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The Shakespeare play Macbeth is the only shakespeare play that I have actually read and seen (as a film version). I have to say that it is actually pretty good. When you think how much time Shakespeare must have put into the play you'll soon understand why he was and is one of England's greatest play writes.
The most impressive aspect about the play, in my opinion, is the use of Dramatic irony. I f you have read the book then you'll know how important this is in regards to the whole story. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, and haven't seen the play, read the book, or watched the film, then I recommend you do.
If you don't know what happens and don't want to know, then skip the following text.
The play is set in Scotland, just after a war with Norway, and Scotland actually won! (The play is based on a true story, but Shakespeare changes a lot of things to suit his requirements). There's a King called Duncan, who promotes the Thane of Glamis - Macbeth - to Thane of Cawdor because of how well he did in the battle. However, Macbeth was told this was going to happen by 3 witches who predict his future (for some reason or other) and he was also told he would become King.
Macbeth at first thinks this is all crazy, and doesn't believe it, but soon he begins to dwell on the possibilities of becoming King - this happens mainly after he becomes Thane of Cawdor. So, Macbeth, with the aid of his wife, (imaginatively called 'Lady Macbeth') start planning the murder of the King Duncan. It is in fact Lady macbeth who has a greater lust for power and to be Queen, than Macbeth has to become King, so she plans everything to do with the murder.
The murder happens - Macbeth committed it, and there's a lot of tension at this time. Immediately Macbeth feels incredible guilt and regret, but Lady Macbeth dismisses this and tells him to forget about it. But (here's the important bit) Macbeth didn't complete the task correctly - he was supposed to leave the murder weapons (daggers) by some chamber grooms (who had been earlier drugged). So, Lady Macbeth had to do this, in order for the evidence to point at these chamber people. In the process of doing this Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hands, which in time will drive her insane.
Basically, Macbeth becomes king and ignores Lady Macbeth as he's constantly having people killed to help conceal the truth about Duncan's murder. Macbeth has his moments of insanity - including various hallucinations (including a very dramatic Banquet scene) but somehow kind of keeps his head thinking right (until the end, of course). But, because Lady Macbeth is always being ignored, and now cannot really 'control' Macbeth as she used to be able to do, she goes insane, and also has various hallucinations - mainly, and most famously about the spot of blood on her hand. (This blood represents her guilt) and that's where the famous line 'out damned spot!' comes from: a scene with Lady Macbeth talking to herself, in an ill state of mind.
Finally, Lady Macbeth kills herself as she can't take it any more, and Macbeth is left on his own, and will face certain doom when an English army (hidden by trees) lead by MacDuff (a Lord, whose wife and family had been killed by Macbeth - to protect himself, apparently) and he wants revenge, has the full support of the nation of England, and storms up to Scotland.
Macbeth stands no chance of winning, as all of his people, soldiers etc, ran away. He was a far too brutal king, and paid the consequences.
In one of the final scenes, Macbeth stands up like a true man and fights against a whole army. He manages to kill about 20 men single handedly, but then, in a fight with macDuff, gets his head chopped off - the whole scene, in the film version at least, is very well done.
You really have to read the book, see the film, and you'll get a greater understanding of the play. It is a great play, but if you're Scottish, you might not like it, but then you might.
Great stuff Shakespeare, if you were alive today, I'd say keep it up!
Shakespeare thinks up his characters and change and develop them in so much detail, it is incredible, and so I've decided to show you a brief example:
I've analysed the changes of Lady Macbeth as she is a very important character, and, in my opinion, is the most influential.
Lady MacBeth: a pivitol role?
At the start of the play Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth to have a very calm way about her, to be controlled but also to have dark and evil characteristics “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be…” Lady Macbeth, after reading Macbeth’s letter, remains calm and believes all that she reads, even though the letter does tell of strange happenings. Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s character, of her dark thoughts, when she considers to herself the prospect of Macbeth becoming king, “And chastise with the valour of my tongue… To have thee crowned withal.” Lady Macbeth is very confident in herself, as she suggests that Macbeth must have her boldness and valour to help him to become king: already at this stage Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth have such strong characteristics that the audience will have a strong and lasting first impression of her.
I think that, although early on, Lady Macbeth is hinting at the prospect of murder. A great desire has built up inside her and a lust for power has begun, she wants Macbeth to become king; this will only be possible if the king is murdered.
Again, Shakespeare shows the evil characteristics of Lady Macbeth,
“The raven himself is hoarse… That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements” This shows that Lady Macbeth has very decisive qualities and has a very controlled if very evil state of mind as she has already decided that Duncan will be murdered when he visits so soon into the play. Shakespeare uses the word ‘croaks’ to depict a crying or dying sound; nature will be disturbed because of what will happen, and because of what is happening already. Shakespeare allows Lady Macbeth to have a lot of possessiveness, ‘Under my battlements’ under her control at her own castle the murder will take place. The ‘fatal entrance of Duncan’ makes a very strong impression for the audience, sharp and harsh sounding words are used instead of soft sounding words.
Already she has planned in her mind that he shall not leave her castle alive. Shakespeare helps to emphasize Lady Macbeth’s ruthlessness and evil nature “Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood…” this shows how wicked she wants to be, that she wants the power of a man and the blood of a man to make her strong enough to murder. This will have a great impact on the audience, as they’ll now know how evil Lady Macbeth can be and will be.
“And pall thee dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Not heaven peep through the blanket of the dark…”
Shakespeare continues to make the character of Lady Macbeth have an impact on the audience, greater still as she speaks with such power. This also shows that Lady Macbeth wants to keep her evil ways hidden from heaven, she knows that what she will do would sentence her to hell if she were to be found out. These words form a very vivid image of the darkest sky covering up her crimes.
The actress playing Lady Macbeth in the film or stage version needs to be very skilled as she must be able to portray a lot of different movement throughout the play. Lady Macbeth is shown by Shakespeare to have very controlled calm movement at the start of the play; she is aware of what is going on and, due to her stable mental state, she is calm and in control of herself, as well as being in part control of Macbeth; she is very influential and encouraging towards Macbeth as she wants him to become king, and, more importantly, she wants to become Queen. “Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower,
But be the serpent under’t…you shall put
This night’s great business into my dispatch,
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.” This shows also that Shakespeare intends that Lady Macbeth qualities are those of persuasion, and that she has cynicism and cunning when discussing and planning the murder of Duncan with Macbeth. I think that, at this point, Lady Macbeth is either intending to commit the murder or perhaps merely set the stage for. Her evilness and lustfulness are again showed here as she is prepared to help in the killing of King Duncan. At this time it seems Lady Macbeth is more enthusiastic about the whole situation, whereas Macbeth is perhaps more wary. This shows that she has little in the way of remorse, and is very much in command of the situation “To alter favour is to fear… Leave all the rest to me.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth say this as it shows the audience that she has planning, organisational, and very obvious leadership skills (especially compared to Macbeth).
Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s evil character when she speaks to Duncan “Your servants ever, Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,
Still to return your own.” By appearing very welcoming and having full praise when talking to Duncan this will show the audience that Lady Macbeth is again very calm; she doesn’t panic even though she has planned with Macbeth to murder him. Therefore it helps to show her cunning and really sinister qualities as the audience realise that she’s putting on this fake kindness; that she doesn’t at all mean it. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth very much in control at this stage; not at all nervous she puts on this false face when talking to Duncan.
Shakespeare regularly shows a great number of good qualities of Lady Macbeth, as well as her bad. She is shown to have great awareness, determination and will power and has a stable mind at this point in time.
“ It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,” “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” This shows very acute hearing on Lady Macbeth’s part - it also reflects her calm but alert nature, not at all frantic and very controlled about the situation.
Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth has a certain brutality and shows real disrespect for others as she is prepared to risk others’ lives in order to conceal herself and Macbeth from being found out.
“Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets,
That death and nature do contend them, Whether they live or die.”
“I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.”
Lady Macbeth doesn’t care if the grooms of the bedchamber die, in fact she knows they are bound to be killed: all evidence will point to the chamber grooms, as Duncan’s blood had been smeared blood on their clothes. This again shows the audience her cunning, and her planning and organisation skills, as well as her evil tendencies.
The use of dramatic irony throughout the play is very important, and this is shown often in the case of Lady Macbeth. After the murder has taken place Lady Macbeth takes control. (She has to do so, as Macbeth is in deep shock of what he has just done), “ A foolish thought to say a sorry sight” Shakespeare shows the audience more characteristics of Lady Macbeth when she speaks very boldly to Macbeth when he shows hesitation and regret. In the film version there is a very dismissive and harsh tone to Lady Macbeth’s voice, the actress shows this extremely clearly as it seems as though she is telling Macbeth off for thinking such a thing. The audience will be able to see this authority easily, so the actress needs to show it with great precision (she does) because at the end of the play her characteristics completely change.
Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show her frustration and ‘disgust’ at Macbeth as he already feels so guilty to have murdered Duncan, “Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness form your hand,
A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!” (There is a lot of irony here). Lady Macbeth did not commit the murder (because King Duncan resembled her father), but, when placing the daggers in the chamber grooms’ vicinity, Lady Macbeth got a spot of blood on her hands. The fact that Lady Macbeth did take the daggers and place them with the chamber grooms shows that she was in full control at this scene: Shakespeare made Macbeth refuse to return anywhere near the murder scene, as he was in deep shock, so that Lady Macbeth would have to complete the cover up. In my view this is a pivotal part of the play: Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hand from the daggers: this will be very important at the end of the play in act 5 scene 1. The blood on their hands, in Lady Macbeth’s view, can easily be washed away, without hesitation. The actress who plays Lady Macbeth shows complete contrast to this at the end of the play, because here she cannot get rid of this guilt that has grown inside her (represented by the blood). The actress is incredible ‘shaky’ and somewhat nervous and isn’t in a right state of mind. She feels very agitated about the blood spot although it isn’t really there and tells that nothing will wash away the blood, “Here’s the smell of blood; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”.
Still in Act 2 Scene 2 Shakespeare continues to build upon Lady Macbeth’s qualities. The language she uses when speaking to Macbeth changes a lot within a short space of time. Lady Macbeth is complimentary towards Macbeth but tries persuading him to forget what has been done. “These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to effectively forget about the murder: obviously he can’t forget, but she is unaware of what he has just gone through psychologically, she may also choose not to think about what has happened. This is very ironic as it is in fact Lady Macbeth who goes insane, in my view, before Macbeth does, if indeed Macbeth does go mad. The fact the Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth instruct Macbeth not to think about the murder makes for a lot of dramatic irony because, towards the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is the one who actually ends up thinking about the murder more so, and cannot handle it as well as Macbeth can.
At this stage Macbeth depends heavily on Lady Macbeth. She is a far more stable character than he is, and has a certain amount of control over Macbeth. However, towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth has lost a great deal of control. This is very evident in the banquet scene, as Lady Macbeth struggles to cover up Macbeth’s hallucinations by stating that he is merely ill. “Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me” Lady Macbeth tries to hide this by controlling the situation and taking the spotlight away from Macbeth at this point, “ Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus, He will be well again.” Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to have annoyance at Macbeth, as he sees Banquo’s ghost as a representation of his guilt: Lady Macbeth aims to persuade Macbeth that he is just imagining it all, but with great difficulty, “O proper stuff! This is the very painting of you fear… Why do make such faces? You look but on a stool.” The audience will be able to see Lady Macbeth’s convincing ways, but will also see a great frustration in her due to Macbeth’s state of mind. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show extreme worry in this scene, as she will fear that Macbeth might say something that will indicate murder, and possibly let slip about what happened to Duncan.
The actress in the film has to display slight agitation and annoyance at this frustration so that the audience can see a slight change of her character, and pick up on it. I feel that, partly due to losing control of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth loses all control of herself (as shown later on). Lady Macbeth will know assume that Macbeth has had Banquo killed, and will surely be very confused about it, perhaps shocked, as Banquo was supposedly Macbeth’s friend.
In the last scene with Lady Macbeth (Act 5 scene 1) Shakespeare has drastically changed the character and mental state of Lady Macbeth. She is now no longer a stable person, and has lost many qualities that were so very evident at the start of the play. This great sudden change will have a great impact on the audience, as they were most probably not expecting such a contrast in character. At this stage Lady Macbeth has lost all control. Shakespeare shows this by including two other characters in the stage (the doctor and gentlewoman) who both have a small role in the play, but can be used to show how much Lady Macbeth has changed, as they are of a steady state of mind. The movement in this scene is very important; the actress must show very different movements here compared to the earlier scenes. The audience will see that Lady Macbeth is now very shaky; this reflects her complete change.
This is very important for the dramatic irony that Shakespeare puts into the play. There are so many differences and contrasts in the character of Lady Macbeth in this and the earlier stages. “Yet here’s a spot. Out damned spot! Hell is murky… Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” These very powerful lines show the irony very well. Shakespeare now makes Lady Macbeth talk to herself, unaware of the people near here, revealing a lot about Duncan’s murder, whereas before she was adamant about keeping it all secret from everyone. The audience will see that she no longer can control what she says, and now has such a great feeling of guilt: represented by the blood spot on her hands (in the film version this spot is shown briefly as a hallucination of Lady Macbeth). Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to be fixed upon getting rid of this imaginary spot of blood, as she tries to wash away her guilt. The actress in the film has shown this by ‘washing’ her hands vigorously without water.
The audience will have an understanding that Lady Macbeth is losing her sanity or has already even lost her mind, “You see her eyes are open.” “Ay but their sense are shut.” “What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.”
Shakespeare makes the doctor and gentlewoman have a conversation whilst Lady Macbeth does this because, in a way, it will seem to the audience as though they are looking in on a caged animal that acts very lifelessly and without purpose. Lady Macbeth has now lost her awareness, her sanity and her control.
Shakespeare gives new qualities to Lady Macbeth, even though she has lost her mind. She is now very regretful about what has happened, and shows remorse, and real human emotion, it’s clear she doesn’t want Macbeth to murder any more people: he’s gone too far to protect himself from being found out, “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? No more o’ that my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting.”
Very importantly, Shakespeare focuses heavily on the irony of the blood on the hands; Lady Macbeth is now very concerned about cleaning her hands, to hide the blood (of Duncan) that she got on them. She is no longer as dismissive about the blood as she was in the earlier scenes, no longer does she think “A little water clears us of this deed.” Her thoughts have changed completely now “Here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!” The audience will see how dramatically her feelings have changed. The blood spot has represented the guilt inside Lady Macbeth, and because she cannot stop thinking about the blood spot and what has happened, the guilt grows all the time and eventually she will not be able to take any more. In the film, her new hallucinogenic nature shows this blood spot, which represents the guilt. She feels that nothing can clear her of this guilt, not even the sweetest scents of Arabia; the blood must smell so sour and awful to her, and the audience will be able to tell this.
Lady Macbeth is no longer such an evil cold-blooded person; she does now have regret and remorseful attributes; the audience can see this, as the actress shows very clearly her sadness and tiredness due to all that has happened. However, the guilt has driven her insane. Shakespeare continues to show this with the use of repetition by lady Macbeth, “To bed. To bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.” This just reflects her ill state of mind, and her insanity. Lady Macbeth also repeats what she has said earlier to Macbeth, “Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave.” Lady Macbeth thinks she is talking to Macbeth, she thinks that she is still in control, but of course, she isn’t.
The irony is very apparent here. In an earlier scene when she actually tells Macbeth not to think about the murder (“These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.”) I think Macbeth takes this advice, but Lady Macbeth doesn’t. She ponders about the murder; it’d become fixed in her mind, and, although Macbeth does have his lapses and insane moments (notably in the Banquet scene) he does actually, retain his sanity at the end of the play - Lady Macbeth does not of course. I think that the actress in the film shows a complete contrast in character very clearly; the audience can relate to this. She shows the complete emotional isolation very clearly, Macbeth no longer pays attention to Lady Macbeth, now she cannot carry on with life as a whole. In fact, in the end Lady Macbeth commits suicide. I feel that this was a necessary inclusion as it’ll just help to show the audience and reiterate the fact that Lady Macbeth has changed completely, that she felt killing herself would be less painful than the growing feeling of guilt inside her.
If Shakespeare had not included the death (and suicide clue) of Lady Macbeth then the audience would never know if she would continue to be queen, or even to regain a stable state of mind. I think that this very final end of Lady Macbeth, not at all unexpected because the changes in her could easily lead to fatality, the audience would have picked up on this I am sure. I think that Shakespeare included these changes because he wanted to show that the feeling of guilt is a very powerful one. A feeling that can grow and eventually destroy a person’s life, which it indeed did.
To call,
Shakespeare a genius,
Is the greatest,
Understatement,
In history.
The most impressive aspect about the play, in my opinion, is the use of Dramatic irony. I f you have read the book then you'll know how important this is in regards to the whole story. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, and haven't seen the play, read the book, or watched the film, then I recommend you do.
If you don't know what happens and don't want to know, then skip the following text.
The play is set in Scotland, just after a war with Norway, and Scotland actually won! (The play is based on a true story, but Shakespeare changes a lot of things to suit his requirements). There's a King called Duncan, who promotes the Thane of Glamis - Macbeth - to Thane of Cawdor because of how well he did in the battle. However, Macbeth was told this was going to happen by 3 witches who predict his future (for some reason or other) and he was also told he would become King.
Macbeth at first thinks this is all crazy, and doesn't believe it, but soon he begins to dwell on the possibilities of becoming King - this happens mainly after he becomes Thane of Cawdor. So, Macbeth, with the aid of his wife, (imaginatively called 'Lady Macbeth') start planning the murder of the King Duncan. It is in fact Lady macbeth who has a greater lust for power and to be Queen, than Macbeth has to become King, so she plans everything to do with the murder.
The murder happens - Macbeth committed it, and there's a lot of tension at this time. Immediately Macbeth feels incredible guilt and regret, but Lady Macbeth dismisses this and tells him to forget about it. But (here's the important bit) Macbeth didn't complete the task correctly - he was supposed to leave the murder weapons (daggers) by some chamber grooms (who had been earlier drugged). So, Lady Macbeth had to do this, in order for the evidence to point at these chamber people. In the process of doing this Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hands, which in time will drive her insane.
Basically, Macbeth becomes king and ignores Lady Macbeth as he's constantly having people killed to help conceal the truth about Duncan's murder. Macbeth has his moments of insanity - including various hallucinations (including a very dramatic Banquet scene) but somehow kind of keeps his head thinking right (until the end, of course). But, because Lady Macbeth is always being ignored, and now cannot really 'control' Macbeth as she used to be able to do, she goes insane, and also has various hallucinations - mainly, and most famously about the spot of blood on her hand. (This blood represents her guilt) and that's where the famous line 'out damned spot!' comes from: a scene with Lady Macbeth talking to herself, in an ill state of mind.
Finally, Lady Macbeth kills herself as she can't take it any more, and Macbeth is left on his own, and will face certain doom when an English army (hidden by trees) lead by MacDuff (a Lord, whose wife and family had been killed by Macbeth - to protect himself, apparently) and he wants revenge, has the full support of the nation of England, and storms up to Scotland.
Macbeth stands no chance of winning, as all of his people, soldiers etc, ran away. He was a far too brutal king, and paid the consequences.
In one of the final scenes, Macbeth stands up like a true man and fights against a whole army. He manages to kill about 20 men single handedly, but then, in a fight with macDuff, gets his head chopped off - the whole scene, in the film version at least, is very well done.
You really have to read the book, see the film, and you'll get a greater understanding of the play. It is a great play, but if you're Scottish, you might not like it, but then you might.
Great stuff Shakespeare, if you were alive today, I'd say keep it up!
Shakespeare thinks up his characters and change and develop them in so much detail, it is incredible, and so I've decided to show you a brief example:
I've analysed the changes of Lady Macbeth as she is a very important character, and, in my opinion, is the most influential.
Lady MacBeth: a pivitol role?
At the start of the play Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth to have a very calm way about her, to be controlled but also to have dark and evil characteristics “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be…” Lady Macbeth, after reading Macbeth’s letter, remains calm and believes all that she reads, even though the letter does tell of strange happenings. Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s character, of her dark thoughts, when she considers to herself the prospect of Macbeth becoming king, “And chastise with the valour of my tongue… To have thee crowned withal.” Lady Macbeth is very confident in herself, as she suggests that Macbeth must have her boldness and valour to help him to become king: already at this stage Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth have such strong characteristics that the audience will have a strong and lasting first impression of her.
I think that, although early on, Lady Macbeth is hinting at the prospect of murder. A great desire has built up inside her and a lust for power has begun, she wants Macbeth to become king; this will only be possible if the king is murdered.
Again, Shakespeare shows the evil characteristics of Lady Macbeth,
“The raven himself is hoarse… That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements” This shows that Lady Macbeth has very decisive qualities and has a very controlled if very evil state of mind as she has already decided that Duncan will be murdered when he visits so soon into the play. Shakespeare uses the word ‘croaks’ to depict a crying or dying sound; nature will be disturbed because of what will happen, and because of what is happening already. Shakespeare allows Lady Macbeth to have a lot of possessiveness, ‘Under my battlements’ under her control at her own castle the murder will take place. The ‘fatal entrance of Duncan’ makes a very strong impression for the audience, sharp and harsh sounding words are used instead of soft sounding words.
Already she has planned in her mind that he shall not leave her castle alive. Shakespeare helps to emphasize Lady Macbeth’s ruthlessness and evil nature “Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood…” this shows how wicked she wants to be, that she wants the power of a man and the blood of a man to make her strong enough to murder. This will have a great impact on the audience, as they’ll now know how evil Lady Macbeth can be and will be.
“And pall thee dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Not heaven peep through the blanket of the dark…”
Shakespeare continues to make the character of Lady Macbeth have an impact on the audience, greater still as she speaks with such power. This also shows that Lady Macbeth wants to keep her evil ways hidden from heaven, she knows that what she will do would sentence her to hell if she were to be found out. These words form a very vivid image of the darkest sky covering up her crimes.
The actress playing Lady Macbeth in the film or stage version needs to be very skilled as she must be able to portray a lot of different movement throughout the play. Lady Macbeth is shown by Shakespeare to have very controlled calm movement at the start of the play; she is aware of what is going on and, due to her stable mental state, she is calm and in control of herself, as well as being in part control of Macbeth; she is very influential and encouraging towards Macbeth as she wants him to become king, and, more importantly, she wants to become Queen. “Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower,
But be the serpent under’t…you shall put
This night’s great business into my dispatch,
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.” This shows also that Shakespeare intends that Lady Macbeth qualities are those of persuasion, and that she has cynicism and cunning when discussing and planning the murder of Duncan with Macbeth. I think that, at this point, Lady Macbeth is either intending to commit the murder or perhaps merely set the stage for. Her evilness and lustfulness are again showed here as she is prepared to help in the killing of King Duncan. At this time it seems Lady Macbeth is more enthusiastic about the whole situation, whereas Macbeth is perhaps more wary. This shows that she has little in the way of remorse, and is very much in command of the situation “To alter favour is to fear… Leave all the rest to me.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth say this as it shows the audience that she has planning, organisational, and very obvious leadership skills (especially compared to Macbeth).
Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s evil character when she speaks to Duncan “Your servants ever, Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,
Still to return your own.” By appearing very welcoming and having full praise when talking to Duncan this will show the audience that Lady Macbeth is again very calm; she doesn’t panic even though she has planned with Macbeth to murder him. Therefore it helps to show her cunning and really sinister qualities as the audience realise that she’s putting on this fake kindness; that she doesn’t at all mean it. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth very much in control at this stage; not at all nervous she puts on this false face when talking to Duncan.
Shakespeare regularly shows a great number of good qualities of Lady Macbeth, as well as her bad. She is shown to have great awareness, determination and will power and has a stable mind at this point in time.
“ It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,” “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” This shows very acute hearing on Lady Macbeth’s part - it also reflects her calm but alert nature, not at all frantic and very controlled about the situation.
Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth has a certain brutality and shows real disrespect for others as she is prepared to risk others’ lives in order to conceal herself and Macbeth from being found out.
“Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets,
That death and nature do contend them, Whether they live or die.”
“I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.”
Lady Macbeth doesn’t care if the grooms of the bedchamber die, in fact she knows they are bound to be killed: all evidence will point to the chamber grooms, as Duncan’s blood had been smeared blood on their clothes. This again shows the audience her cunning, and her planning and organisation skills, as well as her evil tendencies.
The use of dramatic irony throughout the play is very important, and this is shown often in the case of Lady Macbeth. After the murder has taken place Lady Macbeth takes control. (She has to do so, as Macbeth is in deep shock of what he has just done), “ A foolish thought to say a sorry sight” Shakespeare shows the audience more characteristics of Lady Macbeth when she speaks very boldly to Macbeth when he shows hesitation and regret. In the film version there is a very dismissive and harsh tone to Lady Macbeth’s voice, the actress shows this extremely clearly as it seems as though she is telling Macbeth off for thinking such a thing. The audience will be able to see this authority easily, so the actress needs to show it with great precision (she does) because at the end of the play her characteristics completely change.
Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show her frustration and ‘disgust’ at Macbeth as he already feels so guilty to have murdered Duncan, “Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness form your hand,
A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!” (There is a lot of irony here). Lady Macbeth did not commit the murder (because King Duncan resembled her father), but, when placing the daggers in the chamber grooms’ vicinity, Lady Macbeth got a spot of blood on her hands. The fact that Lady Macbeth did take the daggers and place them with the chamber grooms shows that she was in full control at this scene: Shakespeare made Macbeth refuse to return anywhere near the murder scene, as he was in deep shock, so that Lady Macbeth would have to complete the cover up. In my view this is a pivotal part of the play: Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hand from the daggers: this will be very important at the end of the play in act 5 scene 1. The blood on their hands, in Lady Macbeth’s view, can easily be washed away, without hesitation. The actress who plays Lady Macbeth shows complete contrast to this at the end of the play, because here she cannot get rid of this guilt that has grown inside her (represented by the blood). The actress is incredible ‘shaky’ and somewhat nervous and isn’t in a right state of mind. She feels very agitated about the blood spot although it isn’t really there and tells that nothing will wash away the blood, “Here’s the smell of blood; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”.
Still in Act 2 Scene 2 Shakespeare continues to build upon Lady Macbeth’s qualities. The language she uses when speaking to Macbeth changes a lot within a short space of time. Lady Macbeth is complimentary towards Macbeth but tries persuading him to forget what has been done. “These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to effectively forget about the murder: obviously he can’t forget, but she is unaware of what he has just gone through psychologically, she may also choose not to think about what has happened. This is very ironic as it is in fact Lady Macbeth who goes insane, in my view, before Macbeth does, if indeed Macbeth does go mad. The fact the Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth instruct Macbeth not to think about the murder makes for a lot of dramatic irony because, towards the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is the one who actually ends up thinking about the murder more so, and cannot handle it as well as Macbeth can.
At this stage Macbeth depends heavily on Lady Macbeth. She is a far more stable character than he is, and has a certain amount of control over Macbeth. However, towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth has lost a great deal of control. This is very evident in the banquet scene, as Lady Macbeth struggles to cover up Macbeth’s hallucinations by stating that he is merely ill. “Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me” Lady Macbeth tries to hide this by controlling the situation and taking the spotlight away from Macbeth at this point, “ Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus, He will be well again.” Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to have annoyance at Macbeth, as he sees Banquo’s ghost as a representation of his guilt: Lady Macbeth aims to persuade Macbeth that he is just imagining it all, but with great difficulty, “O proper stuff! This is the very painting of you fear… Why do make such faces? You look but on a stool.” The audience will be able to see Lady Macbeth’s convincing ways, but will also see a great frustration in her due to Macbeth’s state of mind. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show extreme worry in this scene, as she will fear that Macbeth might say something that will indicate murder, and possibly let slip about what happened to Duncan.
The actress in the film has to display slight agitation and annoyance at this frustration so that the audience can see a slight change of her character, and pick up on it. I feel that, partly due to losing control of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth loses all control of herself (as shown later on). Lady Macbeth will know assume that Macbeth has had Banquo killed, and will surely be very confused about it, perhaps shocked, as Banquo was supposedly Macbeth’s friend.
In the last scene with Lady Macbeth (Act 5 scene 1) Shakespeare has drastically changed the character and mental state of Lady Macbeth. She is now no longer a stable person, and has lost many qualities that were so very evident at the start of the play. This great sudden change will have a great impact on the audience, as they were most probably not expecting such a contrast in character. At this stage Lady Macbeth has lost all control. Shakespeare shows this by including two other characters in the stage (the doctor and gentlewoman) who both have a small role in the play, but can be used to show how much Lady Macbeth has changed, as they are of a steady state of mind. The movement in this scene is very important; the actress must show very different movements here compared to the earlier scenes. The audience will see that Lady Macbeth is now very shaky; this reflects her complete change.
This is very important for the dramatic irony that Shakespeare puts into the play. There are so many differences and contrasts in the character of Lady Macbeth in this and the earlier stages. “Yet here’s a spot. Out damned spot! Hell is murky… Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” These very powerful lines show the irony very well. Shakespeare now makes Lady Macbeth talk to herself, unaware of the people near here, revealing a lot about Duncan’s murder, whereas before she was adamant about keeping it all secret from everyone. The audience will see that she no longer can control what she says, and now has such a great feeling of guilt: represented by the blood spot on her hands (in the film version this spot is shown briefly as a hallucination of Lady Macbeth). Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to be fixed upon getting rid of this imaginary spot of blood, as she tries to wash away her guilt. The actress in the film has shown this by ‘washing’ her hands vigorously without water.
The audience will have an understanding that Lady Macbeth is losing her sanity or has already even lost her mind, “You see her eyes are open.” “Ay but their sense are shut.” “What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.”
Shakespeare makes the doctor and gentlewoman have a conversation whilst Lady Macbeth does this because, in a way, it will seem to the audience as though they are looking in on a caged animal that acts very lifelessly and without purpose. Lady Macbeth has now lost her awareness, her sanity and her control.
Shakespeare gives new qualities to Lady Macbeth, even though she has lost her mind. She is now very regretful about what has happened, and shows remorse, and real human emotion, it’s clear she doesn’t want Macbeth to murder any more people: he’s gone too far to protect himself from being found out, “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? No more o’ that my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting.”
Very importantly, Shakespeare focuses heavily on the irony of the blood on the hands; Lady Macbeth is now very concerned about cleaning her hands, to hide the blood (of Duncan) that she got on them. She is no longer as dismissive about the blood as she was in the earlier scenes, no longer does she think “A little water clears us of this deed.” Her thoughts have changed completely now “Here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!” The audience will see how dramatically her feelings have changed. The blood spot has represented the guilt inside Lady Macbeth, and because she cannot stop thinking about the blood spot and what has happened, the guilt grows all the time and eventually she will not be able to take any more. In the film, her new hallucinogenic nature shows this blood spot, which represents the guilt. She feels that nothing can clear her of this guilt, not even the sweetest scents of Arabia; the blood must smell so sour and awful to her, and the audience will be able to tell this.
Lady Macbeth is no longer such an evil cold-blooded person; she does now have regret and remorseful attributes; the audience can see this, as the actress shows very clearly her sadness and tiredness due to all that has happened. However, the guilt has driven her insane. Shakespeare continues to show this with the use of repetition by lady Macbeth, “To bed. To bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.” This just reflects her ill state of mind, and her insanity. Lady Macbeth also repeats what she has said earlier to Macbeth, “Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave.” Lady Macbeth thinks she is talking to Macbeth, she thinks that she is still in control, but of course, she isn’t.
The irony is very apparent here. In an earlier scene when she actually tells Macbeth not to think about the murder (“These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.”) I think Macbeth takes this advice, but Lady Macbeth doesn’t. She ponders about the murder; it’d become fixed in her mind, and, although Macbeth does have his lapses and insane moments (notably in the Banquet scene) he does actually, retain his sanity at the end of the play - Lady Macbeth does not of course. I think that the actress in the film shows a complete contrast in character very clearly; the audience can relate to this. She shows the complete emotional isolation very clearly, Macbeth no longer pays attention to Lady Macbeth, now she cannot carry on with life as a whole. In fact, in the end Lady Macbeth commits suicide. I feel that this was a necessary inclusion as it’ll just help to show the audience and reiterate the fact that Lady Macbeth has changed completely, that she felt killing herself would be less painful than the growing feeling of guilt inside her.
If Shakespeare had not included the death (and suicide clue) of Lady Macbeth then the audience would never know if she would continue to be queen, or even to regain a stable state of mind. I think that this very final end of Lady Macbeth, not at all unexpected because the changes in her could easily lead to fatality, the audience would have picked up on this I am sure. I think that Shakespeare included these changes because he wanted to show that the feeling of guilt is a very powerful one. A feeling that can grow and eventually destroy a person’s life, which it indeed did.
To call,
Shakespeare a genius,
Is the greatest,
Understatement,
In history.
Page:
The Shakespeare play Macbeth is the only shakespeare play that I have actually read and seen (as a film version). I have to say that it is actually pretty good. When you think how much time Shakespeare must have put into the play you'll soon understand why he was and is one of England's greatest play writes.
The most impressive aspect about the play, in my opinion, is the use of Dramatic irony. I f you have read the book then you'll know how important this is in regards to the whole story. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, and haven't seen the play, read the book, or watched the film, then I recommend you do.
If you don't know what happens and don't want to know, then skip the following text.
The play is set in Scotland, just after a war with Norway, and Scotland actually won! (The play is based on a true story, but Shakespeare changes a lot of things to suit his requirements). There's a King called Duncan, who promotes the Thane of Glamis - Macbeth - to Thane of Cawdor because of how well he did in the battle. However, Macbeth was told this was going to happen by 3 witches who predict his future (for some reason or other) and he was also told he would become King.
Macbeth at first thinks this is all crazy, and doesn't believe it, but soon he begins to dwell on the possibilities of becoming King - this happens mainly after he becomes Thane of Cawdor. So, Macbeth, with the aid of his wife, (imaginatively called 'Lady Macbeth') start planning the murder of the King Duncan. It is in fact Lady macbeth who has a greater lust for power and to be Queen, than Macbeth has to become King, so she plans everything to do with the murder.
The murder happens - Macbeth committed it, and there's a lot of tension at this time. Immediately Macbeth feels incredible guilt and regret, but Lady Macbeth dismisses this and tells him to forget about it. But (here's the important bit) Macbeth didn't complete the task correctly - he was supposed to leave the murder weapons (daggers) by some chamber grooms (who had been earlier drugged). So, Lady Macbeth had to do this, in order for the evidence to point at these chamber people. In the process of doing this Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hands, which in time will drive her insane.
Basically, Macbeth becomes king and ignores Lady Macbeth as he's constantly having people killed to help conceal the truth about Duncan's murder. Macbeth has his moments of insanity - including various hallucinations (including a very dramatic Banquet scene) but somehow kind of keeps his head thinking right (until the end, of course). But, because Lady Macbeth is always being ignored, and now cannot really 'control' Macbeth as she used to be able to do, she goes insane, and also has various hallucinations - mainly, and most famously about the spot of blood on her hand. (This blood represents her guilt) and that's where the famous line 'out damned spot!' comes from: a scene with Lady Macbeth talking to herself, in an ill state of mind.
Finally, Lady Macbeth kills herself as she can't take it any more, and Macbeth is left on his own, and will face certain doom when an English army (hidden by trees) lead by MacDuff (a Lord, whose wife and family had been killed by Macbeth - to protect himself, apparently) and he wants revenge, has the full support of the nation of England, and storms up to Scotland.
Macbeth stands no chance of winning, as all of his people, soldiers etc, ran away. He was a far too brutal king, and paid the consequences.
In one of the final scenes, Macbeth stands up like a true man and fights against a whole army. He manages to kill about 20 men single handedly, but then, in a fight with macDuff, gets his head chopped off - the whole scene, in the film version at least, is very well done.
You really have to read the book, see the film, and you'll get a greater understanding of the play. It is a great play, but if you're Scottish, you might not like it, but then you might.
Great stuff Shakespeare, if you were alive today, I'd say keep it up!
Shakespeare thinks up his characters and change and develop them in so much detail, it is incredible, and so I've decided to show you a brief example:
I've analysed the changes of Lady Macbeth as she is a very important character, and, in my opinion, is the most influential.
Lady MacBeth: a pivitol role?
At the start of the play Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth to have a very calm way about her, to be controlled but also to have dark and evil characteristics “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be…” Lady Macbeth, after reading Macbeth’s letter, remains calm and believes all that she reads, even though the letter does tell of strange happenings. Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s character, of her dark thoughts, when she considers to herself the prospect of Macbeth becoming king, “And chastise with the valour of my tongue… To have thee crowned withal.” Lady Macbeth is very confident in herself, as she suggests that Macbeth must have her boldness and valour to help him to become king: already at this stage Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth have such strong characteristics that the audience will have a strong and lasting first impression of her.
I think that, although early on, Lady Macbeth is hinting at the prospect of murder. A great desire has built up inside her and a lust for power has begun, she wants Macbeth to become king; this will only be possible if the king is murdered.
Again, Shakespeare shows the evil characteristics of Lady Macbeth,
“The raven himself is hoarse… That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements” This shows that Lady Macbeth has very decisive qualities and has a very controlled if very evil state of mind as she has already decided that Duncan will be murdered when he visits so soon into the play. Shakespeare uses the word ‘croaks’ to depict a crying or dying sound; nature will be disturbed because of what will happen, and because of what is happening already. Shakespeare allows Lady Macbeth to have a lot of possessiveness, ‘Under my battlements’ under her control at her own castle the murder will take place. The ‘fatal entrance of Duncan’ makes a very strong impression for the audience, sharp and harsh sounding words are used instead of soft sounding words.
Already she has planned in her mind that he shall not leave her castle alive. Shakespeare helps to emphasize Lady Macbeth’s ruthlessness and evil nature “Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood…” this shows how wicked she wants to be, that she wants the power of a man and the blood of a man to make her strong enough to murder. This will have a great impact on the audience, as they’ll now know how evil Lady Macbeth can be and will be.
“And pall thee dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Not heaven peep through the blanket of the dark…”
Shakespeare continues to make the character of Lady Macbeth have an impact on the audience, greater still as she speaks with such power. This also shows that Lady Macbeth wants to keep her evil ways hidden from heaven, she knows that what she will do would sentence her to hell if she were to be found out. These words form a very vivid image of the darkest sky covering up her crimes.
The actress playing Lady Macbeth in the film or stage version needs to be very skilled as she must be able to portray a lot of different movement throughout the play. Lady Macbeth is shown by Shakespeare to have very controlled calm movement at the start of the play; she is aware of what is going on and, due to her stable mental state, she is calm and in control of herself, as well as being in part control of Macbeth; she is very influential and encouraging towards Macbeth as she wants him to become king, and, more importantly, she wants to become Queen. “Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower,
But be the serpent under’t…you shall put
This night’s great business into my dispatch,
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.” This shows also that Shakespeare intends that Lady Macbeth qualities are those of persuasion, and that she has cynicism and cunning when discussing and planning the murder of Duncan with Macbeth. I think that, at this point, Lady Macbeth is either intending to commit the murder or perhaps merely set the stage for. Her evilness and lustfulness are again showed here as she is prepared to help in the killing of King Duncan. At this time it seems Lady Macbeth is more enthusiastic about the whole situation, whereas Macbeth is perhaps more wary. This shows that she has little in the way of remorse, and is very much in command of the situation “To alter favour is to fear… Leave all the rest to me.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth say this as it shows the audience that she has planning, organisational, and very obvious leadership skills (especially compared to Macbeth).
Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s evil character when she speaks to Duncan “Your servants ever, Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,
Still to return your own.” By appearing very welcoming and having full praise when talking to Duncan this will show the audience that Lady Macbeth is again very calm; she doesn’t panic even though she has planned with Macbeth to murder him. Therefore it helps to show her cunning and really sinister qualities as the audience realise that she’s putting on this fake kindness; that she doesn’t at all mean it. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth very much in control at this stage; not at all nervous she puts on this false face when talking to Duncan.
Shakespeare regularly shows a great number of good qualities of Lady Macbeth, as well as her bad. She is shown to have great awareness, determination and will power and has a stable mind at this point in time.
“ It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,” “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” This shows very acute hearing on Lady Macbeth’s part - it also reflects her calm but alert nature, not at all frantic and very controlled about the situation.
Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth has a certain brutality and shows real disrespect for others as she is prepared to risk others’ lives in order to conceal herself and Macbeth from being found out.
“Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets,
That death and nature do contend them, Whether they live or die.”
“I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.”
Lady Macbeth doesn’t care if the grooms of the bedchamber die, in fact she knows they are bound to be killed: all evidence will point to the chamber grooms, as Duncan’s blood had been smeared blood on their clothes. This again shows the audience her cunning, and her planning and organisation skills, as well as her evil tendencies.
The use of dramatic irony throughout the play is very important, and this is shown often in the case of Lady Macbeth. After the murder has taken place Lady Macbeth takes control. (She has to do so, as Macbeth is in deep shock of what he has just done), “ A foolish thought to say a sorry sight” Shakespeare shows the audience more characteristics of Lady Macbeth when she speaks very boldly to Macbeth when he shows hesitation and regret. In the film version there is a very dismissive and harsh tone to Lady Macbeth’s voice, the actress shows this extremely clearly as it seems as though she is telling Macbeth off for thinking such a thing. The audience will be able to see this authority easily, so the actress needs to show it with great precision (she does) because at the end of the play her characteristics completely change.
Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show her frustration and ‘disgust’ at Macbeth as he already feels so guilty to have murdered Duncan, “Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness form your hand,
A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!” (There is a lot of irony here). Lady Macbeth did not commit the murder (because King Duncan resembled her father), but, when placing the daggers in the chamber grooms’ vicinity, Lady Macbeth got a spot of blood on her hands. The fact that Lady Macbeth did take the daggers and place them with the chamber grooms shows that she was in full control at this scene: Shakespeare made Macbeth refuse to return anywhere near the murder scene, as he was in deep shock, so that Lady Macbeth would have to complete the cover up. In my view this is a pivotal part of the play: Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hand from the daggers: this will be very important at the end of the play in act 5 scene 1. The blood on their hands, in Lady Macbeth’s view, can easily be washed away, without hesitation. The actress who plays Lady Macbeth shows complete contrast to this at the end of the play, because here she cannot get rid of this guilt that has grown inside her (represented by the blood). The actress is incredible ‘shaky’ and somewhat nervous and isn’t in a right state of mind. She feels very agitated about the blood spot although it isn’t really there and tells that nothing will wash away the blood, “Here’s the smell of blood; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”.
Still in Act 2 Scene 2 Shakespeare continues to build upon Lady Macbeth’s qualities. The language she uses when speaking to Macbeth changes a lot within a short space of time. Lady Macbeth is complimentary towards Macbeth but tries persuading him to forget what has been done. “These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to effectively forget about the murder: obviously he can’t forget, but she is unaware of what he has just gone through psychologically, she may also choose not to think about what has happened. This is very ironic as it is in fact Lady Macbeth who goes insane, in my view, before Macbeth does, if indeed Macbeth does go mad. The fact the Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth instruct Macbeth not to think about the murder makes for a lot of dramatic irony because, towards the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is the one who actually ends up thinking about the murder more so, and cannot handle it as well as Macbeth can.
At this stage Macbeth depends heavily on Lady Macbeth. She is a far more stable character than he is, and has a certain amount of control over Macbeth. However, towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth has lost a great deal of control. This is very evident in the banquet scene, as Lady Macbeth struggles to cover up Macbeth’s hallucinations by stating that he is merely ill. “Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me” Lady Macbeth tries to hide this by controlling the situation and taking the spotlight away from Macbeth at this point, “ Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus, He will be well again.” Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to have annoyance at Macbeth, as he sees Banquo’s ghost as a representation of his guilt: Lady Macbeth aims to persuade Macbeth that he is just imagining it all, but with great difficulty, “O proper stuff! This is the very painting of you fear… Why do make such faces? You look but on a stool.” The audience will be able to see Lady Macbeth’s convincing ways, but will also see a great frustration in her due to Macbeth’s state of mind. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show extreme worry in this scene, as she will fear that Macbeth might say something that will indicate murder, and possibly let slip about what happened to Duncan.
The actress in the film has to display slight agitation and annoyance at this frustration so that the audience can see a slight change of her character, and pick up on it. I feel that, partly due to losing control of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth loses all control of herself (as shown later on). Lady Macbeth will know assume that Macbeth has had Banquo killed, and will surely be very confused about it, perhaps shocked, as Banquo was supposedly Macbeth’s friend.
In the last scene with Lady Macbeth (Act 5 scene 1) Shakespeare has drastically changed the character and mental state of Lady Macbeth. She is now no longer a stable person, and has lost many qualities that were so very evident at the start of the play. This great sudden change will have a great impact on the audience, as they were most probably not expecting such a contrast in character. At this stage Lady Macbeth has lost all control. Shakespeare shows this by including two other characters in the stage (the doctor and gentlewoman) who both have a small role in the play, but can be used to show how much Lady Macbeth has changed, as they are of a steady state of mind. The movement in this scene is very important; the actress must show very different movements here compared to the earlier scenes. The audience will see that Lady Macbeth is now very shaky; this reflects her complete change.
This is very important for the dramatic irony that Shakespeare puts into the play. There are so many differences and contrasts in the character of Lady Macbeth in this and the earlier stages. “Yet here’s a spot. Out damned spot! Hell is murky… Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” These very powerful lines show the irony very well. Shakespeare now makes Lady Macbeth talk to herself, unaware of the people near here, revealing a lot about Duncan’s murder, whereas before she was adamant about keeping it all secret from everyone. The audience will see that she no longer can control what she says, and now has such a great feeling of guilt: represented by the blood spot on her hands (in the film version this spot is shown briefly as a hallucination of Lady Macbeth). Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to be fixed upon getting rid of this imaginary spot of blood, as she tries to wash away her guilt. The actress in the film has shown this by ‘washing’ her hands vigorously without water.
The audience will have an understanding that Lady Macbeth is losing her sanity or has already even lost her mind, “You see her eyes are open.” “Ay but their sense are shut.” “What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.”
Shakespeare makes the doctor and gentlewoman have a conversation whilst Lady Macbeth does this because, in a way, it will seem to the audience as though they are looking in on a caged animal that acts very lifelessly and without purpose. Lady Macbeth has now lost her awareness, her sanity and her control.
Shakespeare gives new qualities to Lady Macbeth, even though she has lost her mind. She is now very regretful about what has happened, and shows remorse, and real human emotion, it’s clear she doesn’t want Macbeth to murder any more people: he’s gone too far to protect himself from being found out, “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? No more o’ that my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting.”
Very importantly, Shakespeare focuses heavily on the irony of the blood on the hands; Lady Macbeth is now very concerned about cleaning her hands, to hide the blood (of Duncan) that she got on them. She is no longer as dismissive about the blood as she was in the earlier scenes, no longer does she think “A little water clears us of this deed.” Her thoughts have changed completely now “Here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!” The audience will see how dramatically her feelings have changed. The blood spot has represented the guilt inside Lady Macbeth, and because she cannot stop thinking about the blood spot and what has happened, the guilt grows all the time and eventually she will not be able to take any more. In the film, her new hallucinogenic nature shows this blood spot, which represents the guilt. She feels that nothing can clear her of this guilt, not even the sweetest scents of Arabia; the blood must smell so sour and awful to her, and the audience will be able to tell this.
Lady Macbeth is no longer such an evil cold-blooded person; she does now have regret and remorseful attributes; the audience can see this, as the actress shows very clearly her sadness and tiredness due to all that has happened. However, the guilt has driven her insane. Shakespeare continues to show this with the use of repetition by lady Macbeth, “To bed. To bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.” This just reflects her ill state of mind, and her insanity. Lady Macbeth also repeats what she has said earlier to Macbeth, “Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave.” Lady Macbeth thinks she is talking to Macbeth, she thinks that she is still in control, but of course, she isn’t.
The irony is very apparent here. In an earlier scene when she actually tells Macbeth not to think about the murder (“These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.”) I think Macbeth takes this advice, but Lady Macbeth doesn’t. She ponders about the murder; it’d become fixed in her mind, and, although Macbeth does have his lapses and insane moments (notably in the Banquet scene) he does actually, retain his sanity at the end of the play - Lady Macbeth does not of course. I think that the actress in the film shows a complete contrast in character very clearly; the audience can relate to this. She shows the complete emotional isolation very clearly, Macbeth no longer pays attention to Lady Macbeth, now she cannot carry on with life as a whole. In fact, in the end Lady Macbeth commits suicide. I feel that this was a necessary inclusion as it’ll just help to show the audience and reiterate the fact that Lady Macbeth has changed completely, that she felt killing herself would be less painful than the growing feeling of guilt inside her.
If Shakespeare had not included the death (and suicide clue) of Lady Macbeth then the audience would never know if she would continue to be queen, or even to regain a stable state of mind. I think that this very final end of Lady Macbeth, not at all unexpected because the changes in her could easily lead to fatality, the audience would have picked up on this I am sure. I think that Shakespeare included these changes because he wanted to show that the feeling of guilt is a very powerful one. A feeling that can grow and eventually destroy a person’s life, which it indeed did.
To call,
Shakespeare a genius,
Is the greatest,
Understatement,
In history.
The most impressive aspect about the play, in my opinion, is the use of Dramatic irony. I f you have read the book then you'll know how important this is in regards to the whole story. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, and haven't seen the play, read the book, or watched the film, then I recommend you do.
If you don't know what happens and don't want to know, then skip the following text.
The play is set in Scotland, just after a war with Norway, and Scotland actually won! (The play is based on a true story, but Shakespeare changes a lot of things to suit his requirements). There's a King called Duncan, who promotes the Thane of Glamis - Macbeth - to Thane of Cawdor because of how well he did in the battle. However, Macbeth was told this was going to happen by 3 witches who predict his future (for some reason or other) and he was also told he would become King.
Macbeth at first thinks this is all crazy, and doesn't believe it, but soon he begins to dwell on the possibilities of becoming King - this happens mainly after he becomes Thane of Cawdor. So, Macbeth, with the aid of his wife, (imaginatively called 'Lady Macbeth') start planning the murder of the King Duncan. It is in fact Lady macbeth who has a greater lust for power and to be Queen, than Macbeth has to become King, so she plans everything to do with the murder.
The murder happens - Macbeth committed it, and there's a lot of tension at this time. Immediately Macbeth feels incredible guilt and regret, but Lady Macbeth dismisses this and tells him to forget about it. But (here's the important bit) Macbeth didn't complete the task correctly - he was supposed to leave the murder weapons (daggers) by some chamber grooms (who had been earlier drugged). So, Lady Macbeth had to do this, in order for the evidence to point at these chamber people. In the process of doing this Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hands, which in time will drive her insane.
Basically, Macbeth becomes king and ignores Lady Macbeth as he's constantly having people killed to help conceal the truth about Duncan's murder. Macbeth has his moments of insanity - including various hallucinations (including a very dramatic Banquet scene) but somehow kind of keeps his head thinking right (until the end, of course). But, because Lady Macbeth is always being ignored, and now cannot really 'control' Macbeth as she used to be able to do, she goes insane, and also has various hallucinations - mainly, and most famously about the spot of blood on her hand. (This blood represents her guilt) and that's where the famous line 'out damned spot!' comes from: a scene with Lady Macbeth talking to herself, in an ill state of mind.
Finally, Lady Macbeth kills herself as she can't take it any more, and Macbeth is left on his own, and will face certain doom when an English army (hidden by trees) lead by MacDuff (a Lord, whose wife and family had been killed by Macbeth - to protect himself, apparently) and he wants revenge, has the full support of the nation of England, and storms up to Scotland.
Macbeth stands no chance of winning, as all of his people, soldiers etc, ran away. He was a far too brutal king, and paid the consequences.
In one of the final scenes, Macbeth stands up like a true man and fights against a whole army. He manages to kill about 20 men single handedly, but then, in a fight with macDuff, gets his head chopped off - the whole scene, in the film version at least, is very well done.
You really have to read the book, see the film, and you'll get a greater understanding of the play. It is a great play, but if you're Scottish, you might not like it, but then you might.
Great stuff Shakespeare, if you were alive today, I'd say keep it up!
Shakespeare thinks up his characters and change and develop them in so much detail, it is incredible, and so I've decided to show you a brief example:
I've analysed the changes of Lady Macbeth as she is a very important character, and, in my opinion, is the most influential.
Lady MacBeth: a pivitol role?
At the start of the play Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth to have a very calm way about her, to be controlled but also to have dark and evil characteristics “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be…” Lady Macbeth, after reading Macbeth’s letter, remains calm and believes all that she reads, even though the letter does tell of strange happenings. Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s character, of her dark thoughts, when she considers to herself the prospect of Macbeth becoming king, “And chastise with the valour of my tongue… To have thee crowned withal.” Lady Macbeth is very confident in herself, as she suggests that Macbeth must have her boldness and valour to help him to become king: already at this stage Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth have such strong characteristics that the audience will have a strong and lasting first impression of her.
I think that, although early on, Lady Macbeth is hinting at the prospect of murder. A great desire has built up inside her and a lust for power has begun, she wants Macbeth to become king; this will only be possible if the king is murdered.
Again, Shakespeare shows the evil characteristics of Lady Macbeth,
“The raven himself is hoarse… That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements” This shows that Lady Macbeth has very decisive qualities and has a very controlled if very evil state of mind as she has already decided that Duncan will be murdered when he visits so soon into the play. Shakespeare uses the word ‘croaks’ to depict a crying or dying sound; nature will be disturbed because of what will happen, and because of what is happening already. Shakespeare allows Lady Macbeth to have a lot of possessiveness, ‘Under my battlements’ under her control at her own castle the murder will take place. The ‘fatal entrance of Duncan’ makes a very strong impression for the audience, sharp and harsh sounding words are used instead of soft sounding words.
Already she has planned in her mind that he shall not leave her castle alive. Shakespeare helps to emphasize Lady Macbeth’s ruthlessness and evil nature “Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood…” this shows how wicked she wants to be, that she wants the power of a man and the blood of a man to make her strong enough to murder. This will have a great impact on the audience, as they’ll now know how evil Lady Macbeth can be and will be.
“And pall thee dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, Not heaven peep through the blanket of the dark…”
Shakespeare continues to make the character of Lady Macbeth have an impact on the audience, greater still as she speaks with such power. This also shows that Lady Macbeth wants to keep her evil ways hidden from heaven, she knows that what she will do would sentence her to hell if she were to be found out. These words form a very vivid image of the darkest sky covering up her crimes.
The actress playing Lady Macbeth in the film or stage version needs to be very skilled as she must be able to portray a lot of different movement throughout the play. Lady Macbeth is shown by Shakespeare to have very controlled calm movement at the start of the play; she is aware of what is going on and, due to her stable mental state, she is calm and in control of herself, as well as being in part control of Macbeth; she is very influential and encouraging towards Macbeth as she wants him to become king, and, more importantly, she wants to become Queen. “Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower,
But be the serpent under’t…you shall put
This night’s great business into my dispatch,
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.” This shows also that Shakespeare intends that Lady Macbeth qualities are those of persuasion, and that she has cynicism and cunning when discussing and planning the murder of Duncan with Macbeth. I think that, at this point, Lady Macbeth is either intending to commit the murder or perhaps merely set the stage for. Her evilness and lustfulness are again showed here as she is prepared to help in the killing of King Duncan. At this time it seems Lady Macbeth is more enthusiastic about the whole situation, whereas Macbeth is perhaps more wary. This shows that she has little in the way of remorse, and is very much in command of the situation “To alter favour is to fear… Leave all the rest to me.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth say this as it shows the audience that she has planning, organisational, and very obvious leadership skills (especially compared to Macbeth).
Shakespeare builds on Lady Macbeth’s evil character when she speaks to Duncan “Your servants ever, Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt, To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,
Still to return your own.” By appearing very welcoming and having full praise when talking to Duncan this will show the audience that Lady Macbeth is again very calm; she doesn’t panic even though she has planned with Macbeth to murder him. Therefore it helps to show her cunning and really sinister qualities as the audience realise that she’s putting on this fake kindness; that she doesn’t at all mean it. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth very much in control at this stage; not at all nervous she puts on this false face when talking to Duncan.
Shakespeare regularly shows a great number of good qualities of Lady Macbeth, as well as her bad. She is shown to have great awareness, determination and will power and has a stable mind at this point in time.
“ It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,” “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.” This shows very acute hearing on Lady Macbeth’s part - it also reflects her calm but alert nature, not at all frantic and very controlled about the situation.
Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth has a certain brutality and shows real disrespect for others as she is prepared to risk others’ lives in order to conceal herself and Macbeth from being found out.
“Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets,
That death and nature do contend them, Whether they live or die.”
“I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.”
Lady Macbeth doesn’t care if the grooms of the bedchamber die, in fact she knows they are bound to be killed: all evidence will point to the chamber grooms, as Duncan’s blood had been smeared blood on their clothes. This again shows the audience her cunning, and her planning and organisation skills, as well as her evil tendencies.
The use of dramatic irony throughout the play is very important, and this is shown often in the case of Lady Macbeth. After the murder has taken place Lady Macbeth takes control. (She has to do so, as Macbeth is in deep shock of what he has just done), “ A foolish thought to say a sorry sight” Shakespeare shows the audience more characteristics of Lady Macbeth when she speaks very boldly to Macbeth when he shows hesitation and regret. In the film version there is a very dismissive and harsh tone to Lady Macbeth’s voice, the actress shows this extremely clearly as it seems as though she is telling Macbeth off for thinking such a thing. The audience will be able to see this authority easily, so the actress needs to show it with great precision (she does) because at the end of the play her characteristics completely change.
Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show her frustration and ‘disgust’ at Macbeth as he already feels so guilty to have murdered Duncan, “Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness form your hand,
A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!” (There is a lot of irony here). Lady Macbeth did not commit the murder (because King Duncan resembled her father), but, when placing the daggers in the chamber grooms’ vicinity, Lady Macbeth got a spot of blood on her hands. The fact that Lady Macbeth did take the daggers and place them with the chamber grooms shows that she was in full control at this scene: Shakespeare made Macbeth refuse to return anywhere near the murder scene, as he was in deep shock, so that Lady Macbeth would have to complete the cover up. In my view this is a pivotal part of the play: Lady Macbeth gets a small spot of blood on her hand from the daggers: this will be very important at the end of the play in act 5 scene 1. The blood on their hands, in Lady Macbeth’s view, can easily be washed away, without hesitation. The actress who plays Lady Macbeth shows complete contrast to this at the end of the play, because here she cannot get rid of this guilt that has grown inside her (represented by the blood). The actress is incredible ‘shaky’ and somewhat nervous and isn’t in a right state of mind. She feels very agitated about the blood spot although it isn’t really there and tells that nothing will wash away the blood, “Here’s the smell of blood; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”.
Still in Act 2 Scene 2 Shakespeare continues to build upon Lady Macbeth’s qualities. The language she uses when speaking to Macbeth changes a lot within a short space of time. Lady Macbeth is complimentary towards Macbeth but tries persuading him to forget what has been done. “These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.” Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth to effectively forget about the murder: obviously he can’t forget, but she is unaware of what he has just gone through psychologically, she may also choose not to think about what has happened. This is very ironic as it is in fact Lady Macbeth who goes insane, in my view, before Macbeth does, if indeed Macbeth does go mad. The fact the Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth instruct Macbeth not to think about the murder makes for a lot of dramatic irony because, towards the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is the one who actually ends up thinking about the murder more so, and cannot handle it as well as Macbeth can.
At this stage Macbeth depends heavily on Lady Macbeth. She is a far more stable character than he is, and has a certain amount of control over Macbeth. However, towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth has lost a great deal of control. This is very evident in the banquet scene, as Lady Macbeth struggles to cover up Macbeth’s hallucinations by stating that he is merely ill. “Thou canst not say I did it; never shake Thy gory locks at me” Lady Macbeth tries to hide this by controlling the situation and taking the spotlight away from Macbeth at this point, “ Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus, He will be well again.” Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to have annoyance at Macbeth, as he sees Banquo’s ghost as a representation of his guilt: Lady Macbeth aims to persuade Macbeth that he is just imagining it all, but with great difficulty, “O proper stuff! This is the very painting of you fear… Why do make such faces? You look but on a stool.” The audience will be able to see Lady Macbeth’s convincing ways, but will also see a great frustration in her due to Macbeth’s state of mind. Shakespeare makes Lady Macbeth show extreme worry in this scene, as she will fear that Macbeth might say something that will indicate murder, and possibly let slip about what happened to Duncan.
The actress in the film has to display slight agitation and annoyance at this frustration so that the audience can see a slight change of her character, and pick up on it. I feel that, partly due to losing control of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth loses all control of herself (as shown later on). Lady Macbeth will know assume that Macbeth has had Banquo killed, and will surely be very confused about it, perhaps shocked, as Banquo was supposedly Macbeth’s friend.
In the last scene with Lady Macbeth (Act 5 scene 1) Shakespeare has drastically changed the character and mental state of Lady Macbeth. She is now no longer a stable person, and has lost many qualities that were so very evident at the start of the play. This great sudden change will have a great impact on the audience, as they were most probably not expecting such a contrast in character. At this stage Lady Macbeth has lost all control. Shakespeare shows this by including two other characters in the stage (the doctor and gentlewoman) who both have a small role in the play, but can be used to show how much Lady Macbeth has changed, as they are of a steady state of mind. The movement in this scene is very important; the actress must show very different movements here compared to the earlier scenes. The audience will see that Lady Macbeth is now very shaky; this reflects her complete change.
This is very important for the dramatic irony that Shakespeare puts into the play. There are so many differences and contrasts in the character of Lady Macbeth in this and the earlier stages. “Yet here’s a spot. Out damned spot! Hell is murky… Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” These very powerful lines show the irony very well. Shakespeare now makes Lady Macbeth talk to herself, unaware of the people near here, revealing a lot about Duncan’s murder, whereas before she was adamant about keeping it all secret from everyone. The audience will see that she no longer can control what she says, and now has such a great feeling of guilt: represented by the blood spot on her hands (in the film version this spot is shown briefly as a hallucination of Lady Macbeth). Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth to be fixed upon getting rid of this imaginary spot of blood, as she tries to wash away her guilt. The actress in the film has shown this by ‘washing’ her hands vigorously without water.
The audience will have an understanding that Lady Macbeth is losing her sanity or has already even lost her mind, “You see her eyes are open.” “Ay but their sense are shut.” “What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.”
Shakespeare makes the doctor and gentlewoman have a conversation whilst Lady Macbeth does this because, in a way, it will seem to the audience as though they are looking in on a caged animal that acts very lifelessly and without purpose. Lady Macbeth has now lost her awareness, her sanity and her control.
Shakespeare gives new qualities to Lady Macbeth, even though she has lost her mind. She is now very regretful about what has happened, and shows remorse, and real human emotion, it’s clear she doesn’t want Macbeth to murder any more people: he’s gone too far to protect himself from being found out, “The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? No more o’ that my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting.”
Very importantly, Shakespeare focuses heavily on the irony of the blood on the hands; Lady Macbeth is now very concerned about cleaning her hands, to hide the blood (of Duncan) that she got on them. She is no longer as dismissive about the blood as she was in the earlier scenes, no longer does she think “A little water clears us of this deed.” Her thoughts have changed completely now “Here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!” The audience will see how dramatically her feelings have changed. The blood spot has represented the guilt inside Lady Macbeth, and because she cannot stop thinking about the blood spot and what has happened, the guilt grows all the time and eventually she will not be able to take any more. In the film, her new hallucinogenic nature shows this blood spot, which represents the guilt. She feels that nothing can clear her of this guilt, not even the sweetest scents of Arabia; the blood must smell so sour and awful to her, and the audience will be able to tell this.
Lady Macbeth is no longer such an evil cold-blooded person; she does now have regret and remorseful attributes; the audience can see this, as the actress shows very clearly her sadness and tiredness due to all that has happened. However, the guilt has driven her insane. Shakespeare continues to show this with the use of repetition by lady Macbeth, “To bed. To bed; there’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed.” This just reflects her ill state of mind, and her insanity. Lady Macbeth also repeats what she has said earlier to Macbeth, “Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave.” Lady Macbeth thinks she is talking to Macbeth, she thinks that she is still in control, but of course, she isn’t.
The irony is very apparent here. In an earlier scene when she actually tells Macbeth not to think about the murder (“These deeds must not be thought… After these ways; so it will make us mad.”) I think Macbeth takes this advice, but Lady Macbeth doesn’t. She ponders about the murder; it’d become fixed in her mind, and, although Macbeth does have his lapses and insane moments (notably in the Banquet scene) he does actually, retain his sanity at the end of the play - Lady Macbeth does not of course. I think that the actress in the film shows a complete contrast in character very clearly; the audience can relate to this. She shows the complete emotional isolation very clearly, Macbeth no longer pays attention to Lady Macbeth, now she cannot carry on with life as a whole. In fact, in the end Lady Macbeth commits suicide. I feel that this was a necessary inclusion as it’ll just help to show the audience and reiterate the fact that Lady Macbeth has changed completely, that she felt killing herself would be less painful than the growing feeling of guilt inside her.
If Shakespeare had not included the death (and suicide clue) of Lady Macbeth then the audience would never know if she would continue to be queen, or even to regain a stable state of mind. I think that this very final end of Lady Macbeth, not at all unexpected because the changes in her could easily lead to fatality, the audience would have picked up on this I am sure. I think that Shakespeare included these changes because he wanted to show that the feeling of guilt is a very powerful one. A feeling that can grow and eventually destroy a person’s life, which it indeed did.
To call,
Shakespeare a genius,
Is the greatest,
Understatement,
In history.
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