...Anas Javaid Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4 Director’s Notes The movie production will be based on the time period that Shakespeare had originally intended, during 11th century Scotland. It will be inside of a type of castle you’d expect during for a time period and setting like this, with rows of tables as long as the hall. The back wall has long red-and-gold tapestry hanging down from the ceiling, complimenting the kingly throne made out of pure gold with a red seat. The expensive-looking tables are laden with decoration and have full course meals laid out on them. Macbeth is donning a heavy purple gown accompanied by a white cloak, with a golden crown sitting atop his head. The Lady Macbeth is sat beside him in a beautiful red dress. All of the lords and ladies are wearing their best outfits for this occasion. The room is lit entirely by candles, and the hall has a warm, but slightly eerie, feeling to it. While the murderers are speaking with Macbeth, everything in the background seems perfectly normal, as people continue to have a good time and feast on the food at their tables. When the murderers inform Macbeth that Fleance escaped, a look of horror and sudden realization comes upon Macbeth’s face as he realized the prophecy of Banquo’s sons becoming king will hold true, and there is nothing he can do. After the murderers take their leave, business continues as usual, besides Macbeth, who is now disturbed at the thought of Fleance overthrowing Macbeth. However, the nature of the scene...
Words: 551 - Pages: 3
...Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, readers witness this exact situation; ambition is what leads to Macbeth’s destruction. This trait can also be referred to as his hamartia. The dangerous growth of ambition begins when the witches present to him a prophecy, continues when Lady Macbeth pushes him until, finally, he has built up enough to drive himself to destruction. To begin with, the first instance in which ambition presents a danger is when Macbeth gets encouraged by the witches’ supernatural promises. After he hears the witches declare that he will be named Thane of Cawdor and “shalt be king hereafter” (I. iii. 48), a spark is lit and his darker side comes out. This is especially noticed when he says, “my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single slate of man that function / Is smother’d insurmise, and nothing is / But what is not.” (I. iii. 138-141). It is visible at this time that ambition is just beginning to drive him in the wrong direction and away from moral consciousness. This battle of conscious vs excessive ambition is central to the story. It is referred to by Lady Macbeth, upon welcoming Macbeth home after hearing of his title as Thane of Cawdor, when she states, “Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it”. (I. v. 17-19) Here, she is afraid that Macbeth is ‘too kind’ and does not have enough ambition to become King. We later find out she is wrong. Later on, Lady Macbeth encourages the...
Words: 911 - Pages: 4
...2012 AP Lit. Comp. 3A Women Overpowering Men – Macbeth Analysis Essay In “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare uses diction, metaphor and simile to describe how to much power can make an individual have conflict within them and sacrifice anything for it. Shakespeare also used the Feminist Theory to show how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth went against each other. In the story “Macbeth”, three witches approach Macbeth and tell him one day he would become king. Macbeth begins to have self-fulfilling prophecy and he went after the throne. Macbeth let his wife, Lady Macbeth; conceive him into murdering people to get the throne. Lady Macbeth felt that Macbeth was weak so she started to go against her husband in order to keep the authority and power in her hands. Lady Macbeth has more strength and power then Macbeth. By letting Lady Macbeth take control over the situation, it made her gain more power and the upper right hand over Macbeth. Macbeth had thoughts about murdering King Duncan, but Lady Macbeth convinced him to make King Duncan his first victim. “Were you drunk when you seemed so hopeful before? Have you gone to sleep and woken up green and pale in fear of this idea? From now on this is what I’ll think of your love. Are you afraid to act the way you desire? Will you take the crown you want so badly, or will you live as coward, always saying “I can’t” after you say “I want to”? You’re like the poor cat in the old story” (Act 1, Scene 7, lines 35-42). Lady Macbeth is trying...
Words: 519 - Pages: 3
...Weston Balskus Macbeth Thesis Paper 1-2-13 British Lit The Witches in ‘Macbeth’ “Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble” (Act 4 Scene 1). These famous words, said by the three witches, come from one of William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies- ‘Macbeth’ Completed in 1606, this play is set in Scotland, and dramatizes the corroding psychological and political effects produced when its protagonist, the Scottish lord Macbeth, chooses evil as the way to fulfill his ambition for power. Shakespeare wrote this play when attitudes were completely different to the attitudes of society today, in particular, widespread belief in witchcraft. In the play of 'Macbeth' the witches have an important effect on Macbeth, the characters, the plot, the theme and the audience. They help construct the play and without them it would have been a totally different story line. The three witches effect characters’ lives, orientate the plot, they are related to most of the themes or motifs and appeal the audience's attention. The witches, or three sisters, have a strong effect on the characters of the play- especially Macbeth. When Macbeth meets the witches for the first time, they greet him as the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is Thane of Glamis and does not know about Cawdor, he hasn’t heard that the Thane of Cawdor has died. “I know I am Thane of Glamis, But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives” (Act 1 Scene 3). When Macbeth learns that the thane of Cawdor has in fact died...
Words: 1369 - Pages: 6
...As you all already know, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tale about the power struggles among the elite. But what makes Macbeth so compelling is its incredible insights into how blind power can make a person to moral reason and common sense. This “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and this “unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it” according to John Acton and William Pitt. By examining the men and women of great power in Macbeth, we get a glimpse into how easily susceptible they are to the corruptibility of power. They suffer the same feelings as us, especially the unrelenting ambition of men, and now women have become victims to in contemporary society. It is against this backdrop, that I will produce a modern rendition of Macbeth that will challenge the audience to contemplate the ever-growing feminist society of the present day. To accomplish this, I will be shifting the focus of my directorial debut away from the many linear adaptations of Macbeth littered throughout the film industry with revisions featuring little to no deviation to its original source by producing a character that brings to the fore the reputable role of the puppet-master that females are renown for in contemporary society. This will be achieved through the depiction of the female’s ability to use her wit to cunningly manipulate the opposite sex, no longer mere accessories to men in this current age. Through alterations to the original play, exploitation...
Words: 1842 - Pages: 8
...This was the first reaction I had with the theatre. Indeed, the staff had a hard time looking for available spaces so that the other viewers can be seated. While they were doing this, I was able to take a good look at the theatre and evaluate it before the lights were turned off. The stage was one of a kind. I watched quite a lot of plays and so far, “Screen Macbeth” had the most unique structure. In the other plays I watched, the stage was just the traditional stage. It was at the front, it is positioned a little lower than the seats of the audience, and the audience were facing the same side. However, “Screen Macbeth” had a platform at the center of the audience. The audience from opposite sides of the theatre were facing each other. It is not the typical four-cornered platform though. It was like a catwalk with four directions. And I think that structure of the stage helped me understand the play even more because I can see the actors’ and actresses’ expressions up-close and it somehow made me feel what emotions the characters were experiencing. The lights were a bit dark. However, with a tragic plot such as Macbeth, dim lighting system is the most appropriate. Fear is one of the feelings emphasized in the play and with the dusky atmosphere in the theatre, I guess the feeling was conveyed perfectly to the audience. The sounds system was great. I guess that is just one of the advantages of a small theatre. The actors and actresses were not even using microphones and yet...
Words: 1020 - Pages: 5
...Macbeth Literary Essay Submitted By: Zachary McGregor May 1st, 2012 I believe that Macbeth is fully responsible for his own destiny because whether or not it was fated, he still chose to do everything he did. We obviously know that Macbeth made some pretty bad decisions over the course of the play. He should be held responsible and forced to pay the consequences of his actions for the following reasons. We know that Macbeth still had the choice of whether or not to murder Duncan, although he was encouraged by the witches’ prophesies and Lady Macbeth he didn’t really have to go through with the murder. We also know that the crimes Macbeth commits are becoming increasingly sinister and evil, as he continues to do these terrible deeds it becomes easier and easier for him to commit them. Finally, Macbeth acknowledges his guilt for the crimes he commits and is therefore fully responsible for his actions. It seems that the witches’ predictions insinuate Macbeth’s desire to become king, however, no one actually forces him to kill Duncan. Even though Macbeth’s decision was most certainly influenced by the witches’ prophesies and Lady Macbeth, he still made the final choice regarding the murder of Duncan which is wrong. Macbeth’s ambition causes him to question his loyalty to the king after hearing the witches’ prophesies. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my shingle state of man that...
Words: 1575 - Pages: 7
...correlated in the play of Macbeth since his impulses and desires greatly affect its surrounding especially while having the authority over a country. Macbeth experienced the fall of his very own ambition which granted him his very own demised. Evil describes Macbeth’s human nature and not only does he experience it, he consults with it too. The witches are highly regarded as a freak of nature which promote evil, as for Macbeth they were his advisors therefore he will make his decision based on the prophecies where they are immoral or virtuous. In consequence of Macbeth’s embracement of his best human quality (Evil) he called upon himself a death sentence. Shakespeare reflected greatly on the position of the king discreetly without stirring up too much controversy particularly on the theory of “Divine right of monarchs”. Though Macbeth attained the power of the thrown he did it through an unorthodox way excluding him from the power of God therefore made him susceptible to any pending attacks. Having Macbeth steal the thrown from Duncan in such a despicable manner is an offense to the Almighty and a violation to the natural order. Shakespeare puts great emphasizes on the legitimacy of his current non-fictional king by creating a psychopath of a king called Macbeth. Macbeth tyrannical decisions lead to his dismiss by others mutinying against him in; seem like Shakespeare borrow some inspiration from the actions of the gun powder plot in 1605. Macbeth can certainly relate to James...
Words: 1013 - Pages: 5
...between Macbeth & Lady Macbeth In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth shows us that she is supportive to Macbeth. When deliberating the plans surrounding King Duncan's murder she says to Macbeth 'Leave all the rest to me'. Lady Macbeth also regards her husband as ‘too full o'th'milk of human kindness'. She is claiming that her husband is very kind and a worthy gentleman. Macbeth uses affectionate words to Lady Macbeth at the beginning of the play, 'my dearest love'. These statements show that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth dote on each other at the beginning of the play, although this does change as the play progresses. Lady Macbeth knows that her husband's kindness makes him weak and susceptible to guilt that could prevent the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth begins to manipulate Macbeth and challenges his feelings of guilt and pity for King Duncan and replaces them with malicious and spiteful feelings: 'look like th'innocent flower, but be the serpent under't’. Lady Macbeth now instructs Macbeth on how he should act, encouraging him to be deceitful to King Duncan, his loyal and trusting leader. Macbeth becomes so absorbed in his mixed feelings about the murder that he withdraws from the loving relationship that he had with Lady Macbeth in the beginning of the play. 'First, I am his Kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself’. This quote from act 1 scene 7 shows how Macbeth is in...
Words: 564 - Pages: 3
...heroes. A Tragic hero is usually a character that makes a mistake that leads to his failure, but a Shakespearean tragic hero is initially one, who is born noble, but not necessarily virtuous; there are some great aspects of personality that he has in excess which would often also be his weakness which creates a conflict for the character. His own destruction brings out the principle or moral of the play. Scholars argues that Othello is not a hero but a murder that commits a crime of passion, but just as every Shakespearean tragic characters, Othello is a person that has made an error of judgment, had a fatal flaw and was destined for defeat; which when combined with external forces, will bring on a tragedies like Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Like many other characters in Shakespearean tragic plays, Othello is not a weak character nor is he a person of failure, but he is the captain of the Venice army, he is married to one of the most beautiful woman of Venice named Desdemona, and he is very well known even though he was of a different ethnicity. When Brabantio accuses him of putting a spell on his daughter Desdemona; in front of the Venetian senate, no one believes the charges because of his outstanding reputation "Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor,"(Othello 1.3.47). Unfortunately, this was only the beginning, Othello’s main role in the play started to unravel when he made his first mistake. Othello is corrupted, and quickly becomes irrational, which leads him to...
Words: 2087 - Pages: 9
...Being Macbeth ENG 125 Instructor: Sahag Gureghian 03/11/2014 Being MacBeth Talk about a difficult read! Macbeth is definitely a difficult read, but it is also a very good read. There is something about the way it is written that has you raising your eyebrow and widening your eyes, as well as, questioning what was just read. Shakespeare used many elements when writing Macbeth. He was able to express each and every idea vividly using the elements. The three elements that I chose to discuss in this essay are foreshadowing, symbolism, and language. The first element that I would like to discuss is foreshadowing. A lot of foreshadowing took place in Macbeth. Clugston defines foreshadowing as “a technique a writer uses to hint or suggest what the outcome of an important conflict or situation in a narrative will be” (2010). Sometimes when foreshadowing is used in Macbeth it is very unclear of what the outcome will be. When you read a certain part and think one thing, Shakespeare uses foreshadowing and the reader is left asking questions and wondering what will happen, and why. In Act 1 Scene 1, the three witches are talking about Macbeth. They are discussing Macbeth’s future during thunder and lightning. I believe that not only does the witches conversation lead the reader to believe that something will happen, but the thunder and lightning also play an important role in what is to come for Macbeth. In scene 3, the witches appear again. This time they are not alone....
Words: 735 - Pages: 3
...Question: Plays are often said to show rather than tell. How far does Richard III indicate that dramatic action and dialogue fulfill all the functions of presenting thought and action? "King Richard III", a play written by William Shakespeare portrays the true sinister nature of the main antagonist, Richard as he overtakes the throne of England through vile methods. Despite being deformed since birth and looked down upon for that very fact, his determination to be a villain replaces his lacking factors. Naturally, actions and dialogues of the characters in the play help the audience paint a portrait of other characters and the roles they occupy in the play. They uncover the unknown side of the characters and show the thoughts which these characters hold as they progress. There are conflicts and contrasts that vary but they are all essential to unifying the play as a whole. Without those factors shaping the play, one would hardly be able to find more about other characters of the play and understand the dynamics of the play. By including monologues and dialogues amongst characters, Shakespeare fulfills all the traditional functions of a play in presenting thought and actions. The play begins with Richard delivering a soliloquy in which he first explains his situation and then proceeds to accounts of his evil deeds. When Richard mentions his deformed body and poor conditions that make him hard to live as a “normal” human being, audience may at first feel sympathy, only to have...
Words: 810 - Pages: 4
...Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century, expresses clearly the strong pull that desire for power can have over a man. Macbeth, the title character of the play, is often expressed as being the villain of the tragedy. However, through studying the play closely it is clear to see that, rather than being an innately evil character, Macbeth is in fact a tragic hero, doomed by fate from the start to descend into the madness which he did. Had it not been for his hamartia and his interaction with the witches and his wife then the play would have had a very different ending. Like every tragic hero in literature Macbeth suffered from a tragic flaw, or a hamartia. In his case, his flaw was his vaulting ambition, combined with a lust for power. Macbeth himself recognises this ambition in act I, scene 7 where he states in a soliloquy “I have no spur to ***** the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition”. This comment suggests that he knows that the only thing that prompts his actions is his ambition. While ambition alone is not in fact a bad trait, when added with a lust for power, this ambition can become dangerous. Did having these qualities mean that Macbeth was indisputably corrupt? No, they simply meant that he, like all human beings, had a flaw and a weakness. Indeed, at the start of the play, Macbeth was seen as the hero, being described as “brave Macbeth” in act I, scene II, and shown as a loyal and brave solider on the battle field. He is also...
Words: 1026 - Pages: 5
...the imagery of ‘hell’ is continued in the porter’s prose: “Who’s there I’th’name of Beelzebub?” the analogy hell becomes imperturbably strongly as instead of receiving a welcome to Macbeth’s castle, guests are cautioned as they put themselves in the devil’s land. The porter is unlike all the characters of noble birth and this is portrayed through his speech in prose and not iambic verse. Despite his casual banter, the porter ironically tells truths, therefore, increasing the sense of theatricality. The comical metaphor of naming the alcohol the equivocator to lechery because alcohol both “provokes, and unprovokes” caricatures Macbeth’s moral confusion and ambition for power. By doing so the porter echoes Lady Macbeth’s sexual taunting of Macbeth about his ability to carry out resolutions. The oxymoron “too cold for...
Words: 856 - Pages: 4
...Languages Program Literature and Theory Professor Gomez Julian Andres Ospina Correa The Tragedy of Macbeth: the thirsty for power In history, a vast majority of tragedies have been written causing excitement and other effects on the reader. Indeed, William Shakespeare and his work The Tragedy Macbeth is not the exception, on the contrary, great value and critics unfolded from this work. Macbeth opened up several ways for tragedy within the literature world, forasmuch as the high quality of its elements, such as its plot, thought, character, diction, and so. Hereafter, I will proceed to go beyond the lines and leave my analysis of the most relevant elements of the magnificent tragedy of Macbeth by the master William Shakespeare. Thrilling from beginning to end is how I perceive The Tragedy of Macbeth as in its plot, which I am going to analyze right after, some important moments take place which makes this tragedy brilliant upon the reader’s eyes. The story is developed during the eleventh century in Scotland lands of which Macbeth looked after as the thane, although some parts of the story take place in England. Some of the most important characters within this tragedy are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the three witches, Duncan, Banquo, Fleance, Malcolm, MacDuff, the three murderers, among others of minor relevance. The rising action initiates when both Macbeth and Banquo encountered with the three witches who predict their future telling them about their fortune...
Words: 1185 - Pages: 5
