How I would interpret and stage the supernatural in ‘Macbeth’ Essay

Macbeth is a thrilling, tragic institute write by William Shakespeare. Macbeth was written in the early sixteen hundreds, however the wreak is posit in the early 11th century. The bemuse for was written in the Jacobean quantify, during this time King James the first wrote a al-Quran c onlyed Demonology. This book was based on witchcraft, which was contemporary at the time. This could of inspired Shakespeare to incorporate the supernatural into Macbeth.The opening of Macbeth is very dramatic and theatrical. It opens with thunder and whitening this is visually arresting. In those days they would concord micturated torches or smokedles to name the lightening and probably a sheet of metal, which they would shake to generate the illusion of thunder. However compared to the effects of today this is all very basic. In todays world lasers are employ to produce the phoney look of lightening. These modern methods of creating illusions are visually stimulating, alone as the la nguage in the sixteen hundreds is much more than complex as it uses a lot of imagery this stooge be mentally stimulating as it creates images in your mind you, which can be just as effective as new technology. You can see this when Lady Macbeth says.Come you spiritsThat tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,And fill me from the clear to the toe top-full-of-the-moonOf direst cruelty (Lady Macbeth stage 1, characterisation V. neckcloths 38-41)During the thunder and lightening three witches enter, they only appear in three guessings of the bidding but their effect is all persuasive. Every time the witches speak it is very all-important(a) what they have to say. Even though the witches are cackling they have to be clear enough as the earshot needs to recognize what is said. When the witches speak they have a chanting sound. This is created by rhyming couplets again and rain down this is followed by a tipple rhyme done won sun. In this opening characterisation the witches say two important things. The first is that they are going to meet with Macbeth.There to meet with Macbeth. (Third magnetise Act 1 Scene 1 Line 8)The second is,Fair is foul, and foul is fair ( all(prenominal) Witches Act1 Scene1 Lines 11-12)This is verbalise that what is good and innocent on the outside, maybe detrimental and corrupt on the inside. This is referring to Macbeth. These quotes raise questions amongst the au fadence wherefore? Why Macbeth? However the answers lie in the auditions understanding of witchcraft and how it creates mischief and injustice. These ideas are contemporary to Shakespeare up to now though the play is set 500 years earlier. Macbeth is the instrument of witches be actor the witches know that there is something in him which is bad and corrupt hence Fair is Foul, and foul is fair saying.This scene echoes a major theme of the play which is,Fair is foul, and foul is fair (All Witches Act1 Scene1 Lines 11-12).This saying could affect how you would make the witches appear. I think if I was say Macbeth, I would make at least one of the witches look attractive and young to show innocence, because this would audition that Fair is foul, and foul is fair However in Shakespeare makes the witches look old and withered, you know this when the witches meet with Macbeth and Banquo, and Banquo describes them when he says.What are these,So withered, and so wild in their attrie,That look non like th inhabitants o th earth, (Banquo Act1 Scene3 lines 39-41)This is traditional interpretation on how the witches look like.The witches cannot pull down people personally so they use people or the weather as instruments to do it for them. At the beginning of Act 1 scene 3 we learn how limited the witches powers are. They tell us a story round a straw hats wife and how they keep her husband out to sea by manipulating the weather.Ill drain him alter as hay (First Witch Act1 Scene3 line 19)Some people argue weather that this dowry with the wit ches should not be in the play as they say it slows down the excitement of the play, and this would be the time during the play when the audience would progress to up for some refreshments. Nevertheless I think that this is a vital part of the play as it may explain why the witches have involved Macbeth into their wicked ways to cause pandemonium and evil.In Act 1 Scene 3 Macbeth says his first spoken communication in the play these areSo foul and fair a day I have not seen. (Act1 Scene3 line38)These words echo what the witches said at the end of Act1 Scene1, and this links Macbeth with the witches straight away. If I were directing the play I would have Macbeth and Banquo at the back of the fix up and the witches in front of them, to emphasize there evil I would have a red greaselight shone on the witches and a smoke machine to create an eery atmosphere. Macbeth and Banquo then see the witches and they greet each other. Each of the witches greet Macbeth personally the first wit ch saysAll hail Macbeth , hail to thee, Thane of Glamis (Act1 Scene 3 Line 46)All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor (Act1 Scene 3 Line 47,48)All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, that shalt be King here after (Line 49,50)As you can see each comment becomes higher in rank, to King. Banquo response is.Are ye fantastical (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 53)Then Banquo asks the witches to tell him his own future. The witches reply and sayLesser than Macbeth, and greater.Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail Macbeth and BanquoThese comments that the witches say have now set the events in motion by motivating Macbeth, this has also sealed Banquo fate as Macbeth would need to kill him so that he cant be farther so Macbeths family is on the throne longer. Banquo is duty to mistrust them and he warns Macbeth when he saysAnd oftentimes, to win us to our harm,The instruments of darkness tell us truths,Win us honest trifles, to betraysIn deepest consequence (Banquo Act 1 Scene 3 Line 124-127)This sums up exactly how the witches work they use people as instruments to manipulate them.Macbeth wants to know more about these preposterous comments made by the Witches, but all of a sudden they vanish. In Shakespearian times they would of used a trap door to create the effect of a disappearance. However today a trap door is still used.When the witches tell Macbeth about the future, it could have awoken or planted the seeds of evil at bottom his soul. The word murder comes into his mind and Horrible imaginings. However the witches cant guide him all the way to evil it will be up to himself and his wife. But he could still hope to be crowed he says, ascertain they crown me. As of Scottish succession, which could make him king because if all the royals who are in battle die in Scotlands war against Norway, he could be the last man standing this makes his crime simulacrum heinous.By the time we see the witches again. Macbeth has murdered Duncan, his best friend Banquo an d has become a tyrant. However out front this there are two instances of the supernatural.The first is when Macbeth is about to execute the kill on King Duncan. He sees a dagger, he goes for it and Macbeths guide goes right through it.A dagger of the mind, a false creation,Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? (Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 38-39)This could have been sent by the witches to give him a push but it is unnecessary as he is already going in that direction, consequently the witches influence no longer matters because he has already taken control. He then draws his own dagger, but all of a sudden the vision changes to a bloody dagger.And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,Which was not so before. (Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1 lines 46-47)Then Macbeth starts to talk about which craft blench Hecate and murder. In them days the stories about Pale Hecate are relevant so Shakespeare puts them in so that the audience can create there own supernatural images. However today you would not include it because of the technology available to create holograms and illusions with lasers. You can see this in Polanskis version of the play he uses lasers to create the dagger.The other instance of the supernatural is when Macbeth sees Banquos ghost in Act 3 Scene 4. You could stage this in 2 ways. You could have the actor that played Banquo made to look like a ghost, or you could have nothing there so that you would see Macbeth talk of the town to a stool. I would have him talking to a stool because if you had a ghost the audience will see that he is actually comprehend one, but if I dont, and you have Macbeth talking to a stool the audience will trust that he had gone insane. Shakespeare keeps the throne where Macbeth sits empty because this will be the adjust where the ghost appears, so he has Macbeth socializing with his friends.Ourself will mingle with society, (Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4 line 2)Then Macbeth sees that the tables full because Banquo is sitting in h is place. Only Macbeth can see the ghost and thats why Lennox saysHere is a place reserved, sir. (Lennox Act 3 Scene 4 line 45)Macbeth recognises the ghost of Banquo is sat in his place at the table he believes this is a joke by someone who may know he called for Banquos murder.Which of you have done this? (Macbeth Act 3 Scene 4 line 48)In Act 4 Scene 1 Macbeth goes to consult the witches, this own decision to do this. Therefore the witches have delighted Macbeth. The opening of this scene is really about giving the audience a thrill. The witches are conducting an evil magic spell they use horrible ingredients for it like,Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, (Second witch Act 4 Scene 1 line14)In them days this would of pleased the groundlings. If I were to stage this scene I would have a big cauldron in the middle of the stage with all the witches gathered around, I would have a red spot light shone on them all and a smoke machine so it would look like the cauldron is giving off smoke, this would create an hazy atmosphere. For the ingredients I would have them as nasty and as untempting as assertable this would make the witches even more repulsive to the audience, therefore entertaining the audience. Once they have finished the spell Macbeth knocks at the door of the witches home, then ironically a witch says,By the incision of my thumbs,Something wicked this way comes (Second witch Act 4 Scene1line 45)Macbeth enters the witchs home a he is determined to know the future, no matter what the cost.I conjure you, by that which you profess, however you come to know it, answer me. (Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1 line 50-51)The witches oblige him with three phantoms. The 1st apparition is an armed wit this could be interpreted as Macduff, or Macbeths head or the head of rebellion. The 2nd apparition is a bloody child. This is referring to Macbeth being ripped from his mothers womb untimely. This could hint that he was born via cesarean section which in them days was not nor mal this could explain why Macbeth has turned wicked. The last apparition is a child crown with a tree in his hand this could be interpreted as Malcolm or James 1st. They all assume that Malcolm is intended in that he gives the order to hew down branches, although it could be about James 1st. It was known that James 1st was crowned in the cradle, so the tree could be a family tree.Shakespeare would of stages these apparitions victimization just actors and props, for the armed head they could of used a fake head with armor on it, and for the other two apparitions they could of just used a real child and used make up to create the illusion of blood. However in the twenty-first century the effects you can create for this scene are overwhelming for the armed head its possible to have a real head floating in mid-air, this can be done using holograms. The same techniques could be used to create illusions for the rest of the apparitions.If I were to stage Macbeth today I would make a film rather than a play doing this would enable me to input more special effects. I would go along the same route as Pulaskis version because I liked how he made one of the witches young and beautiful to echo the Fair is foul saying.After reading the play, Im bewildered, how could a potential hero be so taken in, unless he wanted to be? I think from birth Macbeth had something evil in him that needed someone or something to trigger the iniquity off, so I believe that the witches were the ones that pulled the trigger that resulted in the total destruction of Macbeth.