its advertising was a darker and more modern take on the original play, after seeing a flyer featuring on it three hooded figures in a graffiti filled subway. Upon further inspection of the flyer I read that this production was described as a “darker, modern take on the Shakespearian story with darkly comic elements.” Well, as soon as I arrived in the lyric theatre and took my seat, I could definitely see I was in for a ‘darker’ version of the story by just looking at the greyish monotone set, resembling the inside of a castle on its ground floor, then just above it was an angled stage, giving the impression...
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...Name Institution Professor Date Macbeth: Character and Synopsis Review At the start of the Shakespearean play “Macbeth” the character Macbeth; also, the protagonist features a dichotomy in strength and weakness. This is though conformity that several characters in the play are emotionally unstable and tortured. Macbeth, like other characters, has his mind pulled in to conflicting directions consequential to compelling desires, obligations, ambitions, and desires. Three attributes that cause a strain in Macbeths life are ambition, self-doubt, and bravely. Shakespeare uses Macbeth in showing how personal ambitions and guilt terribly affect people who lack a strong personality. The aforementioned three attributes illustrate the struggle for mastery of Macbeth through the play. We first hear of Macbeth in the wounded captain’s description of his battle boldness hence get an impression that he is a capable brave warrior. His nobility and rank are valuable aspects that make him seem fit for his status. However, his encounter with three witches provokes a deep impatient ambition. Soon after the first prophecy on being Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth gets a nasty image of the murder of King Duncan in his mind. This would open a room for him to assume the throne (Bloom 8). Macbeth is though not solely and ambitious as seen in his fright of the murder image that thoroughly defiles his loyalty. Macbeth is portrayed as deeply thinking about being the king. He is though undecided whether...
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...production. This is one of the points that the director of the 1983 Macbeth, should’ve been aware of. One version of the play, Macbeth, was directed by Jack Gold in 1983. It was the BBC Drama TV special. The director was in charge of the Shakespeare series and everyone was waiting for Macbeth. Although they were a little behind schedule, the play made into a TV series finally aired. It is very hard to find. Macbeth is a play about Macbeth’s journey to the throne. He found out that he would be king by a prophecy told by 3 witches. In the beginning of the play Macbeth is with Banquo, they tell him that Macbeth would be made thane of Cador, and at later time, he will be King of Scotland. The witches also say that Banquo would be in line for the throne, but would not be king of Scotland. The story continues and it shows how Macbeth goes crazy to get to the throne. There are many deaths and tragedies that occur. But Macbeth always asks the three witches, what will happen. This version of the play, Macbeth, wasn’t lived up to its expectation. There are many parts of the movie where it didn’t match the story. The acting was a little awkward. There were scenes where Macbeth speaks his thoughts, and it looked like he was trying to make a joke. There are many instances where the language was a little difficult to understand. There isn’t any way that the director tried to help the audience, those who didn’t read Macbeth, understand what was going on. In other to...
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...Name Institution Professor Date Macbeth: Character and Synopsis Review At the start of the Shakespearean play “Macbeth†the character Macbeth; also, the protagonist features a dichotomy in strength and weakness. This is though conformity that several characters in the play are emotionally unstable and tortured. Macbeth, like other characters, has his mind pulled in to conflicting directions consequential to compelling desires, obligations, ambitions, and desires. Three attributes that cause a strain in Macbeths life are ambition, self-doubt, and bravely. Shakespeare uses Macbeth in showing how personal ambitions and guilt terribly affect people who lack a strong personality. The aforementioned three attributes illustrate the struggle for mastery of Macbeth through the play. We first hear of Macbeth in the wounded captain’s description of his battle boldness hence get an impression that he is a capable brave warrior. His nobility and rank are valuable aspects that make him seem fit for his status. However, his encounter with three witches provokes a deep impatient ambition. Soon after the first prophecy on being Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth gets a nasty image of the murder of King Duncan in his mind. This would open a room for him to assume the throne (Bloom 8). Macbeth is though not solely and ambitious as seen in his fright of the murder image that thoroughly defiles his loyalty. Macbeth is portrayed as deeply thinking about being the king. He is though undecided...
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...Synopsis Macbeth is a play about a Scottish nobleman who learns, from a prophecy given to him by three witches, that he is to become king. When Macbeth's ambition overcomes his moral judgement, he assassinates the reigning king and fulfils the prophecy. In doing so, however, he undermines his own rule with insecurity - insecurity he created when he upset the natural succession to the throne. Beheaded in battle, Macbeth's death allows the rightful heir to reclaim the throne and order is restored. Historical background The play is set in Scotland and the characters' names, including Duncan, Macbeth, Malcolm and Siward, are based on the names of real 11th century British figures. Although Duncan and Macbeth were both kings in life as in the play, Shakespeare did not directly base his narrative on fact, but instead used historical events as a frame for the action in the play. The real Macbeth, ruler of the Moray region of Scotland, was elected to the Scottish throne when the previous king, Duncan, died in battle. Whether Macbeth killed Duncan in the battle remains unknown. Historical opinions suggest that Macbeth was a charitable king who brought peace and prosperity to Scotland during his reign of 17 years. During this time, he made advances into northern England, which displeased Siward, Earl of Northumberland. Siward then campaigned to depose Macbeth and reinstate Malcolm Canmore, Duncan's son. Malcolm eventually beheaded Macbeth in a duel at Lumphanan to become Malcolm...
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...English Review Summary Plot: Introduction: Thane of Cawdor betrays king, & is beheaded. Trigger: Macbeth hears the witches prophecies & kills King Duncan Rising Action: Macbeth becomes king. Banquo gets killed my murderers. Fleance escapes. Climax: More prophecies are told. Macduff finds his family dead & joins Malcolm. Falling Action: The forest of Birnam woods moved to Dunsinane. Macduff kills Macbeth. Conclusion: Malcolm becomes King. Dramatic Purpose Connections Act 1 Scene 7: This scene reveals the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, as well as their character. It shows how Lady Macbeth is the dominant one in the relationship and Macbeth can be easily manipulated. It also foreshadows King Duncan's death. This scene directs sympathy towards Macbeth and withdraws sympathy from Lady Macbeth. Act 3 Scene 4: This scene gives information about events occurring off stage that cannot be shown on stage. During the banquet, Macbeth’s character is revealed to the other characters in the play. This scene also displays that Macbeth's conscience is trying to show him the wrong that he has done. Act 5 Scene 1: During Act 1, Lady Macbeth looked at the murders as a benefit for herself but, in this scene, it shows how Lady Macbeth’s character traits change throughout the play. As Lady Macbeth sleep walks during this scene, it shows that she feels guilty about the murders and that her conscience is at work. Motifs: Sight light, Darkness Blindness...
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...10HB Literary Analysis Assignment 2015.6.11 Macbeth and the Prophecy In the beginning of the play, the three witches told Macbeth about the prophecy that he was doing to be the thane of Cawdor, then the king of Scotland. Although Macbeth’s own choices plays a larger role in his downfall, the prophecy was also an important part of the down fall. Macbeth’s down fall was caused by both Macbeth’s own choices of deciding to get his throne by killing and to be a ruthless tyrant, and the witches’ prophesy acting as a “catalyst” (Bernad, 59) in this chemical reaction. Macbeth probably entertained the idea of murder before meeting the three witches (Firkins, 417). This can be tell by Banquo’s words after the witches tell Macbeth’s prophecy: “Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear / Things that do sound so fair? (Act I, Scene iii)” Macbeth’s fear of the prophecy showed that he had thought about getting his throne by killing king Duncan; he was afraid that his thoughts will came true. Judging from his idea of murder, Macbeth has “unquestionable physical courage”, and also ambitious and unprincipled (Firkins, 417). Although Macbeth has ethics and reasons of not killing Duncan, but he cares more about getting into and stay in the throne than anything else. He dares to do whatever “bloody businesses” to maintain his position, even those businesses causes him a great feeling of guiltiness (especially the killing of Duncan), which eventually leads to his down fall. Although...
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...the significance of Macbeths ‘’Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ ’to the meaning of the play overall? Macbeth is a complicated playset set in the medieval times which focuses on the disintegration of society, relationships and characters themselves. Shakespeare’s famous ‘’Tomorrow and Tomorrow’’ transcends time and is still a ringing bell in today’s society .This soliloquay stretches throughout the play emphasising time namely Macbeth’s gradual dehumanisation due to his ambition and substantial exposure to evil where he is trapped in an endless spiral of guilt and eventually tragedy. This is a comparison between his past self where he was honourable compared to his present self where he is ruthless. Perhaps the greatest tragedy in Macbeth isn’t the death of himself but the path of dehumanisation he takes. The theme of how substantial exposure to evil affects you is illustrated in Macbeth’s Soliloquay. This eerie, altered perspective of life and mortality has definitely overcome Macbeth due to his exposure to sheer evil wether it is the deeds he performs or the witches. Shakespeare uses contrast to highlight the deterioration of Macbeth as in the beginning of the play he is portrayed by the nobles, soldiers and King Duncan as noble, brave, loyal and valiant ‘Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love...’ and in comparison to the time of this soliloquay is a person who has piled copius blood upon his hands and is an illogical dejected tyrant. For Macbeth he has gained the Scottish...
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...Macbeth at the start of the play At the start of the play, Macbeth is a good man who knows his place. He is a loyal servant of the King. God appoints the King to rule. If the King rules well, then his subjects will love him and he will reward their love with gratitude and generosity. This is the ideal state of affairs at the start of Macbeth, though just before it, there has been a rebellion, and the play opens with an account of the defeat of the rebels. Although God appoints the ruler, it is possible for a gross disturbance of the natural order of things to happen. And this may allow a rebel (usurper) to overthrow the rightful monarch. In Macbeth, this is what happens when the witches dabble in the affairs of men. But Hecate, who must obey the higher powers of the universe, shows the witches that order must be restored, and Macbeth removed from power. Macbeth is very loyal to begin with, so his treachery against Duncan is especially shocking. It is only believable (plausible) because of the way the witches arouse powerful ambition in him. But though they suggest things to him, the witches do not force Macbeth to kill Duncan. His evil action is freely chosen and (as we say today) premeditated. In fact Macbeth sees very good arguments against Duncan's murder but is stung into firmness by his wife's scorn. She says that if she had made a promise like her husband's, she could even have dashed out the brains of her own child. (Perhaps, though, this is bravado - later she admits...
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...the Witches In the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, the element of sorcery play many roles such as dealing tragedy, and often stirring up the truth in the physical form of the witches. The three witches that Macbeth stumbles upon were man-like by appearance and offered very difficult discernment for both Macbeth and Banquo to tell whether they were woman or not. Like their appearance, their roles offered the same discernment. Although some critics offer that point that the witches have nothing to do with the play, it can be argued that the weird sisters in fact take control of the outcome of the fates of many. The setting of the play is like the netherworld setting, which is known by the rule of uncertainty. The only thing set in stone was evil, hence the weird sisters. With that being said, the role of the weird sisters was to create an uncertainty, to open up the doors to an unknown realm, and to cause the scattering of ideas. This is seen throughout the play such as when the witches plant a seed into Macbeth’s head to cause him to think, and to act differently, which ultimately causes the exposure of his true character. The first role that the witches play is made obvious when they deliberately acknowledge Macbeth as not only the Thane of Glamis, but also the Thane of Cawdor and all hailing King. This, most likely being the most important event in the poem due to its initiation of the actual purpose of the story, is what really leads Macbeth to believe that he has to...
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...Name] [Course Number] [Date] A comparison between Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Voltaire’s Candide. Introduction. Macbeth and Candide are some of the greatest literary works in history with strong themes that have echoed throughout history and are reviewed to date. They challenged the moral, political and religious affiliations of the times in which they were written. The proficiency with which the works were delivered while different, proved effective at addressing the issues conceptualized by the authors. While Shakespeare chose to deliver his work in the form of plays, Voltaire chose to deliver his as a novel. Candide and Macbeth depict several themes, some of which are common to them and others which differ. Though Shakespeare is famous for his various plays, Candide is widely regarded as Voltaire’s magnum opus. Thesis statement. While Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Voltaire’s Candide both depict a protagonist who is faced with challenges throughout their journey, Candide exhibits personal growth and willingness to change while Macbeth exhibits no real personal growth. Similarities between themes. Power corrupts. This is a major theme that transcends both literary works. In Macbeth, this theme is very evident when Macbeth is approached by the three witches while with Banquo. Their revelation of the future in which he would be named Thane of Cawdor and consequently the king of Scotland, sparks the ambitious ember in Macbeth. This spark is enflamed by the confirmation by king Duncan of...
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...Weird sisters are seen in many novels, but two famous ones about three supernaturally evil sisters are Dracula and Macbeth. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is about an old vampire coming to London and some vampire hunters trying to track him down. After he kills someone they love, and turns her into a vampire, the hunters realize what is going on, and to try to save their precious woman, Mina, they go on a journey. Their journey is to rid the world of Count Dracula and his vampire girls. Dracula’s vampire girls are three sisters in the book seen in Dracula’s castle. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is about a Thane who gets greedy, and kills to get, and keep the throne. The play then shows and focuses on his guilt from those deeds. During the play, Macbeth becomes fascinated with three witch sisters seen in the beginning by him and Banquo. In...
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...A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSIC EDITION OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH LINDA NEAL UNDERWOOD S E R I E S E D I T O R S : W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth 2 INTRODUCTION William Shakespeare developed many stories into excellent dramatizations for the Elizabethan stage. Shakespeare knew how to entertain and involve an audience with fast-paced plots, creative imagery, and multi-faceted characters. Macbeth is an action-packed, psychological thriller that has not lost its impact in nearly four hundred years. The politically ambitious character of Macbeth is as timely today as he was to Shakespeare's audience. Mary McCarthy says in her essay about Macbeth, "It is a troubling thought that Macbeth, of all Shakespeare's characters, should seem the most 'modern,' the only one you could transpose into contemporary battle dress or a sport shirt and slacks." (Signet Classic Macbeth) Audiences today quickly become interested in the plot of a blindly ambitious general with a strong-willed wife who must try to cope with the guilt engendered by their murder of an innocent king in order to further their power. The elements of superstition, ghosts, and witchcraft, though more readily a part of everyday life for the Renaissance audience, remain intriguing to modern teenagers. The action-packed...
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...effective EAP instruction within the academic sphere. The conflicting perspectives are that a critical approach to pedagogy, with its challenge of current ‘implicit and explicit standards’ (Cherryholmes: 1988) is most effective. Other academics argue the case of a vulgar pragmatic approach that relies on structure and ‘the notions of theory and practice’ (Williams: 1983). There is also support for a hybrid approach to EAP learning, known as critical pragmatism. This method encourages the characteristic critical pedagogical challenge of the status quo, while still requiring ideas to be translated and conveyed by means of structured ‘discourse practices’ (Cherryholmes: 1988). Finally, upon examining the aforementioned approaches to EAP by review of scholarly literature, I intend to argue affirmatively that vulgar-pragmatic based pedagogy is the best and most effective method of teaching EAP to university students. The concept of critical pedagogical learning relies on the principle that ‘the classroom needs to be continually interrogated for the ideologies it fosters and reproduces’ (McLaren: 2011). This means that ‘criticalists’ (those who support a critical approach) prefer a system of education that challenges students to think beyond what is taught and form their own opinions; to broaden their thoughts and to construct their own voice (Palmer, Emmon: 2004). Burbules and Berk...
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