Macbeth: a Timeless Tale
Shakespearean Macbeth tells a timeless tale of ambition, greed and treachery. Its themes are universal in nature, as Is the construction of a tragic hero and for these reasons It continues to be relevant to audiences today. The litany of Interpretations and adoptions such as Polonaise’s 1 971 classic, give credence to the argument that Macbeth remains relevant. Macbeth, In a fashion similar to modern teens (or so the media would have us believe) has a great deal of trouble deciding the difference between moral and moral during his rise to power. Consequently, Shakespearean message is as relevant today as it was during the Elizabethan era.
Macbeth is introduced as a kinsman to the Scottish King and a brave and successful military general (l,ii, 15-23), thus earning the praise and esteem of the unfortunately though, he (perhaps Like many In my audience) allows himself to be Influenced by those “whose horrid image, doth unfix” his hair and “make his seated heart knock at his ribs”, who prophesy both further titles and kingship, immediately arousing Machete’s ambition (l, Ill, 127-129). This conflict between good and evil is not only confined to Shakespearean play. It is a theme that we see repeated over and over again in contemporary literature and film.
As a character, Macbeth is magnificent. He represents the Internal battle that forms the plot for the ma]orally of highly regarded modern films and texts such as Pollack’s Macbeth. Initially Macbeth is ambitious, but lacks the evil qualities that often see ambition fulfilled. He also, as his wife points out, is not unscrupulous enough (l, v, 4-24) nor ready to give up the honor and ‘golden opinions’ he has won. He has hysterical courage but not the moral courage needed to stand against his more determined, strong willed wife who questions his love for her and his manhood (l, vii, 39-50).
In committing regicide he violates the better part of his nature; he is so bent on putting evil on evil he becomes “steeped “so far in blood that “returning were as tedious as go lb, 136-138). The troubling question of gender representation is one that continues to be debated. 1 OFF audiences. Initially, characters in Macbeth dwell on issues of gender. Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood, wishes that she herself could e “unsexes,” and does not contradict Macbeth when he says that a woman like her should give birth only to boys.
Similarly, Macbeth provokes the murderers he hires to kill Banquet by questioning their manhood. Such acts show that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth equate masculinity with violence and aggression. Their understanding of manhood allows the political order depicted in the play to descend into chaos. As in the multitude of controversial texts today, female characters are the source of violence and evil. The witches’ prophecies arouse Machete’s ambitions and then encourage his violent behavior; Lady Macbeth provides the brains and the will behind her husband’s plotting.
Macbeth traces the root of chaos and evil to women. While the male characters are Just as violent and prone to evil as the women, the aggression of the female characters is more striking because it goes against prevailing expectations of how women ought to behave. Ultimately, however, the play ends with a revised and less destructive definition of manhood. Malcolm consoles Macadam on the news of his family murder by encouraging him to take the news in “manly’ fashion, by seeking revenge upon Macbeth. Macadam indicates however, that Malcolm has a mistaken understanding of masculinity.
To Malcolm suggestion, “Dispute it like a man,” Macadam replies, “l shall do so. But I must also feel it as a man” (IV. Iii. 221-223). Also, at the end of the play, Seward reacts to his son’s death complacently. Malcolm responds: “He’s worth more sorrow [than you have expressed] / And that I’ll spend for him” (V. 1 1 . 16-17). Malcolm comment shows that he has learned the lesson Macadam gave him on the sentient nature of true masculinity. It also suggests that, with Malcolm coronation, order will be stored to the Kingdom of Scotland.
Macbeth with its frightening paranormal undertones will pique the interest of a generation already obsessed with the supernatural. No remake can match Shakespearean representation of the witches. Polonaise’s opening scene for example, , was rather poorly done. He made the witches look so grotesquely ugly that they distracted the audience from the important plot element of the scene: what they were saying. Unfortunately, this too was clouded: their screeching voices and constant giggling made them difficult to understand.
A witness to the film unfamiliar tit the play or Shakespearean dialogue would have been left without any idea as to the importance of the scene. Undoubtedly the underlining of the plot of Macbeth is highlighted with events that have paranormal roots. The witches, both the bloody dagger that entices Macbeth towards Dunce’s chamber and the ghost of Banquet are mystical in origin. “Art thou not a fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight…? Or false creation” (II, l, 41 , 42). Shortly after Dunce’s death, his horses eat each other in frenzy, symbolizing the murder of the king, which leads to this imbalance in nature.
Another relevant lesson on life, we can learn from Shakespeare, is that appearances are often deceptive. In Macbeth, things are seldom what they seem; “Fair is foul and foul is fair”. From the beginning, the play is full of ambiguity and double meanings. The play opens on a day that is extremely foul in weather and extremely fair (the battle has Just been won). The subsequent prophecies “cannot be ill, cannot be good”. In order to disguise their real motives, Lady Macbeth advises her husband to ‘look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”. One of Dunce’s sons ladled out “Murder! In his sleep, but the other one laughed! Does Lady Macbeth really faint? Or does she simply pretend to faint to divert attention from her husband’s overacting? Does Lady Macbeth commit suicide? What is Lady Macbeth writing in her sleepwalking scene? A confession? A suicide note? A last love letter to a neglectful husband? There is also much discussion about clothing clothes provide both an identity but also conceal who you are. Point being? Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing! In conclusion, Shakespearean deeper purpose is to show us our own lives and make s think.
The key question that Shakespeare seems to ask is this: is human society fundamentally amoral? This is a question that continues to challenge audiences. Consequently, Shakespeare movies are so numerous; they form their own sub genre. With over 250 Shakespeare movies produced, Shakespeare film adaptations such as Bag Loran’s “Romeo and Juliet”, prove that Shakespearean plays have an enduring appeal. Macbeth is the Dearth Evader of Star Wars, or if you like, Lord Voltmeter of Harry Potter; ignore his lessons at you own peril. Thank You
