Study Of Act 4 Scene 1 Essay Example

he includes more than just three.

One possible reason for having more than three witches in Macbeth is to increase the feeling of pressure on Macbeth and create a sense of being mobbed. The Woolcock version, however, uses only three witches who are portrayed as young teenagers, consisting of two boys and one girl. By portraying the witches as children, Woolcock taps into the audience's expectation of innocence and adds support to the play's major theme that things are not always as they seem. The children are dressed in ordinary T-shirts and trousers.

I believe that the reason for choosing scary clowns with smudged makeup and tattered costumes for my witches is their suitability with the contemporary theme and situation. By doing so, I can effectively illustrate that the forsaken fairground and its dwellers were all abandoned. My preference for clowns as witches is based on the fact that the witches in 'Macbeth' are mocking him and engaging in mischief with him, much like how clowns entertain children at a fair. These clown-witches would sport a generous amount of makeup, fake noses, and wigs, while producing eerie, ghastly cackles rather than typical laughing noises that are not in line with the fairground concept. Moreover, despite having just three clowns, their reflections in the mirrors would create an illusion of a more substantial quantity.

Both directors use different techniques to create the desired effects for the costume and lighting in their respective versions of Macbeth. The costume in both versions is characterized by lots of muted gaudy colors like red, orange and bright blue, much like clowns at a fairground.

In Woolcock's version, the daytime setting creates sharp and harsh

colors, with pale blue lighting outside the flat where Macbeth first talks to the witches. In the derelict flat, Woolcock uses a vibrant use of red, including red walls, red lighting, and red curtains.

The symbol of blood in Macbeth represents the murders committed and also symbolizes hell. The den scene in the film focuses on sacrificial objects used in witchcraft, including a black voodoo doll, tarot cards, candles, and a war helmet as a symbol of evil. During this scene, the camera is unfocused and has flashbacks showcasing Macbeth's actions. In the Polanski version, the setting is in the early evening with a blue hazy light surrounding the hills. Near the cave mouth, there is an orange/red tinge with a bit of smoke and flickering light which signifies the warmth of the cauldron in the cave. The huge, black-as-a-bat cauldron is used as a prop in the actual cave and Macbeth's hallucination. To bring the spell to life, Polanski shows foul ingredients being added like "Lizards leg and howlet's wing."

When Macbeth drinks the potion, it is presented in a golden chalice. The hallucination scene involves numerous mirrors that show the eight kings of Banquo's offspring being crowned. The focus then shifts to a forest with trees and branches that represent Macbeth's future destruction. The combination of atmosphere, color, and props creates an almost surreal effect. In my version, I would set the scene at dusk with a hazy red tint to signify blood. To create an unfocused atmosphere in the hall of mirrors, I would use special lighting effects where distorted images of clowns and Macbeth's reflections are reflected in the mirrors, revealing his duplicitous

nature.

To enhance the audience's experience and create an eerie atmosphere, I would incorporate various special effects such as smoke, swirling vortex, and moving shadows. I would also scatter clown props like little red balls and playing cards around to emphasize the witches' clown-like nature. In the background of my film, circus music will play at a slow tempo, accompanied by eerie clown laughter. This will highlight the desolate ambiance of the area. In contrast, in Woolcock's version, there is a constant ticking clock that represents time's significance. Additionally, there are spooky high-pitched notes in the background that add to the suspense of the scene.

Both the Polanski and Woolcock adaptations of Macbeth have distinct choices in sound and text. In Polanski's version, somber notes linger at the beginning and mirror scenes are accompanied by disconcerting, escalating sounds. Woolcock alters the scene by making several cuts in the text, including the famous "Double, double, toil and trouble" spell. This daring choice risks losing the symbolic effect of the cauldron and spell. Woolcock's version, 'Macbeth on the Estate,' seems to suffer from this loss.

Although the Woolcock version replaces words with images, it has a lesser impact compared to the Polanski version, where the spell is maintained and the witches add gruesome ingredients into the cauldron, emphasizing their witchcraft. The cauldron itself also helps to enhance their role as witches. While both interpretations are excellent in their own ways, the Polanski version is more effective in bringing the witches and their conjuration to life. Seeing the repulsive ingredients being added to the cauldron makes it more enjoyable for the audience, as it immerses them in the action.