English Literature Polanskis interpretation of Shakespeares Macbeth

English Literature Polanskis interpretation of Shakespeares Macbeth Polanskis interpretation of Shakespeares Macbeth Critical Study: Macbeth Roman Polanski- 1971 What is the context of this film? Who is the intended audience? Polanski’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth was produced in the context of the early nineteen seventies. The turn of the sixties decade introduced a period of great change and advancement within society. It was the era of ‘The Man on the Moon’, Women’s Liberation, free sexuality and Communism. Polanski incorporated many of these pressing themes into his work. In particular he chose to highlight the role of women, through the portrayal of the three Witches as such powerful and influential characters in regard to the development of the plot of the film. Polanski’s interpretation of the ending to the story also reflects upon the context in which it was directed. As the Witches are reintroduced at the conclusion of the film, it signifies the continual or cyclic state of unrest within the world. By including such relevant themes in the film, Polanski draws interest from a more modern and educated audience. How does the opening establish in terms of context, setting and interpretation? The opening scenes of the film establish a strong connection with the audience in terms introducing the characters, the plot, and the context in which the film was set and directed. The establishing shot of the film introduces the three witches, who together play a very significant part in the controlling the events which unfold in the film. The witches gather on a rugged coast against a backdrop of a raging storm and tearing ocean. As the witches possessively chant a super natural and unsettling theme is established. At the same time a feeling of reality is introduced as the camera draws in on the witch’s physical characteristics and the hand they are burying in the sand. As the image of the witches fades, the audio of a raging battle becomes the main focus of the audience. The audio piece sets the scene and establishes a context and theme within the film. The audience is immediately drawn into an unsettled world of violence, commotion and conflict, key elements in Polanski’s interpretation of the Macbeth. The open planes over which the battle takes place and the. Apart from the words spoken by the witches, the first conversations of the film establish a great understanding. The conversation that takes place introduces the plot and the key characters involved in the storyline. The context of the film is reinforced through the way the characters speak, their clothes and their values. The open plains, hills and rugged coastline place the events in an isolated and uncivilized setting. The opening scenes of Polanski’s Macbeth clearly establish in the audiences mind the context in which the film was set an directed. It further more establishes an insight into the plot and the characters who have a significant impact upon its outcome. How does the climax highlight this context and interpretation? The climax of the film refers to the siege that is forced upon Macbeth in his castle, resulting in his death and the crowing of Malcolm as King. The main element focused upon in this scene is the extensive amount of violence and brutality present. Such a theme represents not only the context in which the film is set, but in which Polanski’s interpretation was based. The film is set in medieval times, in approximately the fifteenth century. The violence and brutality displayed in the climax help to emphasise the uncivilised and dark period in which the film is set. The setting and the supernatural idea that relate to the climax similarly display such context. Polanski’s interpretation is heavily based around gruesome and brutal violence, the climax being the ultimate display. His interpretation linked closely to he nineteen seventies; the period in which it was being directed. The nineteen seventies decade marked the beginning of heightened change and development in the world. Similarly the fight that took palce between Macbeth and was rapidly intensifying. Like the world, their one on one battle had peaked and could have fell in either direction. Polanski was personally effected by a violent tragedy before his production of Macbeth. Polanski’s wife, Sharon Tate was brutally murdered in ritual cult driven murder by a group of followers of Charles Manson. The vicious and unruly violence featured in the climax can be seen as a link between is grievance and his wife’s death. The violent and fierce nature of events that unfold in the climax further display the context in which the film is set and interpreted. How are the following Represented? Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a powerful and sensual woman of sharp ambition. She is first introduced as a gentle and loving woman of great stance. A low camera angle highlights Lady Macbeth’s importance as does her flowing blue dress in contrast to the dull and dreary background. As she reads Macbeth’s letting outlining his meeting with the witches Lady Macbeth appears softly spoken and innocent. As her thoughts are seized by the prospect of power and wealth her tone immediately changes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ for us to fear the nature, to full of human kindness†. Lady Macbeth’s villainous traits are further established as she uses her sexual power and her position as a loving wife to force Macbeth into murdering Duncan. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath it. While Lady Macbeth maintains callous personality and a dominating power Macbeth, she is evidently revealed to be a woman of feeling and conscience. The nude shot of Lady Macbeth not only reflects upon the sexuality of her character but her realness and feelings as a person. Macbeth is portrayed throughout the film as a multidimensional character. Greed, power and ambition eventually rob Macbeth of his moral, diligent and respected characteristics. The beginning of the film portrays Macbeth as a noble man and friend. Riding with Banquo, it is one of the few camera shots in the film that display Macbeth and his company at similar angles. After his meeting with the witches, he wonderers in awe about their prophecies†¦Ã¢â‚¬ The thane of Cawdor†¦It cant ever be†. He speaks softly as if in disbelief or uncertainty. As his mind ponders he quickly stands†¦ â€Å"I am thane of Cawdor†. His rapid change of thoughts display the different perspectives in which Macbeth takes throughout the film, highlighting his insecurity as a person. As Macbeth is encouraged by his own personal yearnings as well as his wife’s, he is encouraged to do whatever it takes to become king. Eventually being portrayed as an obsessive and gullible man, Ma cbeth’s world falls apart. The witches are consistently portrayed as dark and eerie and eccentric women. Their appearance portrays them as outlaws form society as does their isolated presence. The witches and events that relate to their prophecies are constantly accompanied by fierce weather and darkness .A representation of disruption and an unnatural balance. As they speak in rhyme the witches appear to be possessed or of a supernatural being. Similarly the witches represent the ancient tale of the three monkeys; Hear no evil, see speak no evil and hear no evil. In contrast to their supernatural features, constant physical factors are alluded to create the idea of reality. For example the mans hand they burry in he sand. What values and attitudes are implicit in the interpretation? Are they still relevant to the 2008 audience? Polanski’s interpretation of Macbeth is primarily based around ideas of rapid change, the cyclic world, violence, greed and power. Such themes were very prominent issues in society in the early nineteen seventies. Therefore they not only influenced his interpretation of the film, but also the audience that wit would appeal to. For example, the portrayal of lady Macbeth as such a dominating and sexual person can be viewed as a reflection of the women’s liberation movement occurring at the time. These values and attitudes that Polanski utilizes in his portrayal of Shakespeare’s Macbeth are still relevant in today’s society. As s global society were are still experiencing rapid change as part of the technological revolution. Greed, violence and power continue to be the root of all disruption in the world and the cycle of unrest continues. Compare the film to Shakespeare’s reading. -Does it support your reading? -Are there differences in how you imagined the representation of a character, setting, theme etc.? -Were the themes you believed to be most important in Shakespeare’s Macbeth highlighted? Were others? Polanski’s interpretation of Macbeth supports Shakespeare’s reading from many different aspects. Apart for the alternative ending and slight differences in character portrayal, both the play and the film follow the same basic plot. Watching the visual representations of the play helps to further understand not only understand the plot and the characters but the Elizabethan language which is used in both pieces. Polanski’s film highlights different themes to that of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. He does so according to the modern context in which he directed the film. Polanski’s portrayal of Lady Macbeth as a beautiful young lover differs to the harsh and vicious wife in the play. The witches and there significance is more commonly referred to and highlighted in the film than it is in the play. The main themes in Shakespeare’s play revolve around ideas of power, greed and tragedy. Polanksi’s interpretation incorporates all of theses themes but displays them in a less obvious manner, often disguising them behind violence. Violence and brutality was a theme constantly incorporated into Polanski’s film, while it was also present in the original Shakespearean play, it was not as graphic or as commonly addressed.

Effects of Agriculture Essay

The evolution of man through agriculture was expressed thoroughly by Jared Diamond in his article. The transition from a Neolithic way of living to a Paleolithic way of life had many negative effects. Having people settling down to build organized cities and companies meant there would be social inequalities. Women were usually the first targets to social inequality. Having people stay in one area and having them live together in villages created the uprising of epidemic diseases that created a widespread of death in communities. During this time growing their own food did not ensure that they would eat. Farmers that had failing crops would lead to starvation for their families. The change from nomads to farmers and agriculturists was not filled with full prosperity. Social inequalities created the basis for the organization of social classes and positions in every society. Women were the first group to experience social inequality. Women being weaker than men were always subject to doing less rigorous but more labor. While a man would be hunting for game, a woman’s responsibility would be to gather small vegetables and fruit if the man returns with no meat. A woman was expected to clean, nurture the small children, prepare a meal and in most cases hold a baby in her womb. Paleolithic lifestyle from the eyes of a woman suggests that a woman was not entirely pleased with the life she lived. A woman was forced into marriage with unknown knowledge of the man before. A woman craved loved but sometimes didn’t feel it in the relationships she was in. Woman were also forced to stay at home which limited the knowledge a woman can have given that she can’t even go outside. Social Inequality limits the progress of a society and women were a prime example. Epidemic diseases not only killed thousands of people and made populations decreased greatly, but also imbedded the fear of death into the minds of many people. And epidemic disease is a widespread of disease that’s transmitted from person to person. This epidemic will not stop until a vaccine is created. An example was the Black Death that plagued European countries from 1348 to 1350. Another example would be smallpox that devastated many countries and civilizations including Ancient Egypt and countries in Europe. After the Neolithic time period and the rise of agriculture, there was also a rise in epidemic disease. Having people live together in unsanitary areas quickly made people vulnerable to bacteria and other viruses. Having no knowledge of this, people of that time period would spread the bacteria to one another through physical contact which would get each other sick. Having large villages would result in a large percentage of people dying because they aren’t moving due to the end of their nomadic life, and are in one place. Also, having an overpopulated area would create a faster way for an entire civilization to perish. Epidemics in the Paleolithic time period contributed to the first mass deaths during that time period. Having to stop moving around and becoming farmers was a very helpful thing to many peoples’ lives, but that didn’t necessarily mean they had something to eat all the time. Farmers worked very hard on their plantations to ensure they had enough food for the next harvest and enough food to survive the harsh winter to come. The harvest would be successful and could also be the reason why entire families would die. A plantation would fail and lead to starvation for most families due to many environmental reasons. Droughts would occur to limit the water supply of crops. Starting to grow plants during the wrong season would definitely ensure a failing plantation. Insects and animals would destroy the hard work of these farmers by eating what the crops have produced, or just destroying it all together. Animals such as raccoons, wolves, or coyotes would see these plantations as an easy access to food and destroy a season’s hard work. Insects such as locusts would devour all in its path and the crops were an easy target for a large group of locusts. The life of a Paleolithic farmer could be prosperous but could be very harsh at times. There are many things that could contribute to the failure of a person that is living a life of agriculture from the Paleolithic time period. There were many limiting factors to making this an unsuccessful way to live, but social inequality, epidemic diseases, and failing crops that led to starvation stood out the most. It was harsh to live a very open life when being a woman subject to social inequality during this time. Living a filthy unsanitary lifestyle would lead to the death and the rise of epidemics to occur in many civilizations. The failing of a farmer’s crops could destroy his life for that season and ruin his family with just one thing to happen to his plantation. The effects of agriculture had not only a positive alternative of living but a heavy, negative, and devastating effect in the life of farmers of the Paleolithic time period.

Movie Review Mr. Smith - 1593 Words

Idealism is the behavior or thought based on a conception of things as the should be or alone would wish them to be. In the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Mr. Smith is portrayed as idealistic throughout the movie. He is idealistic in this movie because he is able to enter into the lions’ den (so to speak) and come out unchanged and victorious. In contrast, if you compare the film to what happens to most politicians who spend time in Washington, DC, you will see a great difference between the film’s representation of how much of a difference one man can make and what generally happens to congressmen and senators in real life. Midway through the senate term, senior senator Joseph Paine reveals himself having to fill the place of the recently deceased Senator Samuel Foley. Paine contacts his partners Happy Hopper and Jim Taylor, and the three discuss whom to appoint to the position. Jim Taylor’s first suggestion as the appointment for the senate seat was Horace Miller. The public rejected him as â€Å"Taylor’s Man, a â€Å"party man,† â€Å" Taylor’s political stooge.† After a few failed appointees attempt to fill the placement, Jefferson Smith, leader of the state’s Boy Rangers group is designated to the position. Smith is naive, inexperienced and is also popular with the people. The reason for choosing Smith is simple: Taylor and Paine want to get the bill passed that would finance a dam at Willet Creek. The dam is completely unneeded but it would gain them popularity and votes. TheyShow MoreRelatedMovie Review of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington540 Words   |  2 Pagesï » ¿Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Review Frank Capra, a renowned Hollywood director, directed Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, which was released in 1939. The film stars Jean Arthur and James (Jimmy) Stewart in the principal roles. James Stewart plays the title role of Mr. Smith as Jefferson Smith, a man chosen to take assume the role of senator after US Senator Sam Foley dies. 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Madeleine Albright Free Essay Example, 1000 words

In the tenure, Madeleine Albright achieved several goals ranging from a certificate in Russian, Master of Arts and a PhD with her thesis on Soviet diplomatic corps and her doctoral dissertation on the role of journalists in the Prague Spring of 1968 begin her sell point (Murrin et al, 2010, 7). Moreover, Madeleine graduated from a course organized by Zbigniew Brzezinski, who later became her boss at U. S National Security Council. Career and Accomplishment Madeleine Albright career life during the Republican Administrations of President Ronald Reagan and George Bush was quite involving especially in the 1980’s and early 90’s allowing her to work in various organization. According to Hightower-Langton (2002, 86) her involvement in the local democracy increased her popularity and knowledge in policy making increasing her influential in Washington D. C. besides, her skills in international affairs acquired from Georgetown University from 1982 to 1993. Madeleine career growth was simultaneously as she rose from one level to another however, her star in the career sector started to shine after the election of President Bill Clinton as a democrat in 1992 (Sundem, 2014, 43). We will write a custom essay sample on Madeleine Albright or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Madeleine later was named ambassador to the United Nation in 1993 by Bill Clinton, the President that saw her earn lots of respect and fame because she was vocal as well as frontal on increasing the role of the United States in the UN operations, especially those with great association to the military components. The position was essential as it assisted in the creation of her valuable reputation earned after her work and people perceptive as tough and good advocate for supporting American interests (Felice, 2015, 5). These made easy her nomination to the position of Secretary of State by the senate in 1997. Historical research done by Murrin et al (2010, 12) indicates that Madeleine Albright is the first female Secretary of State to became, during that time the very first high-ranking woman in the history of the U. S government in 1997. Dr. Albright has been very instrumental in promoting and defending human rights, labor, business and an environmental standards abroad encouraging member participation. Furthermore, Dr. Albright is the first Michael and Virginia Mortara Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service (Sundem, 2014, 42). Madeleine Albright has chaired both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the Pew Global Attitudes Project and served as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation.