Macbeth cinematic/thematic essay assignment

Nicole Kelly

Accel English 12

Mr. BG

1/18/12

                                               

1)

A. “O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them.” Macbeth(2,3,116)

                B. This quote can be categorized under the theme of Power Corrupts. In this quote Macbeth is showing that he has no fear of killing, he took the chance to take power and become king so he seized that moment and gained that power. The corruption of his character can be blamed by the lust for the power the witches told him he would obtain. He killed the guards in order to protect his wife and himself from getting caught for the murder of king Duncan, but made the excuse that he killed them out of rage for killing their king. With the guards dead there would be no witnesses to act against Macbeth and to find him guilty, therefore he would be able to keep hold his power of the new king.

C. Robert Goold puts Macbeth in an awkward position when he tells everyone he has killed the guards out of fury. He is in the kitchen as he explains to the confused group of people that he went to the room where the king lay dead and out of rage and confusion he slaughtered the guards, not knowing how they could commit such an awful crime against him. The lighting was low key, giving Macbeth a shadowy face and some darkness to his character. The type of shot was a medium shot that showed Macbeth with his back turned as he spoke. The lack of eye contact with any other character gave the feeling of deception from Macbeth. The camera movements had a zoom while Macbeth was walking toward the sink while talking, then he became blurry and the face of Macduff came into focus with a worried look upon it.

D. While reading the play I believe it’s harder to understand the reaction of other characters. You cannot see their body movements or their facial expressions and that can tell a lot about a person. Whether they are uncomfortable or upset, whereas on film you get to see all of this and it gives you a better understanding of what it was like in that kitchen when the murdered body of king Duncan was found. The panic on people’s faces showed me how each person really felt.

2)

          A.” Thou hast it now-king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as The Weird Women promised, and, I fear, Thou play’dst most foully for’t. Yet it was said it should not stand in thy posterity, but that myself should be the root and father of many kings. If there come truth from them- as upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine- why, by the verities on thee made good, may they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope? But hush, no more!” Banquo(3,1,1)

          B. This quote shows that superstition affects human behavior. Banquo and Macbeth believe in the Witches and prophesies they are given. They are so wrapped up in the future that they just to conclusion on how they achieve it. Macbeth did not think about obtaining the crown any other way then killing king Duncan. This shows how he is superstitious about the prophesies coming true.

          C. The scene starts off with Banquo’s back to the camera and he is speaking to himself. They show a shot-reverse-shot from him back to a big portrait of Macbeth. He has low key lighting which brings upon a shadowy face and creates suspicion. The shot is a middle shot that has some zoom to it. It really creates a sense of darkness upon Banquo’s character almost as if he knows that it was Macbeth who has committed this awful crime.

          D. When I read this in the book I was confused on the wording. It’s hard to follow what is happening in the book because you can not see the setting of the moment and who is around when the character is saying his lines. Once I saw it in the movie I understood that Banquo was alone and mad.

3)

          A.”A good and virtuous nature may recoil” Malcolm(4,3,22)

          B. This quote shows that Blind Ambition leads to one’s downfall. Malcolm was stating that Macbeth is a backstabber and therefore falters in his character. He was suppose to be loyal to king Duncan but instead murdered the man. He was not thinking of the consequences when he killed him, he was only thinking of the power he would gain, hence the blind ambition.

          C. It seems they are in the middle of a church, Malcolm and Macduff. This is when they are coming together to take down Macbeth. There are some lights at some point that is back lighting on Malcolm’s face. I believe it shows the goodness of Malcolm and how he just wants to seek justice for his father and to get rid of the murderer, Macbeth.

          D. when I first say this scene I pictured it to be a little bit more intimate between Malcolm and Macduff, but they start out in the middle of the church. After that they then proceed into a more quiet area to discuss the takeover of Macbeth and his thrown. Other than that, the scene made sense to me before I saw it on the movie.

4)     

          A.” Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Macbeth(5,5,26)

          B. This quote shows that things are not always what they seem. In this scene a massager reports to Macbeth that the Birnam woods are moving toward them. When Macbeth was told by the witches that that he would be safe until the wood would reach his hill he had no worry that he would be harmed because obviously that could never happen. But Macbeth did not see the possibility of the men covering themselves, not looking like they seem. A lot of this went on in the play.

          C. A dark shadow is cast on Macbeths face. He is alone and speaking to himself. He had just found out that his wife had died but could not mourn the loss of her. It was a close up of his face that stayed a little tilted and moved around with his head. There is some back music that you can hear very slightly and some light in the hall way he is in. He is trying to portray Macbeth as sad but, at the same time scared for his own life.

          D. This scene showed me that Macbeth really did not show any kind of emotion when his wife was found dead. When he says this quote, I feel he was saying that it doesn’t really matter, things don’t matter and what they are, are not always what they seem.