Macbeth

729 Words2 Pages

“Macbeth”
When a play is presented on film, the director takes the script, and with poetic license, interprets it. A film not only contains the actual words of the author (in this case Shakespeare), but it includes action, acting, and cinematographic techniques; the three are used to better portray the author’s story. Using these elements, the director’s interpretation of the plot is reinforced. The film provides symbolic images and a visual interpretation, hence Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” is better understood by the viewers.
The use of action was essential in the film. Murder, parties, battles, dancing, and embraces were actions that were focused upon the most. For example, in the scenes of Duncan’s murder, the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the two guards, and Duncan were emphasized. The director used close-ups and long pauses in dialogue and action to give the viewer more time to focus on details in the scenes. Also, the long pauses and close-ups add to the drama, and overall mood of the film. Facial expressions, body movements, and speech were combined to portray “Macbeth” in such a way that the characters, and their emotions could be better understood. Thus, reinforcing the plot. For example, the close-ups of Macbeth’s face in the scenes surrounding Duncan’s murder clearly convey to the viewer his fear, guilt, uncertainty, anxiety, confusion and horror. Without these close-ups, these emotions might possibly have not been clearly sent to the viewer.
The actions of the characters as a whole in the film portray the change in mood over the course of the film. For example, in the beginning scenes, the soldiers rode high on their horses, the children played and laughed, townspeople seemed to be bustling about in a pleasant manner, and smiles were on all faces, especially at the party at Macbeth’s house the night of Duncan’s murder. Towards the end of the fourth act, the soldiers, townspeople, and children were crying, moaning and showed signs of suffering. In conclusion, these overall actions of the characters portrayed the mood change over the course of the film, thus emphasizing the fact that Macbeth had brought poverty, sorrow and horror to Scotland.
The cinematography enforced the mood, drama, and plot. The use of color in the film was telltale of the mood. The colors were drab, lifeless, mellow colors. These colors were telltale signs of the setting and mood of the play. The setting was in a sorrowful, dirty, suffering country; the mood was sorrowful and suffering as well.

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