The dagger of the mind - “An appreciation of how a written Shakespeare text has been realised or represented in a different medium.”

The scene I have chosen to contrast and compare between the sources is Act 2 Scene I, a much argued and debated scene over the years. The reason that it so controversial is that no one knows what way Shakespeare did that scene, and also- how would he have done it if he had the resources and technology at his disposal nowadays. The part of the scene in question is that Macbeth, just before he goes to kill Duncan, hallucinates, thinking he is seeing a blood-stained dagger, as he moves to kill Duncan evil thoughts enter his mind. Some critics feel that Shakespeare had no other choice but to not let the audience see a dagger in front of Macbeth, watching him grasp for thin air. They think if he had the special effects technology at the disposal of modern day play-writes, he would have included it. Others think that he plainly wanted to show it was all in Macbeths' head. He was clearly going out of his mind, and this insanity did nothing but fuel the delirium.

In Polanski's version Macbeth is left alone for a long time, in the dark, dreary confines of a room in his castle. It is sparsely lit, maybe because Polanki's wanted to convey the sense of eerieness in the scene, Macbeth being alone, mulling over the crime he is about to commit. Throughout his interpretation he has shown Macbeth's silioquays as sound imposed- his lips don't move, but you can 'hear' his thoughts. But in this scene Macbeth speaks out his siloquay. I feel Polanski reads that Shakepeare is showing Macbeth actually talking to the dagger, asking himself is he sees what he sees. All of a sudden a glittering , somewhat transparent dagger appears infront of him, over a meal table. He lunges for it, grasping nothing but thin air. As he moves, the dagger moves further. We can plainly see it gliding, as if it were guiding him to Duncan' room- and his death.

Jack Gold's 1980 BBC reworking keeps very much to the confines of the play. In Macbeth there are very little, if any stage directions, especially for the actors. Old however simply uses common sense theatrical knowledge to allow the chracters

Polanski's adaptation clearly has a large budget, with which he can produce expansive scenery, real-life location sets, as well as authentic clothing and detailed backdrops. It allows him to cast many extras and lighting, sound and visual effects.

Niall Mc Neil English language coursework- Macbeth, The dagger of the mind