Macbeth vs Scotland, PA Essay example

The story of Macbeth by William Shakespeare has provided the basic plot for a new generation of filmmakers to reinterpret the renowned sixteenth century tragedy. Some artists reshape the Macbeth premise to make it their own while only relying on the groundwork of the Macbeth plot. Since its original release in 1611, Macbeth has been redesigned by a number filmmakers.

The notorious Shakespearean play Macbeth illustrates a natural evil and greed for power present in the human race. Even in modern times, society relates to Macbeth as people are consistently striving for a higher rank and power. Sometimes, people are even prepared to get into difficult situations to achieve their goals, and this gives rise to conflicts. There are three main types of conflict present in the Macbeth play: man vs man, man vs nature, and man vs self.

Macbeth is of a brave and capable warrior initially the first time that we see him. However, once we see Macbeth and the three witches together, we begin to realize that his physical courage is joined by a consuming mind boggling ambition and a tendency to self-doubt. The crusade’s mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son. Macbeth is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to the throne. Once he commits his first crime and is crowned King of Scotland. When Macduff finds out that Macbeth killed Duncan he plans to kill Macbeth and take his head to Malcolm. Banquo helped Duncan to claim victory over Norway and to become the Thane of Cawdor. They all are loyal to Duncan at some point, although Macduff and Banquo are doing the right things for Duncan, Macbeth is thinking of himself and is doing things so he will be the new King of Scotland. Macbeth is the play’s villain because he is betraying Duncan and trying to hide everything so he will be king.

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth has always been considered one of the literary worlds most celebrated tragedies. It is arguably the darkest and most gruesome of his plays. The protagonist, Macbeth, is the poster child for tragic hero, “a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy” (www.dictionary.com). And until recently we were satisfied with that… At the Cannes Film Festival in 2001, a low budget comedy was unveiled. It was called Scotland, PA. This film was written by a first-time director, Billy Morrissette, and depicts the familiar story in a surprisingly different form.

In the play, Macbeth is fighting for the king. On his way back from the battlefield he and his companion, Banquo, encounter three witches with a prophecy. The prophecy tells that Macbeth will be thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and king. Macbeth and his wife are having the king king and other people over and while everyone is asleep Macbeth kills the king as he and his wife discussed and blamed it on servants. After Macbeth becomes the king, he does everything in his power to ensure that he stays king, including murdering Banquo and killing Macduff’s family. At the end of the play Macbeth’s self-confidence and ambition leads to him being killed by Macduff.

The “Tragedy of Macbeth” by William Shakespeare tells a tale of deceit, murder, and ambition, beginning with a cutthroat rise to power, followed by calamitous downfall. At the start of the play, Macbeth is a brave and loyal captain in King Duncan’s army, but after three witches prophesize that he himself will become the king of Scotland, and that those born of a friend, Banquo, will be king after him, Macbeth is overtaken by ambition and gluttony. Instigated by his wife and his own lust for power, he murders Duncan, assumes the throne, and subsequently sends mercenaries to kill Banquo’s sons. While awaiting battle, Macbeth addresses the death of his wife in Act V, scene 5. Throughout the

Killing Duncan will open up the door for Macbeth to become the king. She also is pushing Macbeth to follow through when Macbeth doubts their ability. Many characters look to Lady Macbeth and think less of her than Macbeth. When informing the characters about the death of Duncan, Macduff refuses to tell Lady Macbeth saying, “O gentle lady, ‘Tis not for you to hear what I speak. The repetition in a woman’s ear Would murder as it fell.”

Although Macbeth thought that Duncan was a nice and wise king and was too kind hearted to murder, Lady Macbeth convinced him to prepare for the murder. In result he kills Duncan in his sleep during the night and a nobleman called Macduff comes in. Macbeth then frames the murder on his own servants. Recently knowing about this conflict, Duncan’s sons, Donalbain and Malcolm flee away. At this point, Macbeth becomes king of Scotland and decides to kill Banquo so his descendants won’t be kings. He invites Banquo to his feast as part of the elimination to Banquo. Again, he murders Banquo and his son however, by paying murders to kill. Meanwhile, Macduff travels to Malcolm due to the political distress Macbeth created. During the feast, one of the killers talks to Macbeth that they killed Banquo, but not his son. After two kills, he starts to go paranoia and hallucinates Banquo’s bloody ghost at his chair. He goes crazy, so Lady Macbeth tells everyone to leave. His mental breakdown takes him back to the witches, he wants to see his future. The prophets say to be careful of Macduff, he will be unharmed by any man born from a woman, he will worry if Birnam woods come to his

The influence that William Shakespeare has on western culture and literature is undeniable. His legendary works are still in print and performed today. He is a pioneer of romantic and dramatic theatre as well as literature, and many quotes from his works are still widely quoted in pop culture today “400 years after his death, Shakespeare’s plays are as relevant today as they were when they were first written.” Through analysis and research this essay will answer the writer’s position that they are in fact still very much relevant today.

After a witches prophecy, Macbeth turns into this foul soul. He cares but none other than himself. Wanting to be king, Macbeth murders King Duncan. The whole land is shocked and Macbeth becomes crowned King of Cawdor. Macbeth's friend, Banquo, becomes eerie of what Macbeth has done. Macbeth takes hint and has Banquo murdered too. Within the few time he was king, he destroyed anyone who he thought was threat. At the end, Macduff fights and beheads Macbeth. Malcolm, son of Duncan, becomes the rightful king of

Macbeth murders Duncan by order of his wife and inherits his crown. However the prophecy also inform Macbeth about how he will soon lose his throne to the son of his friend, Banquo. He does everything in his power to prevent others from inheriting his crown, and murders many of his friends out of cold blood. His personality at the beginning of the play is timid and apprehensive but soon turns forbidding and unemotional due to the multiple homicides he commited. His relationship with Lady Macbeth slowly diminishes until she commited suicide due to MacBeth’s greed. He is unaffected by her death and continues protecting his power until he is killed by Macduff in battle.

The Tragedy of Macbeth was set in the middle ages, mainly in the 11th century. Scenes took place within Scotland and some in England. Scotland is located towards the north of Great Britain and England is located towards the south. Great Britain is in Europe. The north, east and west sides of Scotland are surrounded by water. The Atlantic Ocean is on the north and west sides. The North Sea is on the eastern side. Scotland is divided into three regions:

While some people may think that Shakespeare is “outdated” or “obsolete”, in reality, his dramas are highly relevant to today’s society. Shakespeare set plays in locations like Verona and Denmark, hundreds of years ago, yet “his plays in turn have been influencing audiences around the world ever since” (WashingtonPost, 378). He is known as the “universal philosopher” because he has created dramas that can still be relevant today (WashingtonPost, 378). He’s one of the few writers we still have in common, his plays are works that people continue to enjoy and interpret

“How could you kill King Duncan?” Macduff says. Drawing his sword. Macbeth looks at him and without hesitation says “I had to in order to become King of Scotland”. Macbeth then draws his sword. Macduff and Macbeth begin fighting. The sounds of swords clashing in Macbeths castle can be heard all around. Macbeth has stabbed Macduff in the abdomen. Macduff is bleeding but regains the strength for one final blow, and beheads Macbeth. Lady Macbeth came running by and entered the doorway. “What have you done!” She screams, as she runs out of the room and

Macbeth gets informed by three witches that there is a possibility of him becoming thane of Cawdor and eventually the king of Scotland. Macbeth and his wife plot to kill King Duncan, the current king of Scotland. This death succeeds. Macbeth is afraid that his companion, Banquo, will gain power and become king, so Macbeth hires a group of murderers to go out and kill Banquo. Malcolm hears about the news that Macbeth murdered Macduff's wife and children from England and brings his army to fight in Scotland. Macbeth ends up killing Macduff, but realizes that Malcolm, Henry’s son that fled, has become the new king of Scotland.