Macbeth

The film chosen is a 1978 Shakespeare production which was originally produced on the Thames television. This is a bare stage cast which tries to identify the change in times and events. The costumes used in this film are black and with minimal props. The witches announce that Macbeth will be the next successor of the current aged king by the name Duncan who has a son whom he would like him to inherit as the next king. As the king, he has the power to name the son as the next king but this is not taken lightly by Macbeth and his people. The wife to Macbeth plots a strategy to kill the old king and make the husband the new king as announced by the witches. Soon the king visits Macbeth at his castle and in his sleep; he is murdered (Thompson p99). Macbeth also kills all the guards claiming they are responsible for the Kings’ murder. The murder of the king brings in new fear in the society and especially the sons who feel threatened to the extent of fleeing the country for the fear of their own lives.  Macbeth is now crowned as the new king of Scotland after the murder of the old king and threatening the lives of the sons. With this act, the newly crowned king has shown the possibility of lack of integrity and being irresponsible of his acts and decisions (Thompson p112). Now the witches announce the downfall of Macbeth in his kingdom. During this time, Macbeth is now affected by his actions and this causes him to run mad and starts seeing very horrible visions in his sleep. 

The main theme being developed in this film is that of being lust. In this film, Macbeth identifies with the blacks in terms of his involvement in the film. Use of black backgrounds and also the use of characters containing the most renowned black men indicate the sense of belonging to the black community. The film itself has a black imagery which tries to identify the basic color of humanity. The play has some characters who are witches and who are mostly indicated as the cause of problems to this general society (Thompson p152). Macbeth is identified as an ambitious individual who assists the members of the public in identifying their wishes. The play brings out the theme of lust in the act that Macbeth and his people try as much as they can to get to power. Being hungry of power costs the lives of many and in this case the king and his guards who are murdered for a person to get to power.

The setting of the play involves a dark dictator-like setting for the characters. The characters themselves are presented as observers of the rule of law and who are keen to make no mistakes of any kind. The film itself has been produced with a black and a dark color indicating a dark film full of nothing good but death (Thompson p98). Comparing the film and the play, they both have a similar setting which is that of death in most cases. The king and his guards indicate a controlling force for justice and belonging but with a dark future which they will face eventually. In contrast to the film, the play presents individuals with problems that they all depend on one single source of assistance which is the ruling king.

The mood in the play is a fearful mood which is a dark one and has creates fear in the minds of the audience. The film on the other part has also a dark setting which has a fearful atmosphere where death is the not an option. Both the film and the play have a similar atmosphere of fear and death. They both intrigue fear and a sense of lack of belonging (Thompson p67). The witches in most cases in a film or a play are always a force of darkness set to destroy the good and make everything complicated as well as uncontrollable. The atmosphere especially when the witches and King Macbeth meet is a cold one and which send unclear messages to our minds of what might actually happen as an event of witchcraft.

Characters in this film and the play are presented as of similar type (Thompson p78). Both have characters that are not only strange in acting but also strange in the kind of life they present accordingly. Plot development in this scenario is developed in terms of how the characters relate to each other. The use of clothing and containers to present the different analogies of the film fit well in the development of the play and the film. Dark and black clothes are mostly used to show fear or death. The play uses this kind of attire to develop characters that are either pushed by the motives or by the power of darkness to act independently. 

Conclusion

Looking at the film, it is clear that symbolism is what is being featured in the film. The plot in this film concerns the hero of the king by the name Macbeth who has an ambition and a very strong and dedicated woman want everything his own way which eventually leads him into trouble and more tragedy (Thompson p145). The witches are particularly very mannered and also overacted making them more risible occasionally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works cited

Thompson, Ann. Macbeth: the state of play. A&C Black, 2014.

MACBETH 1978, 2015: Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpKWWK0Pj34