Macbeth (No Fear Shakespeare): Volume 1

Product Information

In his castle, Macbeth boasts that he does not fear the approaching English army because he believes that the witches’ prophecies ensure that he will not be overthrown or killed. Anne bore him Susanna Shakespeare, and twins Hamnet Shakespeare and Judith Shakespeare. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the company, later known as the King's Men. Il film fu, per restare in tono con la trama, un autentico bagno di sangue, un consistente flop. Ma nel corso del tempo, invece, si è dimostrato un successo, se non altro di critica, entrando nel magico mondo dei ‘classici’. Proprio quello che Polanski non voleva essere con questo film.

Shakespeare penned Macbeth around the year 1606 when he was already established as a reputed playwright. For this play, he chose a contemporary Scottish soldier and references the Scottish crown within the text. Yet, as in most of Shakespeare's works, the Bard was not as much concerned with the history surrounding the play, as he was with the characters themselves, their desires and motivations. Thus, Macbeth is regarded as Shakespeare's darkest tragedy. BANQUO: So anyway, son, apparently you’re going to be king someday, but I don’t really see how since now Macbeth’s the king, but anyway...People inscribed many books of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime, and in 1623, two of his former theatrical colleagues issued all but two now recognized dramas of Shakespeare. Shakespeare, the great master of language and literature authentically wrote not all that people attribute. Once Duncan’s body is discovered, it is as though a switch has been flipped within Macbeth. He springs into action with a clear eye toward his purpose, seizing control of the nobles and becoming King of Scotland. Interestingly, Shakespeare does not show us the scene in which Macbeth is made king. Just as he denied us the scene of Duncan’s murder, he now skips over its most direct consequence, Macbeth’s election. The news is conveyed secondhand through the characters of Ross, Macduff, and the old man. La storia, o forse leggenda, dice che Polanski e il suo amico critico teatrale Kenneth Tynan scrissero la sceneggiatura reclusi in un appartamento affittato nel quartiere di Belgravia: i due decisero di provare le scene man mano che le scrivevano, Roman nel ruolo del titolo e Tyran in quello di Banquo. This play always holds a place in my heart and the top spot of most embarassing moments in my life. To be fair it was probably my fault as I’d never heard the superstition about not calling the “Scottish play” by name, and since it was my role I’d been shouting Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth all day. In fifth grade we did a full production of this as our class play and I was honored to be cast as Macbeth (I went to a weird school). I still have many of my monologues memorized. Because memory loves embarrasing moments. Anyways, after months of rehersal the big day comes and they invite every 4th and 5th grade class to come watch along with all our parents and grandparents who wanted to be proud of me for a moment. When we get to the murder scene, the fake blood bottle exploded all over my hands and costume like I'd just murdered a whole army and not one little king. Diría yo que Lady Macbeth supera en perversidad y crueldad a las tres brujas con las que Macbeth se cruzas en dos oportunidades. Su ambición no tiene límites, puesto que es ella la que quiere muerto a Duncan, el Rey de Escocia y a todo aquel que se interponga en su carrera ambiosa al trono.

es una especie de antepasado de Henry Jekyll y considero que Shakespeare dotó a este personaje de los clásicos elementos que distinguen a aquellos que luchan consigo mismos y que poseen claras características que definen a la temática del doble en la literatura, puesto que lo que Macbeth debe hacer (aunque no quiera) recae en su conciencia quien le juega malas pasadas puesto que está anclada en el bien: "Creí escuchar una voz que me decía: Macbeth, tú no puedes dormir, porque has asesinado al sueño." After the bloody imagery and dark tone of the previous two scenes, the porter’s comedy comes as a jarring change of tone. His good-natured joking with Macduff breaks up the mounting tension of the play and also comments obliquely on its themes. Unlike all the characters of noble birth, who speak in iambic verse, the porter speaks in prose. His relaxed language seems to signal that his words and his role are less important than those of the other characters, but in his merry banter, the porter hits on many truths. His description of the confusion and lust provoked by alcohol caricatures Macbeth’s moral confusion and lust for power. Moreover, his remarks about the ineffective lechery inspired by drink eerily echo Lady Macbeth’s sexual taunting of Macbeth about his ability to carry out his resolutions. The porter’s joke that the door of Inverness is like hell’s gate is ironic, given the cruel and bloody events that are taking place within the castle. When he cries, “Who’s there, i’ th’ name of Beelzebub [the devil]?” the analogy between hell and Inverness becomes even stronger (2.3.3). Instead of receiving a welcome and a blessing when they step into Macbeth’s castle, guests are warned that they are putting themselves in the hands of the devil.Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

You only committed in halves to the witches advice. You needed to go the full way or not at all. For you are bloody. Your butcher’s work in King Duncan’s tent saw to that. Your soldier’s work on the battlefield also saw to that. You weren’t afraid to get your hands dirty and in this you were bold and daring, but none would ever call one such as you resolute. Your conscience got the better of you, it made you weak and vulnerable, and because of this you failed. Your rule failed. Your sword arm failed. You needed to go the full way or not at all.Duncan welcomes Macbeth and Banquo and tells them that he plans to make Malcolm his heir to the throne. Macbeth realizes he cannot become king as long as Malcolm is around. Viene da pensare che il suo approccio a questo testo, pieno di violenza sanguinosa e sanguinaria, abbia a che fare con il cruento delitto nella sua villa a opera degli adepti di Charles Manson un paio d’anni prima. Ho sempre fatto il tifo per la Scozia contro l’arrogante e prepotente Inghilterra (si può dire che la Scozia sta all’Inghilterra come l’Irlanda del Nord sta all’UK?). La scelta shakespeariana di Polanski non entusiasmava i suoi produttori: il regista polacco veniva da successi di tutt’altro tipo. E così il budget fu chiuso solo grazie all’intervento di Hugh Hefner, il boss di Playboy. Strani percorsi, strani incroci. Given the role that Banquo’s character plays in Macbeth, it is appropriate that he and not Duncan should haunt Macbeth. Like Macbeth, Banquo heard the witches’ prophecies and entertained ambitions. But, unlike Macbeth, Banquo took no criminal action. His actions stand as a rebuke to Macbeth’s behavior and represent a path not taken, one in which ambition need not beget bloodshed. In Holinshed’s Chronicles, the history that served as the source for Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Banquo was Macbeth’s accomplice in Duncan’s murder. Shakespeare most likely changed Banquo’s role from villain to moral pillar because Shakespeare’s patron, King James I of England, was believed to be Banquo’s descendant.