Act 1 scene 1 of "Macbeth" the Scottish tragedy.

MACBETH Throughout Shakespeare's life, witches and witchcraft were the object of much fascination. Although some people did not believe in these superstitions most people believed in witches. Witches were believed to possess extraordinary powers. They could predict the future, fly and bring on night in daytime. This leads me on to the scene we have chosen to examine. It is act 1 scene 1 of "Macbeth" the Scottish tragedy. The director of the version we have chosen is Roman Polanski. In this essay I am going to look closely at many aspects of the opening scene including setting and sound. The scene we have chosen that opens the play is a very short scene. Although it is short it is long enough to awaken curiosity, but it does not satisfy this curiosity. I think the reason why Polanski started with the witches is because this leaves us in no doubt about how big apart the witches will play. It also indicates that the play is going to be a struggle between good and evil. As the opening scene begins Polanski instantly creates a sense of terror and unearthly feelings. He does by using a burnt orange/red sky overlooking a bleak desolate bare beach. Then the sky quickly develops from sunrise to morning. We see the witches walk along the wet sand as they leave the beach. They leave no footprints behind, jut black shadows. In this way Polanski tries to show the dark powers of the

  • Word count: 8271
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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How effective an adaptation of the play Macbeth is the film ‘Macbeth on the Estate’?

How effective an adaptation of the play Macbeth is the film 'Macbeth on the Estate'? Macbeth on the Estate is a modern adaptation of Macbeth. It is set on a modern, run-down housing estate in Birmingham. The major changes from the play are the setting and the characters. There are much fewer noble qualities about the people and places shown. Instead, the setting is very run-down and poor. The characters are also corrupt and indulgent. A lot of the blame for the bad things that happen in the play seems to be given to characters. For example, the possibility that the witches control Macbeth, and he is not in control is implied to be untrue by suggesting that the effects that seem to be supernatural are simply caused by drugs and the poor conditions. There are also some things done that cannot be done in a theatre, such as camerawork to direct the audience. I believe that the film is a reasonable good conversion of the play into a modern film. I believe that it managed to portray the meaning of the original in a modern way that is easy to understand for modern people, as well as making suggestions about the story. I like how every aspect of Shakespearean world was converted into something of the modern world, for example the castle being converted into a social club. What I don't like about it is the fact that the language wasn't changed from the original text. Although it is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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The presentation of the witches in the opening scenes is crucial to the atmosphere of Macbeth. Compare how Act 1 scenes (i) and (iii) are presented in two different versions of the play. Which do you feel has the greater dramatic impact? Explain why.

MACBETH COURSEWORK The presentation of the witches in the opening scenes is crucial to the atmosphere of Macbeth. Compare how Act 1 scenes (i) and (iii) are presented in two different versions of the play. Which do you feel has the greater dramatic impact? Explain why. Macbeth was written by Shakespeare in 1606 for King James I. In Shakespeare's day witchcraft was a principal issue and King James I was reasonably interested in this topic so Shakespeare wrote Macbeth and dedicated it to him. It is said that Shakespeare's people had great belief of witchcraft in some form and witches were thought to be the devil's angels. People were extremely frightened by witches' supernatural powers that they had in their blood and always thought of the worst they could do. In the 1600s witches were threats to society and many dreaded the evil which may have been aroused from them. Any person who had been suspected of witchcraft would have been burnt at the stake. This explains how witches were related to the devil: fire. In Macbeth, the witches play a vital and crucial role as their reputation made them quite fearful. On one hand this play was to create entertainment of suspense and murder for the viewer. However, in contrast to this, Macbeth teaches the moral lesson that ambition can be destructive to a person. Hence, Macbeth's ambition helps him to kill. In today's society witchcraft is

  • Word count: 2658
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Shakespeare coursework - Macbeth. The supernatural is vital to the plot and the actions of the characters in Macbeth. As a director of a film version, how would you put across this influence to your chosen audience?

Shakespeare coursework - Macbeth. The supernatural is vital to the plot and the actions of the characters in Macbeth. As a director of a film version, how would you put across this influence to your chosen audience? In this essay I am going to explain how I would go about directing the first two witches' scenes in Macbeth. I will sum up why I am doing a certain action, for example the symbolism it has and what relevance it has to the witches. First of all I need to know some background about the impact of witches on peoples lives at the time in which it was written. Macbeth was written in 1606 in the time of the Elizabethans when the supernatural was in the forefront of many peoples' minds. Witches were the objects of morbid and fevered fascination. In each village of Elizabethan England the 'evil' goings on were blamed on the old spinster who owned a black cat and never came out of the house. The witch. They were punished or interrogated by being forces to sit on a stool and then 'ducked' in the river. If they floated then they were a witch and if they sank then they weren't a witch but most died of drowning anyway. There were many famous witch hunts at this time and everyone was scared of them. In 1604 an act of parliament decreed that anyone found guilty of witchcraft would be executed. Many people who watched Macbeth saw the witches as a sign of evil and hatred.

  • Word count: 2268
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Direct a production of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" focusing in on act 1 scene 1.

In my assignment I am going to direct a production of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" focusing in on act 1 scene 1 and comparing and contrasting two very different versions of the play "Macbeth". I am going to be looking at The BBC Shakespeare that is the "medieval and bleak" production and The Middle English Programme, which is the "modern, rural and abandoned" production. Two different people have directed both of these versions and they have both approached it in a way that I least expected them to, after reading the original script of the play "Macbeth" My task is to compare these two versions and to direct act 1 scene 1 in a way that I feel will enthral and excite my audience. Act 1 scene 1 being the opening scene of the play "Macbeth," needs to have a powerful and explosive opening, this will keep the audience curious and questioning what will happen next. The scene features 3 repulsive and gruesome witches who speak about a man named Macbeth. Macbeth is a Scottish play that is set in the 11th century in the late Victorian times in the era of Elizabethan times. The play itself is bloodthirsty and extraordinary yet it's a play that features great tragedy and greed. The play opens with three unsightly witches preparing to meet with Macbeth. Macbeth was a Scottish Lord, or Thane, who had recently defeated the Norwegian's army in battle. King Duncan was delighted with

  • Word count: 1999
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Discuss the openings scenes of the Polanski and Welles' film versions of "Macbeth", considering their use of audio and visual techniques and their presentation of the witches. How do you personally respond to them?

Discuss the openings scenes of the Polanski and Welles' film versions of "Macbeth", considering their use of audio and visual techniques and their presentation of the witches. How do you personally respond to them? On first viewing both Polanski's and Welles' opening sequence of Macbeth you will immediately think them to be very different. However as we analyse them you will notice the similarities. Both openings occur before the credits and even though they are from different times they both include Shakespearean text. Both films reflect on their era accordingly: Welles' version, which was made in 1948, is in black and white and relies heavily on music. This is needed to liven the atmosphere when the film got more exciting or to give out eerie, sombre music when the film makers wanted the audience to be anxious or scared. Welles' dramatic crescendo at the end is typical of its time. Polanski's version has hardly any music at all and because it has colour technology it can rely on the warm, glowing orange of the sunset or the gloomy grey, blue of an isolated beach to set its atmosphere. Consequently the opening lacks the intensity of Welles' version. In Orson Welles' adaptation of Macbeth the atmosphere is set straight away by a menacing looking cloudscape. The cloudscape then changes to a landscape view. It illustrates a dead tree (which carries on from the dead/hell

  • Word count: 1876
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Coursework Question: Discuss how successfully 'Twelve Angry Men' works as a thriller despite the limitations of setting and ch

Coursework Question: Discuss how successfully 'Twelve Angry Men' works as a thriller despite the limitations of setting and character. 'Twelve Angry Men' is a gripping thriller despite the limitations of the film. The black and white 1957 film is packed with suspense even though the film has many restrictions in it. These limitations are things such the setting, the action/special effects, the props, the lack of costume changes, the cast are all twelve middle aged unattractive white men and finally the plot of the film is quite dull and uninteresting. Regardless of these limitations the director, Sidney Lumet, still makes it an exciting thriller by focusing the film on interesting memorable characters with different personalities and back grounds. By being extremely original with his ideas, by creating tension with the setting- makes a claustrophobic effect, by getting the audience involved and thinking on the plot of the jury decision because it judges on the life of a teenage boy and finally by making a wide range of camera shots. On paper 'Twelve Angry Men' would sound like a very dull film. To bring the film to life it needs a great cast of actors which 'Twelve Angry Men' has. The film is full of realistic unforgettable characters that all have different personalities and backgrounds. There are four dominant characters in the film, juror no.3- Lee J. Cobb, juror no.4-

  • Word count: 1838
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Examine a scene from Macbeth both film and text versions. Comment on how well you think the cast conveyed the subject matter and write down how you would direct the scene if given the chance.

Examine a scene from Macbeth both film and text versions. Comment on how well you think the cast conveyed the subject matter and write down how you would direct the scene if given the chance. English Language Coursework Name: Ryan O'Hare Class: S2D No. Of words: 1766 Date of submission: 9th of February 2004 Macbeth coursework assignment Before we deal with the question of Macbeth we must first ask, what is drama? The dictionary states that it is, "Serious plays for theatre, television or radio; writing, producing or acting in plays." Drama originated in Rome during Caesar's rule. It has now since evolved dramatically from the small plays in the Caesarean arenas to the multi billion pound franchise spanning the whole world. It has got so popular that drama is taken for granted and has become an ordinary thing in our daily lives. One of the most dramatically influential people to date is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was born to Mary Arden & John Shakespeare in April of 1564 and was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. His father was a glover who later became the Mayor of Stratford. Shakespeare was the third of eight children and was most likely educated in a grammar school, where he would have studied English, Greek, Latin & religion. In 1582, when William was only 18, he married Ann Hathaway, the daughter of a local farmer. Shakespeare fled Stratford

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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The Film Versions of Macbeth

Roman Polanski, Orson Welles and Akira Kurosawa have all directed their own versions of Macbeth the play. This demonstrates the plays timeless appeal to so many different cultures. The reason for this timeless appeal is that it is relevant to so many cultures. The theme of ambition is one of the key themes of the play; it is relevant to all cultures even now as everyone holds the ambition to succeed in life, it is a part of human nature. Another major theme of the play that is relevant to all cultures is violence. Violence has been rampant throughout all times and all cultures. All people understand violence and are interested in one way or another in it. That is why Macbeth has such an appeal to all cultures. Both of these themes are still relevant today and are still seen today. At the time when the original play was created and performed the topic of witches was a big topic of discussion. Courtroom cases were held for accused witches and many innocent women were killed for allegedly being witches. This meant that the audience would have believed in witches making the scene more effective to them and it could have scared them also. Also James I would have been interested in this topic of witches so the play would have attracted him. Act 1, scene 1 automatically raises tension, this tension is caused by the witches as they are seen as evil and grab the audience's

  • Word count: 1833
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Can One of the dilemmas facing a modern day director in the presentation of the witches is making them seem menacing to a modern day audience. In Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Can One of the dilemmas facing a modern day director in the presentation of the witches is making them seem menacing to a modern day audience. In Shakespeare's day witches were feared as they were believed to wield tremendous power and thus the stereotypical image of a witch would be enough to invoke genuine respect and fear in the audience. However, current audiences find the stereotypical image of witches more amusing than fearful therefore directors have incorporated different personalities to make sure the witches induce fear in the modern day audience. In the 1998 Channel 4 films version of Macbeth the witches are dressed in colourful mismatching garb this suggests that the witches would not have bought the clothes and that they are in fact someone else's that they have scavenged or stolen. This version is intended for a younger audience therefore their costume makes the witches seem more realistic because a modern day street hawker would evoke similar emotions (those of alarm and respect) in younger audiences to those evoked by stereotypical witches in Shakespeare's era. The age of the witches also differs when compared to the Animated Tales and Japanese version. The witches are more middle aged and much younger then the ones in the Animated Tales and Akiro Kurasawa versions. This is effective in giving making them seem more dangerous to modern day audiences as they

  • Word count: 1710
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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