Macbeth

             The opening scene of the three witches at the end of the meeting, just as they are making an appointment to meet again this time with Macbeth. "When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightening, or in rain?" is dramatic these are the opening lines of the play which immediately draws the audience's attention to the presence of the super natural. The witches in this, opening scene, set the mood of the piece. The audience is prepared for a dark, mysterious and dangerous play, in which the theme of evil is central.
             Shakespeare's use of language is partially captivating cryptic although the lines he gives to the witches are brief and few, which adds to the tension and excitement. The witches seem to chant as they speak in rhyme with short seven or eight syllable lines. Their speech of meeting Macbeth "When the hurly burley's done when the battles lost and won." Informs the audience that the play involves turmoil. Macbeth will win the battle on the battlefield, but will lose the battle for his soul. They speak of "fog and filthy air" creating a bleak and mystical atmosphere.
             The opening scene serves to awaken the curiosity of the audience but not to satisfy it.
             Shakespeare gives few directions throughout the play, which allows directors scope for individual interpretation.
             Polanski's version of Macbeth displays originality and imagination, in some ways detracting from Shakespeare's original script, yet not detracting from the underlying intention.
             He is able to portray the images in the way he does, mainly because he is using a different media, that of film, rather than theatre. However Polanski chooses to make the theme of witchcraft and the supernatural as realistic and believable as possible to a contemporary audience.
             The Elizabethans were fascinated by the supernatural and King James1st, for whom the play was performed, had recently written a book about witch...

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Macbeth. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 11:28, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/94043.html