Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Print and Film as it relates to Macbeth
After reading the tragedy of Macbeth, you have now been exposed to the film for a director's interpretation of the events leading up to Macbeth's death. After considering the various events and episodes of the play, which scene in the film was of a particular surprise or shock to you? How did the director of the film differ in his staging of the scene compared to what you had imagined through reading? Be thorough in your discussion. Write a one-page response; afterward, make sure you respond to at least two other posts (1/2 page each).
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Macbeth, Macbeth. What a troubled character. He was a real puzzle through the entire book and the movie. Was he insane, was he sane, or was he just somewhere on the gray line in between the two where he had momentary lapses of both? But really, in the movie he seemed much more confused than I pictured him while reading the story. This is the same for many things. My biggest surprise, as I'm sure many of my fellow classmates will attest to, was the witch scene right before the illusions appeared.
ReplyDeleteIt was such an intense scene in the movie. The flashes of light and jerky movements only added to that. It was amazing and hard to turn away from. Maybe the aspect most comparable to the witches was that I was somewhat entranced by it. It was so different from the rest of the movie. Compared to the book and picture I had in mind during that, it was entirely different.
When reading of the scene, I pictured ugly witches in dishevelled rags huddled around a fire. They had large noses, warts, and, for some reason, I pictured them smelling like god knows what! They were in a dark cave with smoke from their fire crowding every corner of the room and obscuring many of the details. On the fire, stood a great, black, bubbling cauldron. See, this is what I thought of when this scene came to mind. And then, I pictured large, floating, bloody, disembodied, mystical illusions appearing out of nowhere and then vanishing once again.
Instead, I got the exact opposite. It was a brightly lit hospital morgue with three bodies lying in the center instead of the cauldron. Instead of horrendously grotesque figures, we got relatively average, though creepy, looking woman. There was nothing to obstruct the vision, nor was it the slow scene I had envisioned. It was fast and abrupt. Not only that, the illusions were completely different. Rather than mystical, floating figures, bodies moved and conveyed their words through the witches. Honestly, while I enjoyed it, I was flat out disappointed for the lack of classical witch representation.
While I loved the director's interpretation, it certainly did not coincide with my own. I appreciate the effort but would have loved to see the traditional style rather than something more like it came out of Nazi-Germany. I judge it as a good movie but have never liked movies with original scripts in modern settings. Still, I may have to watch it again. At least the witch scenes.
Alexandra - it was really quite surprising to see these witches portrayed as "nuns" working as nurses - a contradiction to their normal roles. It goes to show that a director/producer has quite a bit of flexibility in his or her interpretation of a piece of literature. The film is quite creative in its portrayal of the various roles. I was also intrigued by Lady Macbeth's role - how she moved from attractive in the beginning of the play to a "witchy" countenance full of schizophrenia at the end. I think Shakespeare via the director, is trying to show symbolically how sin destroys the soul which in Macbeth is reflected through outward appearance.
ReplyDeleteThe 2010 rendition of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” has a more modern flavor that was never present in the original tragedy. I was extremely shocked when viewing the witches and apparitions scene. While reading the original “Macbeth” I pictured the three witches in a dark forest surrounding a glowing cauldron. However, that was not how the director perceived the scene in his contemporary staging of “Macbeth”. The first variation was the witches. Witches are normally described has horribly ugly, with warts and green skin wearing black and riding broomsticks. In Shakespeare’s play, Banquo described the witches as bearded and they were also said to be hags. In the movie were almost pretty, except for their disturbing facial expressions. They appeared as nurses and servants that seemed to live in Macbeth’s castle, filling his household with evil. Second, the witches were not making a potion but rather, chanting a spell over the three corpses. They performed a bizarre dance that, with large amounts of editing, became a disturbing scene that added to the unsettling effect. Third, there were no apparitions. The prophesies were spoken by the witches who appeared to be channeling the minds of the dead bodies by pressing their hands against the chests of the carcasses.
ReplyDeleteUsername continues to be an issue.
ReplyDeleteSophie said..
There are often disputed arguments on the differences and similarities between film and book, or in this case film and play. Each director has a different interpretation of the film, and for me this rendition of it was quite shocking. When I originally read the book I pictured a more rustic and old setting. One of the most shocking things for me was the actually castle in which Macbeth lived. I pictured one of those often stereotypical castles with grand ballrooms, marble staircases, and a fabulous dinning hall. In the movie though, everything seemed to take place in a cafeteria style kitchen, or the dripping sewers of the basements, or even small caverns where the characters indulged themselves in what seems as absolute insanity. I also pictured their clothing quite different. I imagined an almost colonial looking fashion with britches and white blouses, almost like the kind one thinks about when they read Romeo and Juliet, another one of Shakespeare’s tragedies.
If I had to pick one seen in particular it would have to be the witch scenes. When they were singing their song with the famous lines, “Double, double toil and trouble,” I had imagined them surrounding a giant black cauldron, when they were portrayed in a more hospital like atmosphere. The witches seemed to be cast as nurses working in the house of Macbeth, instead of what I imagined them looking like as haggard beasts with beards. The blue and white lights shining in all of the scenes the witches took place in reminded me of bleach for some reason. The sting and poison side of the white liquid that can blanch the soul, just like it seemed to do for the witches. I was also, in a way, disappointed in the lack of the character Hecate. The apparitions were another disappointment. The booked stated more graphic things appearing such as a bloody child or an armed head. Their wickedness was depicted in a very interesting way by the director, which I think just goes to show how different people can interpret different things.
I admire the director’s action and leap of faith as he chose a very risky way to shoot the film. I loved the film very much myself, even though it was extremely different from what I had originally imagined. Although I am not one to be a fan of movies that differ almost completely from the book, I would have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I even enjoyed the way the witches were depicted, even though it was altered from what I had previously envisioned. I cannot wait to watch it again as soon as possible.
Sophie..
ReplyDeleteAlex, I really liked the point you made about the Nazi-Germany feel that the movie had. I was actually thinking the same thing when I watched the movie, especially because of the portrait that hung in what I understand as the dining room. I, like you and I assume most of the class, was also shocked at the witches. I too, pictured them on in a cave with lots of smoke. I envisioned it as more of the type of witches you see in a Halloween movie or something of that sort. I would also have to agree with the flashes of lights and everything. The way the camera was being jerked was in a way hypnotizing. Being as I am fond of weird things like this, I found myself drawn to not only those characters in the book, but in the movie also.
Kat, I would have to agree with you when you mentioned the witches filling the house of Macbeth with evil. When I first read the book I thought that Macbeth traveled outside of the castle to another place entirely, not down the elevator and to his left. I was unaware that they stayed in the house the whole time, almost incognito, hiding from everyone but appearing to Macbeth. I actually enjoyed their presence throughout the whole film not only because they were some of my favorite characters, but because I think it gave the viewer more time to understand them and their wickedness. All of the witch scenes were totally different from what I had imagined, but I am you can agree with me when I say that I loved the way they were depicted in the film.
I think that whenever someone reads a piece of literature, the book plays like a movie in your head. This makes us all have different interpretations of the written work. I see this to be precious. When we see another person's view on it, it changes our view. In the case of Macbeth, the change is good.
ReplyDeleteThe modern spin on the tragedy was beyond perplexing to me. For the first five minutes I did not know it was the actual film. I thought it was a preview for a different movie. But in this case, it works for it. Although the tragedy was written in the 17th century, it does not specify when it is written. In this case, it works for it. The modern theme makes it more relate able for us.
Although it was set in modern times (my guess is WWI) it still had the parallels of the original play. Macbeth's head was still cut off with a blade. The 'forest' still marched on Macbeth's castle or stronghold. The elevator to the castle's basement struck me as pecular. At the end, when Macbeth and his beloved wife are dead, it shows them descending in this elevator. I personally believe that they are going down to the depths of Hell. To Hell for the acts they have committed.
The scene that strikes me the most is when Macduff holds Macbeth's head into the air. This signifies that he won, that he defeated Macbeth. He is covered in blood and could not be more proud.
Dearest Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteThe witches were rather enjoyable in the sense of their mysteriousness and general strangeness. The director surely had a different view on them which is a very plausible one. They were terrifying even as the maids and still brought evil to the castle. Like you, I was disappointed that the apparitions were spoken, not personified. The withes added a creepy theme that went with the creepiness of Macbeth perfectly.
Sophie,
Yes, I do agree that the director took a leap of faith and stepped out of the comfort zone of director's that reproduce movies. Some things were disappointing and it would have been pleasing to see those things. The modern spin just continues to interest me. The atmosphere of the castle seems almost perfect for the setting of this dark, and dreary tale. There was nothing fun and bright about the play, so why should the setting? It showed that they were dark, depressing times that were not be taken lightly by the reader. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the director's interpretation and felt as if it was a great movie but just a mediocre retelling of this great tragedy.
Films based on literature usually have some differences than the publication. These changes can be something as drastic as a change in particular characters or simply a change in setting. After watching one of the many versions of the films based on Macbeth, there were some a few scenes that were surprising compared to what I had imagined while reading the play. The scenes that struck me as being most different were the scenes of the play that portrayed the Three Witches differently than I had expected.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the play script, The Three Witches are in a foggy heath, similar to a marsh. When they appear for the first time right at the beginning of the play, they meet in “Thunder, lightning, and rain.” (I, 1: 2). When they appear again in the Fourth Act, I also pictured the Three Witches in the same heath, but with an enormous, black cauldron with a brew filled with poisons. The first witch confirms this image, “Round about the cauldron go;/In the poisoned entrails throw.” (IV, 1: 4-5). The setting of the heath created an image in my mind of ratty old hags that are hunched over, and wearing black cloaks and hats. Basically, I pictured them to be “true witches.”
In the film, the setting is modernized. It is postwar WWII. Like the script, the witches appear immediately at the start of the movie. However, they are not in a heath. They are in a dark morgue, with a dead body on the stretcher. The Three Witches look like normal people on the outside. They are disguised as nuns, but it obvious that they are not. Their disguise is not out of the ordinary as nuns were usually the nurses during this particular time period. They reveal their prophecy by moving about the morgue shouting to the ceiling. This is also the case during their second appearance. There is no cauldron or apparitions.
Macbeth the film and Macbeth the novel differ in some ways, as is common with most novels and films that tell the same story. The scenes in the film that surprised me the most were the ones with the Three Witches. Unlike in the film, the witches in the novel are depicted as classic, rugged, vulgar hags. In the film, the witches are shown in disguise as nuns. They give their prophecies in a shady hospital morgue, compared to a foggy heath in the novel. I personally preferred the hospital setting because it was more modern and easier to relate to. Even though the witches are far from realistic, the nun outfits and the morgue made them more believable.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI obviously had the same opinions that you did! I agree with your image of the witches in the actual book. Love the comparison to Nazi-Germany! That probably is somewhat true. I think the movie took place close to that time. I disagree with your preference of which "witches" you would've rather seen. Awesome blog!
Sophie,
I agree with your statements on the director's leap of faith. I am not a fan of altered movies either, but it seems that this director's "leap" was worth it. The alterations, in my opinion, made the film more modern and more interesting. I also thought the same way before we watched the film about the setting-old and rustic. I agree with everything you said! Good job!
Sophie, I couldn't agree more when you states how you pictures a rustic feel to everything. I did not expect industrial kitchens and huge, clunky elevators. I pictured a medieval Scotish castle in rolling greens. What we got was really surprising.
ReplyDeleteRyan D., I laughed when I read yours because I think we all sympathize. It was hard to even tell when the movie was starting up because we were all expecting something entirely different.
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ReplyDeleteI must agree with my classmates that the modernization of Macbeth was not what I expected when I learned that we would be watching the film.However, the director- along with a talented cast of actors- managed to pull it off and actually make it more appealing to the modern audience, while still using Shakespeare's original script.
ReplyDeleteWhile the witch scene was very memorable, the scene that most defied my expectations and really left a strong impression on me was when Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth. The strange music and dance game that the attendants play captured my attention and had me wondering what was going on. The bloody image of Banquo was quite frightening and coupled with phenomenal acting by Patrick Stewart and the lighting effects made for a chilling scene. When I first read this scene in Macbeth, I imagined many feudal lords seated around a table feasting, and a pallid, foggy ghost of Banquo among them. Instead, the movie portrayed it as a re-animated corpse of Banquo entering the dining hall and walking across the table. The effects seemed to take us to an alternate plane of reality, as if we were seeing inside Macbeth's mind. It was a very interesting and effective take on the scene.
As I stated before, this modern version of Macbeth was unexpected yet it had, in my opinion, more audience appeal. I personally liked it better than I would have if it had been set in the Middle Ages. My credit goes to the director, writing staff, and of course actors who presented this classic tragedy without sparing a single horrific detail and used Shakespeare's same words in a way that left the audience both interested and impressed.
(Sorry for deleting my comment earlier, it posted prematurely.)
Alexandra,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about your perception of the witch scene when you read the book, because that is exactly what I had imagined as well. I thought that this interpretation of that scene was frightening, if not more so, that what we had originally pictured. Obviously, we have to realize that in this modern take on Macbeth such a scene would feel out of place and even less believable. In that case, I agree with Ryan about disagreeing with your witch preference.
Ryan S,
I enjoyed reading your response and have to say that I agree that your chosen scene also defied my expectations! You obviously put a lot of thought and research into your post as evidenced by your citation of the play and how you told us that nurses were often nuns in this time period. I hadn't thought of that but it makes a lot more sense now!
The tyranny, the bloodshed, and the brutality were all captured flawlessly in the film of Macbeth. When I read the play, I could visualize everything fine except for Macbeth's true barbaric nature. In the play, Macbeth had hired mercenaries to eradicate McDuff and his family. In the movie, Macbeth not only hired them for immoral slaughter, he partook in the killing as well. This I believe added to Macbeth's blind horror. I also noticed that the three witches were portrayed as nuns or nurses in the film. I found that rather ironic, because nurses were supposed to help the ones in need not condmen them to pain and dismay. Another aspect of the movie that really brought it too life was the scenery. In the play, I pictured a castle that was majestic and fancy in nature, a castle befitting a king. In the movie, which had a more modern take, had the characters in the catacombs of hell. Somber and dismal feelings entered my mind as I watched the movie. This added to the effects of it being so dark and ominous. The movie also, I think, recaptured and reinveted Shakespeare. That in Shakespeare's time, the audience would have felt the same thing then as we do today. That the director really got inside Shakespeare's head and created a tasteful rendition of a classic masterpiece in our times.
ReplyDeleteSam,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with modern films having an upper hand when it comes to appealling to audiences today. Although I enjoy reading, I feel the movie captures more than what my mind takes in. And the scene with Banquo as a ghost was rather dark and disturbing for Macbeth's reaction. His reaction was great acting on Mr. Stewart's part. Nice job.
Ryan,
You have a very interesting style of writing. And further more the inclusion about the witches made them seem more horrible versus if they would have incorporated actual witches it would have robbed the movie of seriousness.