Macbeth Film Analysis
Macbeth is one of, if not the most iconic tragedy ever to be written. William Shakespeare’s use of metaphors, diction, allusions, and many other literary devices are what makes this play the archetypal masterpiece that it is. In the film adaptation, the director, Rupert Goold allows the audience to observe these devices on screen. Goold uses imagery and symbolism to compliment the overall plot of the story as well as the language used. When watching the movie the first thing that Goold changes from the play is the setting. Where in Shakespeare's original piece, the play is set in medieval times in Scotland, Goold’s adaptation takes place during world war 2. This is a very fitting change as Shakespeare as well as Goold …show more content…
When the film presents the witches for the first time and throughout the whole movie the lighting darkens and the colours become mute. The light and darkness are two prominent symbols that occur throughout the movie and they represent what is good and what is evil. However, this type imagery is extremely common in all lines of cinema and there are many different ways that Goold, adapts and enhances Shakespeare’s text. One form of symbolism that directors use that is less obvious to the audience is in dynamic shots. A director can choose to point the camera on something that may seem irrelevant, however, they can keep referring to that shot to make the audience think. One of these in the film adaptation of macbeth is that of a descending elevator, it’s first appearance is in the scene that is after when macbeth first encounters the witches. The elevator may seem irrelevant, however, it is a recurring figure in the movie and Goold uses the descending elevator to signify Macbeth and his wife’s descent into insanity and darkness. Goold indicates that Macbeth has gone so deep into his evil-doings that he cannot repent what he has done when the editorial cut to the descending elevator thereafter stops, and the movie only shows the elevator
Macbeth is one of, if not the most iconic tragedy ever to be written. William Shakespeare’s use of metaphors, diction, allusions, and many other literary devices are what makes this play the archetypal masterpiece that it is. In the film adaptation, the director, Rupert Goold allows the audience to observe these devices on screen. Goold uses imagery and symbolism to compliment the overall plot of the story as well as the language used. When watching the movie the first thing that Goold changes from the play is the setting. Where in Shakespeare's original piece, the play is set in medieval times in Scotland, Goold’s adaptation takes place during world war 2. This is a very fitting change as Shakespeare as well as Goold …show more content…
When the film presents the witches for the first time and throughout the whole movie the lighting darkens and the colours become mute. The light and darkness are two prominent symbols that occur throughout the movie and they represent what is good and what is evil. However, this type imagery is extremely common in all lines of cinema and there are many different ways that Goold, adapts and enhances Shakespeare’s text. One form of symbolism that directors use that is less obvious to the audience is in dynamic shots. A director can choose to point the camera on something that may seem irrelevant, however, they can keep referring to that shot to make the audience think. One of these in the film adaptation of macbeth is that of a descending elevator, it’s first appearance is in the scene that is after when macbeth first encounters the witches. The elevator may seem irrelevant, however, it is a recurring figure in the movie and Goold uses the descending elevator to signify Macbeth and his wife’s descent into insanity and darkness. Goold indicates that Macbeth has gone so deep into his evil-doings that he cannot repent what he has done when the editorial cut to the descending elevator thereafter stops, and the movie only shows the elevator