Friday, April 8, 2011
Macbeth Film Analysis!
Ooooh I love seeing Shakespeare performed--especially because every director/actor/costume designer/set designer/voice coach/tech manager interprets the texts in his/her own way. The challenge for these theatre professionals is to channel their individual interpretations into one cohesive, powerful production. You saw two different productions in class today: the 1971 Polanski production and the 2009 Folger production (directed by Teller and Posner). I am sorry that I couldn't watch the films with you, but I hope they were intriguing and thought-provoking. There are a million decisions that went into the film you saw today, so I hope you left class with an idea of what particular decisions you can now analyze. Your job in this post is to analyze something about either or both of the film versions. You can analyze (and remember, that means to argue something with specific support from the film) Lady Macbeth's purple dress or the vastly different performances of the "What if we fail?...We FAIL" scene or the portrayal of the witches in either or both performances...the possibilities really are limitless. Your goal, though, is to write a clear, eloquent analysis of the film(s) that hopefully helps us understand the repercussions and meanings of the choices made by each director. Please, please, please proofread before you post. I will be grading not just your content but also your style, so be thoughtful and deliberate. If you include citations from the text, make sure you cite them correctly!
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Lady Macbeth is portrayed in two completely different ways in these two theatrical productions. In Roman Polanski's version, Lady Macbeth seems very innocent. However, in Folger Production's version, Lady Macbeth is an extreme opposite than the woman we see in the first version. When Lady Macbeth speaks in Roman Polanski's version, she speaks very softly and doesn’t seem capable of the murder which she is planning. It seems that not only is Macbeth scared to commit this murder, but Lady Macbeth is too due to the fact that she is soft spoken and not as loud and violent as the Lady Macbeth in Folger Production's is. Also, when Duncan arrives at Inverness, she bows to him, smiles, and shows respect. They sit by each other at dinner and talk, and dance with each other in the celebration of his visiting. In Folger's version, this feast is not shown, so it is not known if Lady Macbeth and Duncan have any more interaction than just greeting each other when he arrives. When Macbeth says "we will proceed no further in this business," each movie/play portrays Lady Macbeth's reaction differently (1.7.34). In Roman Polanski's version, she seems to become desperate and begs Macbeth to follow through with the plan. The viewers can see the tears in her eyes and also see that she is gently touching his shoulder and neck in order to show she cares and really wants the murder to happen. She seems more of a partner in crime and encourager than a forceful wife making her husband do something. Folger Production's play portrays Lady Macbeth as a forceful, violent force using sex appeal and power to overcome Macbeth's fear. Once Macbeth says the words "we will proceed no further in this business," she freaks out, pushes him into a door, and then uses her sex appeal by trying to kiss him (1.7.34). In this version, Lady Macbeth also seems older than Macbeth and acts more of a mother disciplining a son than a wife supporting a husband. The previous version shows her as about the same age or younger than Macbeth, giving the idea that she may be more subordinate to him and not as powerful as an older, more experienced wife could be.
ReplyDeleteIn the opening scene of the Folger production of Macbeth, the three witches are conversing in the midst of Macbeth’s hectic battle. The play opens with flashing lights, frantic drums, and a violent battle scene where Macbeth is slaying one enemy after the other. Such a setting adds stimulation to the scene and the audience is immediately drawn into the action. The first witch, who is elevated on the center platform, calls to the others who are among the audience. She is dressed in dark, mangled clothing with a veil covering her face. Because her face is covered, the director immediately provides the play with a sense of mystery. The audience does not have the ability to discern if the witch is human, real, or supernatural. The first witch’s face remains covered as they continue to chant. Meanwhile the other two witches make their way onto the stage, they move among the bodies and Macbeth’s ongoing battle. They are both uncovered, revealing their disfigured and inhuman faces. With the two witches literally on a lower level than the first and with their faces uncovered, it gives the impression that the first witch is superior. The scene escalates as the first witch chants, “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (1.1.12). This is the height of the scene, as it reveals the nature of their intentions. These chants continue as they move around the stage, hovering over Macbeth during his battle. Their presence in Macbeth’s battle suggests they have been watching him and are eager to be involved. Suddenly the first witch joins the others on the first level and stands over Macbeth, still chanting, as he brutally kills an enemy. She grabs the bleeding man’s head and seemingly sucks the blood from his mouth. At this point, she has both figuratively and literally joined the level of the other witches and is no longer held at a higher level. Overall, this opening scene is very violent, is chaotic, and sets the mood for the play. The witches’ presence in Macbeth’s battle gives the audience an immediate idea of their direct and indirect involvement throughout the play.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the opening witch scene of the Roman Polanski's version of the play gives the audience the feeling that the witches are more realistic than in the Folger play. In the movie, the witches are the only ones on the screen, they are the center of attention and the audience is only focused on them. In contrast, the Folger play has them in the background of Macbeth's battle, not the main act. The Folger play overlapped different lines with scenes like this quite often. While Lady Macbeth was reading Macbeth's letter, he was on a balcony giving his soliloquy about the consequences of killing Duncan. This gave a clear image of the contrast of emotions of different characters, mainly Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. While Lady Macbeth was practically shouting with joy the news of Macbeth becoming king, Macbeth was softly voicing his lines. Also, the Folger play made Macbeth seemed more influenced by others' opinions than in the Roman Polanski version. The witches are seen on stage with Macbeth, chanting as Macbeth is killing the man. In addition, Macbeth would argue with Lady Macbeth about killing Duncan, while the Roman Polanski’s Macbeth gave soliloquys in solitude and did not bother to answer Lady Macbeth when she was trying to persuade him. In the film, Macbeth finishes the line “and falls on th’ other-“ when Lady Macbeth comes into the scene (1.7.27} suggesting that he is not as heavily influenced by Lady Macbeth and is capable of forming his own thoughts. In the Folger production, Macbeth says his lines with more hesitancy and gives into Lady Macbeth’s attempts at seduction. The Folger play interprets Lady Macbeth as a more influential force for Macbeth, while the movie suggests that Macbeth comes up with the plan to murder Duncan on his own.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1971 Roman Polanski Movie, the weather plays an important role to help define the struggle occurring in the play. As Duncan and his troops are on their way to Inverness, the weather is overcast and misty. This is implying that Duncan’s fate is hazy right now because Macbeth is contemplating on if he can follow through with his murderous plot. As soon as Duncan enters Inverness, he is greeted by Lady Macbeth. As a reply to Duncan’s greeting, Lady Macbeth she says, “All our service, in every point twice done and then done double,” and thunder rumbles, causing Duncan’s men look up to the sky as she stares directly at Duncan without flinching (1. 6. 18-19). Lady Macbeth’s stare proves that she is has planned something wicked and that she is lying about being so hospitable. The thunder serves as a warning to Duncan to not trust her and to leave. Unfortunately, as the rain falls, it causes Duncan enter the castle faster than he would have if it were not raining. The rain serves as the citizen’s tears for when Duncan is murdered because as soon as he enters the castle, he is destined to never leave. During the feast, Macbeth is stuck in an inner-thought soliloquy and is interrupted by Duncan’s toast to him. When Macbeth clanks glasses, a powerful wind gushes through the window, blowing out candles and knocking over decorations. The wind portrays the betrayal of Macbeth because as Macbeth thinks of Duncan’s murder, he also agrees to a toast of his good name made by Duncan. After everyone sits, the camera shows the outside of Inverness and a streak of lightning flashes down from the sky to the castle. This scene is very similar to the scene of Frankenstein because as the lightning gives life to Frankenstein, it also gives life to the monster inside Macbeth. Macbeth says to himself, “[first], as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then’ as his host,” as he is outside, surrounded by rain. His facial expression is glum and depressed. Both his facial expressions and the downpour of rain help conclude that Macbeth has a violent storm going on inside of him. The movie helps portray that no matter what decision Macbeth chooses, he will always be miserable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sara when she said that the two productions portrayed Lady Macbeth in entirely different manners. However, I believe in the Roman Polanski version Lady Macbeth's tone contains evil. Her mannerisms and beauty deceives the audience and Macbeth, but it is very clear in her voice her intentions. In the scene when she is convincing Macbeth to carry out the horrible deed they elude that Lady Macbeth is reverts to a spoiled child tactic to change Macbeth's mind.Unfortunately, instead of assuming the responsible parent role Macbeth gives in and becomes a vulnerable child and Lady Macbeth then has the upper hand. In the Folger production they display Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's relationship as unstable. One moment they are passionate for one another and the next they are physically and emotionally abusing one and then back to normal again. This is showing that perhaps their were preexisting conflicts prior to scheme and if their marriage can sustain more problems with in it.
ReplyDeleteThe tone of each play is completely different. In the Roman Polanski film, there is a calm and innocent feel, while the Folger version has loud and “in your face” actors and sets. The Polanski film starts off with a grey, eerie beach and three realistic witches huddled around each other in the sand. No one is around, the waves are gently crashing, and the sisters do not raise their voices to more than normal volume as they make their plans to meet with Macbeth. Meanwhile, in the beginning of the Folger version, drums are being banged on, lightning and thunder are striking, and the three witches are portrayed more as men, running around and yelling. Instead of looking like real people, they wear monster-like masks, and also, there is nothing but chaos in that scene of them planning to meet with Macbeth; their tone of voice is loud and angry. Another factor of the each play that depicts the tone is the way Lady Macbeth is portrayed. The Roman Polanski film has a beautiful, young woman play the role, who looks like she could do no harm to anyone. She does not make it obvious when King Duncan comes that they are plotting to kill him, and she only talks to Macbeth about the plans very cautiously, in a low voice and in a private area. She uses her innocence to talk Macbeth into following through with killing the king. The Folger Lady Macbeth is middle-aged and has a strong personality that seems to have complete control over her husband. When making plans with Macbeth to kill Duncan, it doesn’t show if Duncan is in a nearby room able to hear the Macbeths or not, but Lady Macbeth is yelling and shoving around Macbeth to get him to commit to her plans. She uses force and seduction towards Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteI like how Hallie Belle described the relationship between Macbeth and his wife according to the Folger production, but she also said that in the Polanski version, Lady Macbeth was evil sounding. I agree with this, but I feel as though she sounds more conniving in the Folger Production rather than the Polanski. She is obviously very controlling and dominant in the book, which is portrayed nicely, but differently, in both productions. She is almost violent in her approach towards Macbeth in the Folger production. She controls him with her beauty and he falls for it, almost like that's the power she holds over his head when forcing him to kill Duncan. In the Polanski production, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth both show their abilities to put on a very good front. They both seem sincerely happy and excited to see Duncan when he arrives at Inverness. The two of them make him feel at home with the huge meal and the dancing and his big comfy room. The room is lit up across the dark castle from Macbeth and his wife, they are watching the guards, conspiring for their kill. The outfits in the Polanski production seemed to be more suitable than the others'. The king and the nobles all had divine clothing with jewels and when it showed king Ducan's guards dancing, they had scrappy clothes on that looked like rags. This plays on the theme of clothes in the book and says that clothes can separate social classes.
ReplyDeleteThe Wyrd sisters are portrayed in two different ways in each movie. In the Roman Polanski version, which was published in 1971, they are dressed in black capes and look like humans.In the Folger Production version that was published in 2009, they look like monsters. The witches changed over the 38 year time period. The change is a symbol, to the audience and the characters in the play, that the witches will change through time in Macbeth to not only become more wicked visually, but also within.
ReplyDeleteThe voice coach in the Polanski production made the characters from the book come to life. The Wyrd sister voices were creepy and high pitched unlike how the Folger production made the Wyrd sisters voices loud and deep. Lady Macbeth in the Polanski production changed her voice depending on how she felt. In (1.5.45-60) Lady Macbeth's voice is firm when she is giving this speech. Whereas in (1.7.53-67) she begins to cry and her voice softens. The Folger production just made Lady Macbeth have only one tone of voice, they made her voice loud and dramatic.
ReplyDeleteThe costumes in these two productions of MacBeth are executed in two completely different ways. In Roman Polanski’s version of the play, the costumes are very extravagant and colorful. However, the costumes in Folger Production’s version are simple and dull. Lady MacBeth’s costumes in both productions are very different. When we see Lady MacBeth at the feast for King Duncan in Roman Polanski’s version, she is wearing a white and gold dress. The color white suggests that she is innocent and pure, yet she is plotting a murder. In Folger Production’s version, Lady MacBeth is wearing a purple dress. Along with her evil digs at MacBeth and wishes to kill Duncan, Lady MacBeth’s purple dress proposes her desire for power. Purple is known to be one of the royal colors. This suggests that Lady MacBeth has power on her mind. Since she found out about MacBeth’s future as king, the audience can see her craving for power by her actions and also by what she wears. King Duncan’s costumes are also very different in the two productions. Duncan’s costume in Roman Polanski’s version is gaudy and very king-like. On the other hand in Folger Production’s adaptation, his robes and belt are very simple with only one or two neutral colors. In Folger’s production, the simple-colored robes suggest that Duncan is a humble friendly king who does not want to cause any harm to anybody. While in Roman Polanski’s version, King Duncan’s extravagant clothing suggests that he is boastful of his riches and wants everybody to know that he is at the top and above the rest of them. The costume designers and directors of both of these plays have different interpretations of the character’s wardrobes, as well as their characteristics and actions.
ReplyDeleteThe appearance of the actors in Folger’s production of Macbeth and the Roman Polanski’s version of Macbeth are very different in the way that the Folger production seems less serious than the Polanski version. The three witches/ weird sisters are the most dissimilar. In Roman Polanski version, the witches are messy, human looking women of different ages dressed in cloaks. The women that looks the most aged and disfigured is very clearly the 1st witch. In the Folger Production, the witches are male actors with monster-like figures and have greenish white skin. They are wearing torn and blood stained gowns. The witches of the Folger production are extremely supernatural and magical. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and King Duncan are dressed like people of power and royalty. In the Folger production they all look like everyone else. All of the men in the Folger production wear mid calf length skirts, and belts over what looks like sweaters. King Duncan’s costume resembles the other men and not a king. He also does not have on a crown. The costumes in the Folger production are humorous, while the Roman Polanski costumes are very nice and more representative of the actors. In regards to the appearance of the actors along with the acting, the Polanski movie portrays the story of Mcabeth in a very realistic way and the Folger production is staged to please and humor the audience while telling the story of Macbeth. The Folger Production is a tragedy heavily laced with comedy and the Polanski production is a more serious tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIn different productions of Shakespearean plays, the tones of acting are usually vastly different- including Macbeth produced by Folger Theater in 2009 and Roman Polanksi in 1971. In the Folger version of the Shakespearean classic, only one actress was in the actual production, and one woman in the introduction. This meaning that the three Weird sisters were portrayed by men. Not only were they portrayed by men, but by men with rather deep voices. The first time the witches are heard speaking, a hint of giggling arose from the audience, not only from the people in the movie, but also the people watching the movie. Also, when Malcom, the Captain, and Donalbain meet King Duncan in Act 1 Scene 2, every time Malcolm says his lines, the actor starts laughing. This version of Macbeth was produced comically, and the actors and actresses had fun portraying their characters. However, in the Polanski version of the cursed tragedy, the scenes appeared extremely eerie and creepy. For example, in the first scene, all the witches are gathered around a freshly dug hole on a beach. In the hole they place an amputated forearm, part of a rope, a dagger, and they spit in the hole. They also pour a thick, red liquid over the hole which is assumed to be blood. There is no laughing in this production of Macbeth- even when a medieval Justin Bieber comes out and sings to King Duncan during the feast at Macbeth's house. In both versions of Macbeth the text is utilized as a script, however both versions appear greatly different because of the way they were acted. One was comical, while the other was eerie.
ReplyDeleteOne interesting aspect of the Roman Polanski version was the location of the seventh scene. In my mind, as I was reading, I saw Macbeth and Lady Macbeth speaking alone in a private room. Their discussion seemed as if it should be in private. After all, they were discussing the death of Duncan. However, the Roman Polanski version did not agree with my thoughts. As Macbeth firmly states, "We will proceed no further in this business" ( 1.7.34), he walks amidst a crowd. They continue to walk through the crowd as Lady Macbeth insults him in her famous speech which begins, " Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself" (1.7.40-41)? Not only are they amongst a large crowd, but close enough to Duncan that he would be able to hear their conversation. Considering the gravity of the conversation, I found it very daring for the two to be so close to the target of their mission. Just this conversation could spoil their plan and incriminate them. However, I believe it reveals a key part of their character. There are so many things that could go wrong with their plan. It could fail, or it could be discovered before they have a chance to implement it. Because of these risks, the location of the conversation seems like a trivial detail to them. This reveals how daring and determined they are as a couple. If they have to have a sensitive conversation amongst people in order to complete their task, it is worth it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kimberly, but I do not think that the Folger production is considered comical. Shakespeare did not directly say how this play was to be performed. He wrote it this way for people to have to think about how it should be performed. The Folger productions expressed the play in a very different way than the Polanski productions. The Polanski productions were acted more as a relaxed play; whereas, the Folger productions were acted more as loud, in your face play. The Polanski play had Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Duncan all acting happy for the most part, but the Folger play had them yelling and kind of out of control. I liked the Polanski production better, but I think that the Folger one was somewhat more like Shakespeare intended the play to be like.
ReplyDeleteI think in the Roman Polanski Movie, the director is trying to use the settings to show the conflicts in characters’ minds, and in the Folger Production movie, the actors are trying to express their feelings through their tone and actions. “He’s here in double trusts… I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition”(1.7, 12-27). When Macbeth was standing outside and saying these sentences, the director tries to show us the fierce inner struggle of Macbeth by making the lightning and thunder appear again and again. He wants to get the crown but he doesn’t really want to kill Duncan, he is facing the problem between the morality and position. This good using of setting let us feel the storm and fighting inside Macbeth deeply. And at the beginning of the Folger Production movie, the witches are showing as the background of Macbeth’s battle, I think this setting shows us the first appearance of Macbeth’s evil, and witches are the signs of his evil. And the Lady Macbeth in these two plays are really different. When they are acting the scene that Lady Macbeth is pushing Macbeth to make the decision to kill Duncan, the Lady Macbeth in the Roman Polanski Movie begins to crying, and her tone becomes soft and shaking, she tries to use her touching words and expression to push Macbeth. And the Lady Macbeth in the Folger Production play is more like a decider, a woman who is full of scheme and ambition. Her voice keeps raising and their dialogues are more like arguments.
ReplyDeleteIn the Polanski production Lady Macbeth took on more of the woman role than she did in the Folger production. In the Polanski production she was very soft spoken and nice. She had a more feminine look. The way she dressed, her small stature, and facial expressions made it appear as if she was a nice, young woman, event though we know from the text that she isn't. She also acted very caring towards Macbeth. Her tone of voice was very polite and sweet. In the Folger production she was very tall and man-like. Lady Macbeth was also very abusive towards Macbeth and her voice was very deep and loud. She takes on the role of the man by ordering Macbeth around and yelling at him, it even escalated to physical abuse. If the idea's of both of these productions had been combined it would be a more accurate interpretation of Lady Macbeth. While she is bossy and intimidating, she also has a feminine side to her as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Folger production is a play so the background stays the same throughout the first act. The audience is supposed to focus more on the costumes of the witches rather than the scenery. The director didn’t want the audience to think about the background, the focus is supposed to be on the creepiness and magic of the witches. In one scene, Macbeth and Banquo try to stab a witch but the witch vanishes into the air. Here the director wants to show what the witches are capable of doing. The director of the Polanski film wanted a setting to aid the idea of the creepy witches. They are first shown on a foggy beach to make the scene more eerie and dark. The witches aren’t wearing dramatic masks and do not speak together the whole scene. They are less dramatic and do not move around as much. The creepy focus is more on the scenery rather than the witches.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1971 Roman Polanski movie version Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a typical woman trying to get her way. In the movie, she begins to cry when Macbeth doesn’t want to go through on the plan to kill Duncan. Polanski is suggesting that Lady Macbeth isn’t as evil as people thought. Although she cries because she’s not getting what she wants, Polanski shows that Lady Macbeth truly cares for something. Killing Duncan was so important to her that she was willing to do anything to convince her husband to kill him. It has been said that women tend to be very emotional. Lady Macbeth confirms this statement by switching from an evil woman to an innocent young girl. She tries to make Macbeth feel bad with her tears, like a teenager would do towards her parents. The Polanski Version shows that Lady Macbeth may not be as bad as the book tries to potray her as.
ReplyDeleteIn the Roman Polanski production of Macbeth, I noted that as Duncan was riding towards Inverness the lighting, costumes, and background music were all foreboding. In terms of lighting, as Duncan and his company were riding closer to the castle, the sky started to get darker. However, even though the sky was getting dark you could still see the castle standing out on the hill. Also since it started to rain as Lady Macbeth was greeting Duncan, it appeared to me that the heavens were already starting to cry about the loss of the mighty King Duncan. Second, as Duncan was riding to the castle I noticed that two men riding directly behind Duncan were wearing red cloaks, these same men also followed Duncan and Lady Macbeth into the castle when the rain started to fall. The red of the cloaks could symbolize the blood that is about to fall, and fate just has to keep up with Duncan. Finally, as Duncan was riding to the foreboding looking castle creepy music started playing. All of these factors seemed to me like the director was trying to signal to the audience that something bad was going to happen to Duncan.
ReplyDeleteThe opening stage direction in the script is very simple, almost too simple; "Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches." It says nothing about their location, costumes, props, or movement. Both versions interpreted these two sentence fragments very differently. The Polanski "movie" version, opens on a beach and the witches are three ugly women in dark, ratty robes. They dig a shallow hole and bury a noose and a severed arm. When the hole is filled, they pour something that looks like blood out of a vial onto this "grave" and chant "fair is foul and foul is fair." These are the first spoken lines we hear and they are out of the original order that Shakespeare put them in in his original script. The Folger "play" version opens in the battle, and the witches even help in killing some of the men during the battle. The witches were men with one of them wearing a "bloody mary wedding dress" type dress. This dress probably would have been very pretty but it was so dirty, tattered, and stained that it was scary and made the audience wonder why she was in a wedding dress and how that dress got so mistreated. Many lines were added that weren't Shakespeare's script and even parts from other scenes were thrown in. Again, one witch carried a severed arm. Whose arm is this? Why do THEY have it? Nowhere in the entire first act does Shakespeare mention a severed arm. Why do both of these versions depict the witches carrying this arm?
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ReplyDeleteAfter watching both versions of Macbeth, Polanski's version seemed more realistic. Roman's movie gave watchers a sneak peak of a combination of Scene 5 and Scene 7. Along with very medieval scenery, emotions correspond with the weather. Opening up to a very pretty day, Duncan approaches on horse-back. King Duncan even exclaimed to his men about how pretty a day it was, but the weather dramatically changed as soon as he arrived at the Macbeth's. While Lady Macbeth was gave one of her speeches and Duncan gets closer, clouds roll in. Lady Macbeth continues about her plot to gain control over the throne. Her dark thoughts ironically correspond with the dark atmosphere. Duncan and Lady Macbeth meet and it began to storm. Rain and lightening struck down close by. Wherever Lady Macbeth is, death and darkness is on its way. Even though Lady Macbeth is not doing the killing, her mind is conniving and mischievious. She is a storm. She will strike you with lightening if you are to get in her way.
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ReplyDeleteIn the play and the movie Macbeth was portrayed differently. In the movie he seemed very weak with Lady Macbeth making decisions for him and pushing him to do things. Therefore, Lady Macbeth definitely wears the pants and is the stronger one in the relationship. In the play he seemed more in control of his actions, though Lady Macbeth distracted him, he seemed to have his mind already made up just with her support to go through with it. Lady Macbeth seduces Macbeth in a way to get what she wants, but he still seems unconvinced, keeping his thoughts unchanged by his wife, but her constant opinions convince him to do the dirty crime. Therefore they are pretty equally matched in their strong abilities and weakness in their relationship. This shows the different ways the character of Macbeth can be interpreted.
ReplyDeleteIn the Roman Polanski (1971) version the witches were portrayed wearing clothes that looked like torn rags. They were skinny old women and had a very mellow look on their faces. When they spoke it was high pitch and cracked. It beach they were on had lots of fog on it which made the scenery hazy. When the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo of their fortunes their futures become hazy to them. Hazy meaning crazy, unsure of everything, and not sure of morals. One of the witches is rolling a wagon full of things individually wrapped in old rags. They all three dig a hole and take the top rag and unwrap it. Stored inside was the arm of Macbeth (I am guessing) with a bloody dagger in the hand. They buried it all and walked slowly away. This mysterious act leads me to believe that the wagon is "full of tragedies". The hand and dagger represents Macbeth's tragedy. His arm and dagger was wrapped in ONE of these rags. Since there was an overflowing amount of rag wrappings in the wagon, I believe the witches were going around the foggy beach burying tragedies they caused. They caused the tragedies by telling a tiny bit of truth making people question themselves and their futures which causes their minds to become foggy and lose sight of what is right.
ReplyDeleteIn both of the movies the witches were casted differently, dressed differently, and acted differently. In the one by Polanski the witches were in regular baggy, old clothes. One of the witches was young and the other two were old and none of them had gray hair because they are supposed to be old. They acted like they could barely walk because they had canes and buggies.
ReplyDeleteIn the second movie by Folger Production the witches were casted as men instead of women. They were wearing what looked like rags and gray masks with no eyes. They were talking with really deep, creepy voices. They were acting and walking very mysterious like ghosts like they should be because they are “supernatural.”
Macbeth is performed in two totally different ways in these movies. The Polanski version focused more on dialogue and scenery whereas the Folger play made the story more about the violence and intensity of whats going on. In the movie version the conversations are spoken calmly and smoothly. But in the play it is a rare moment when the actors aren't screaming.
ReplyDeleteThis difference is probably because of the audiences. In a play, things need to be more dramatic to keep the attention of the live audience. Movies can be stopped if the person watching isn't enjoying it. If someone goes to a live play, they don't want to sit and listen to boring actors speak. People want action and movement.