“Macbeth” When a play is presented on film, the director takes the script, and with poetic license, interprets it. A film not only contains the actual words of the author (in this case Shakespeare), but it includes action, acting, and cinematographic techniques; the three are used to better portray the author’s story. Using these elements, the director’s interpretation of the plot is reinforced. The film provides symbolic images and a visual interpretation, hence Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” is better understood by the viewers. The use of action was essential in the film. Murder, parties, battles, dancing, and embraces were actions that were focused upon the most.
For example, in the scenes of Duncan’s murder, the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the two guards, and Duncan were emphasized. The director used close-ups and long pauses in dialogue and action to give the viewer more time to focus on details in the scenes. Also, the long pauses and close-ups add to the drama, and overall mood of the film. Facial expressions, body movements, and speech were combined to portray “Macbeth” in such a way that the characters, and their emotions could be better understood. Thus, reinforcing the plot. For example, the close-ups of Macbeth’s face in the scenes surrounding Duncan’s murder clearly convey to the viewer his fear, guilt, uncertainty, anxiety, confusion and horror.
Without these close-ups, these emotions might possibly have not been clearly sent to the viewer. The actions of the characters as a whole in the film portray the change in mood over the course of the film. For example, in the beginning scenes, the soldiers rode high on their horses, the children played and laughed, townspeople seemed to be bustling about in a pleasant manner, and smiles were on all faces, especially at the party at Macbeth’s house the night of Duncan’s murder. Towards the end of the fourth act, the soldiers, townspeople, and children were crying, moaning and showed signs of suffering. In conclusion, these overall actions of the characters portrayed the mood change over the course of the film, thus emphasizing the fact that Macbeth had brought poverty, sorrow and horror to Scotland. The cinematography enforced the mood, drama, and plot.
Analytical Essay Macbeth Film Comparison
Deemed as one of Shakespeare's most tragic plays, 'MacBeth' ventures deep within the dark side of human nature. What makes Shakespeare's plays successful is that the themes behind them are still relevant in today's society. Two directors, Polanski and Freestone, have tried to recapture the story of MacBeth through the use of film. A comparison between the two separate versions can be found in ...
The use of color in the film was telltale of the mood. The colors were drab, lifeless, mellow colors. These colors were telltale signs of the setting and mood of the play. The setting was in a sorrowful, dirty, suffering country; the mood was sorrowful and suffering as well. Some cinematography that was used was editing. The director chose to edit out the scene between Macbeth and Malcolm in the final part of the film.
This took away from some of the suspense and hatred that was felt between the two in the actual book. But the director has this ability, poetic license. Also, some other changes from the original book are when the porter urinates before answering the door, and the nudity portrayed. The nudity was used to express vulnerability. For example, Lady Macbeth was naked in her sleepwalking scene; she was most vulnerable then because her dreams were revealing her ties with Duncan’s murder.
Also, Macduff’s child was naked right before Macbeth’s men slaughtered him. The nudity here was another sign of vulnerability. The acting in Macbeth was average. In some scenes, for example, on the battlefield in the opening of the film, Macbeth slipped out of character.
Lady Macbeth at times was clumsy and not as graceful as her character demands. However, the actual appearances, the costumes, and personalities expressed some characters in such a way that greatly improved the understanding of the character’s role. The gruff appearances of the men on the battlefield, the delicate nature of Lady Macbeth before the murder, the haughty appearance of Duncan, and the ugliness of the witches all added to the film. Without these appearances, the characters would lose their effects on the viewers. The film of Macbeth was most alike to the original script, with a few differences and interpretations. The action, cinematographic techniques aided in interpreting the play.
Macbeth Essay: Is Macbeth a sympathetic character?
In Shakespeare’s screenplay, tragedies usually arouse feelings of pity and fear. Yet is the gradual breakdown of Macbeth enough for the audience to feel sympathetic for him? Macbeth is taken place in Scotland. It explores themes like power, desires, ambition and gender etc.. In the story, Macbeth is a general that, due to three witches’ prophecies, fell from a hero into the trap of dark desires ...
The symbolism, for example use of color and nudity, also helped to express the mood and position of the actors. And the slight changes fro the original script all made the film of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” a small success. The director used his poetic license well, and made the plot easier to understand and interpret.
