Synthesis Essay On Macbeth

Supriya Kazi

Martin

AP English 12

March 21, 2014

Puppet Masters

Third time’s the charm. But, in Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, the number three is the beckoning of evil, a sign of disaster. The superstition of the unlucky third is fully embodied in the three prophecies, delivered by the iconic three witches, which set up Macbeth’s downfall. BareStage Productions’ live Macbeth: The Gore, The Glitter directed by Matthew Hannon adheres to Shakespeare’s original vision and characteristics of the three witches. However, PBS’s Great Performances episode of Macbeth, the movie adaptation, takes more creative liberties by centralizing its witches to make them controllers of Macbeth’s fate. The movie’s different interpretation of the witches determines who is truly at fault for the ruin of Macbeth.

Despite neither of the productions following the original physical characteristics of the witches, both modernistic interpretations allow for a new angle on the play. The young, attractive witches in both productions embody the central theme of Macbeth “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Their deceivingly alluring looks only hide the real evil they are capable of. In the live production, the seductive, manipulative young witches draw Macbeth into their evil schemes, leaving him and his ambition to be his own downfall. Their ethereal, misty look makes them clearly supernatural creatures. Furthermore in the live play, the witches only appear when necessary – when Shakespeare intended for them to. By keeping a minimalistic, classic approach, the live play places only a portion of the responsibility on the witches, instead focusing on Macbeth.

While the live play and Shakespeare’s Macbeth divvy up the responsibility, the PBS interp...

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...moment and decision Macbeth makes is marked by their hovering presence – in his kitchen, banquet hall, and final moments. These additional, intentional appearances of the nurses further indicate that the nurses’ are wholly responsible for all the happenings within this play.

With cinematic effects, clear juxtaposition, and constant appearances, the PBS movie makes the witches a true menace. In every story, the many different interpretations can be stretched and intensified as per the author’s choice. The more centralized characters of the witches deviate from Shakespeare’s original play and other adaptations. Although they all speak the same lines, the way in which they affect the plot is completely different. As a trail of cheese leads a mouse to the classic mouse trap, the witches set up Macbeth in a series of good fortune till he meets his ultimate demise.