Macbeth Coursework Essay

Refer ring to the trine master(prenominal) scenes that the witches surface in, write active the effect they give to the play as a whole and all overly how they influence Macbeth to be perk up as he does.Macbeth, a tragic story of how greed can corrupt the mind. scripted in 1606 for King mob the first, people did actu all(prenominal) t sr.y suppose in witches. I my-self believe that William Shakespeargon functiond the witches as the fuel for his play, I forecast this led to the massive success of Macbeth.When people thought of King James the first they may have also thought of witches. After all James did publicise his beliefs and thought in witches. He believed that they had an effect on his life. The people of his countries (England and Scotland) would have thought it was completely normal. instanter a twenty-four hour period, if someone acc habituated someone of being a witch, the accuser would be looked upon in society as insane.The whim of witches over the years has manifestly dried out.In class we have watched and studied two distinct films based on Macbeth. One was Macbeth on the Estate. This was extremely distinct to what I expected. Produced in 1996 its quite a groundbreaking film. I thought it was incredible how they managed to use every word from Macbeth, (the play its-self) and die it into a modern set. The film was filmed on an estate on Birmingham and the main characters were young street yobs Personally I imagine it mustiness have been a hard job for the film producers to re-film Macbeth into a modern time.A nonher film was just called Macbeth produced in 1971 its quite an old film. It was though exactly what I expected. It was a brilliant film and entirely a few features let it down. Music which I call up plays a big role in films and plays because it allows us to understand the mood and expression of the play/film. I believe technology was to blame for this thoughDid the witches have an effect on the reference? Yes of menstruate did. Why? Simply because witchcraft played an big sectionalisation in the lives of the people who lived during the period of the 1500s to the 1600s. I mean, going out to town, bowling is all normal that what well-nigh going to weigh the local witch been executed publically? 300 years ago this would as normal as every of the activities above. Back so I hazard people were fascinated with witches. Witches held so much mystery story and had a force of hero-worship surrounding them. Of course this is what people thought, if people went to see Macbeth at the theatre in Leeds, patently I foolt esteem people would have as much interest as people 300 years ago. in that location would be interest in the witches Im not verbalize the opposite, but not as much as hindquarters then. I come back it would make the audience applaud how and why the people of the 1600s lived like they did.The witches appear in three main scenes in Macbeth hear on 1 scene 1Act 1 scene 3Ac t 4 scene 1In act 1 scene 1 they, to me, follow before the play. Although we often forget that the play is all about witchcraft, conceptualizeing about it, the witches do play an important part in Macbeth. I commemorate when Shakespe ar wrote act 1 scene 1 his intentions were to grip the audience at the very beginning. The witches do not appear to do any shrinkg in this scene it seems as if theyre there to introduce them-selves, they take upt really appear for a drive. I think its just to hype the audience up for the rest of the play.In act 1 scene 3 the witches rate us essentially what Macbeth is about. Shakespeare grips the audience even tighter when they sayFIRST temptress All fare Macbeth, hail to thee Thaneof Glamis.SECOND WITCH All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thaneof Cawdor. terce WITCH All hail Macbeth, that shalt beKing hereafter.I think Shakespeare here uses repetition really well. It adds mystery and feeling to the play. A squeamish audience at this moment must b e really into the play. The mystery deepens even more when less than a few scenes away a messenger arrives to tell Macbeth that he is now Thane of Cawdor.A modern audience at this point must shiver with excitement. A Victorian audience may have done the same, after all these people did fear witches in their day.In act 4 scene 1 I dont really feel that this scene does much for the play. whatsoever people may disagree and I can see why. I mean people sat their reading the book must be thinking, how the hell can a tree move?This is because Macbeth saysMACBETH Who can touch the forest, bid the treeUnfix its earth-bound root?This will keep the reader wondering, I wonder when this prophesy will come true?I think they would think this because they unavoidableness to see how the tree ends up moving this was skilful on Shakespeares part this would have helped keep the audience interested. in that respect are three prophesies all which tell Macbeth when to start worrying.The language the witches use is strange even for Shakespeares time Another thing is that the lines are shorter than the lines in other part of the play. I dont think this is a coincidence, I personally think Shakespeare did this to keep the witches rhymes simple. I think he did this to keep the audience interested and not rate them off.The use of rhyme people often forget that poetic writing doesnt have to rhyme, in fact in the play there isnt really much rhyming going on, but when the witches speak in Macbeth therere speeches do rhyme unlike most parts of the play.To add even more mystery to the witches they use strange ingredients in their potions I mean we all expect strange items but not that strange. Cats tongues, guts, eyes what more do we want? I think this would have helped Shakespeare with his audience. I think they would have loved the idea of witches around a cauldron especially JamesGoing back and looking at these two scenesAct 1 scene 3Act 4 scene 1We see that Macbeth is involved in both scenes. In act 1 scene 3 we see Macbeth as a worrier for his country, a gentleman. In this scene he bumps into the witches with Banquo his best friend. From what I can tell Macbeth is a bit floor I think this because he basically asks them what they are, I think he doubts that they are human. I think this because Macbeth saysMACBETH Speak if you can what are you?The witches then tell Macbeth that he shall be Thane of Cawdor then King. Banquo interrupting seems more enthusiastic about talking to the witches who then tell Banquo his children shall be Kings. Maybe Macbeth is essay to take in what hes just been told. I think Macbeth wants to believe the witches but he doesnt want to get his hopes up. Thats why hes looking for a reason, he asksMACBETH By Sinells death I know I am Thane of Glamis,But how, of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor livesA prosperous gentlemanThe witches then vanish and Macbeth is left talking to Banquo. I think Macbeth is still avoiding taking about him been K ing, he saysMACBETH Your children shall be Kings.In Act 4 Scene 1 we see Macbeth as a murderer and a evil man or should I say King. He barges onto the scene and demands answers from the witches I know this because he saysMACBETH Howeer you come to know it, answer meThree apparitions then go on to tell Macbeth three thingsOne that he should be aware of Macduff,Two that he should he should be aware of anyone not born from a womens womb andThree that he should we weary when the woods begin to move. I think at this point in the play Macbeth is worried about Banquos children and what the witches told Macbeth at the beginning of the play. I think this because he saysMACBETH domiciliate tell so much-will Banquos issue everReign in this Kingdom?The witches do not give Macbeth his answer. I think the reason for this is because if the audience know the answer to this question then they can bet out the end of the play.As Ive already said, I do think the witches played an enormous part in Ma cbeth. I also think that they play a earlier big part in Macbeths life after all arent they really the ones accountable for King Duncans death? I think they are. I think this because at the end of the day the witches gave Macbeth the idea of killing the witch. I think as soon as the third witch saysTHIRD WITCH All hail Macbeth, that shalt beKing hereafter.I think this is, in a way the poison been injected into Macbeths blood. Its only a matter of time before it begins to kick in, and when it does Macbeth will think up his plans to murder King Duncan. Another reason I think the witches are to blame is because Macbeth wouldnt have done it with out them I think this because Macbeth says to his wife when she pushes him into murdering DuncanMACBETH We will proceed no further in this line of creditHe also saysMACBETH So foul and fair a day I have not seen.I think the above proves he wouldnt have murdered Duncan if he had not met the witches. I dont think the witches are all to blame th ough, I dont think Lady Macbeth helps either shes always trying to push Macbeth into committing murder. Some people in the audience may wonder if Lady Macbeth is a witch or perhaps the witches have put a spell on her?I have seen two contrastive sports of the witches on screen and both were extremely different. Obviously the two versions were Polanskis version and Macbeth on the Estate.In Polanskis version the witches were what you would expect, old pathetic women who lived in a dirty smelling cave but in Macbeth on the estates version the witches were played by three children who lived in an old abandoned flat. I thought this was a rather interesting (and clever) concept.Both films were very good but if I had to occupy one which I thought was the most effective (concerning the witches only) I would ingest Polanskis version. This is because the witches were exactly what I expect and want. You dont want sweet little children playing the part of horrible witches. It just isnt Macb eth. It rips the whole idea of witches into shreds or to be more precise it doesnt follow the stereotype. Some people may think this is a noisome thing but I would have to disagree with them.However in Polanskis version the witches are brilliant theyre ugly, theyre old, theyre dirty and theyre naked. I also think Polanskis version was better because we saw the witches using magic. For example when they faded out into thin air. It was what I expected and the reasons above are the reasons I choose Macbeth over Macbeth on the Estate.