Our professor Dr. Dilip Barad, the head of the Department of English at MKBU, made the screening of Macbeth accessible and this blog is to analyse the different aspects of the play and the performance based on his worksheet. The worksheet- Screening of 'Macbeth'
Introduction
Drama is meant to be watched and performed. Reading alone won't fully capture its essence. We have been fortunate enough to watch the performance of the play. The Globe Theatre's performance was in line with the original play, which made it more realistic and faithful to the story.
Introduction to the Play and the Performance
Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's most powerful tragedies, written around 1606. It tells the story of a brave Scottish general, Macbeth, whose encounter with three witches sparks a dangerous ambition to become king. As he follows a dark and violent path to power, Macbeth loses his sense of morality, and the play explores themes of ambition, guilt, fate, and the corrupting influence of power. The presence of supernatural elements, especially the witches, adds a mysterious and unsettling tone throughout the play.
The version we watched was performed by the Globe Theatre, London, and streamed online for our class. I couldn't grasp the whole performance as it's language was performed in Shakespeare's original language. The actors delivered intense and emotional performances that made the language and meaning of the play easier to follow. The simple yet atmospheric stage design, dramatic lighting, and strong expressions helped bring out the psychological tension in the story. Although we watched it vertually, the energy of a live theatre performance came through clearly.
Symbolic Significance of the Opening Scenes in Act I & IV Involving the Witches
Watching the witches in the Globe Theatre performance gave me a strong sense of unease right from the beginning. Their strange appearance, eerie voices, and the dark setting created a mood of mystery and danger. In Act I, their line "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" stood out as a key idea, showing how things in the play are not what they seem. They seemed to enjoy causing confusion, and it was clear they had power over Macbeth's thoughts. In Act IV, their second appearance with the ghostly visions felt even more intense. The performance made it clear that the witches were not just magical figures but symbols of chaos and temptation, pulling Macbeth towards over ambition against his kind nature.
How Macbeth's Ambition Leads to His Moral Deterioration
Watching the play, I noticed how Macbeth changes from a brave and respected soldier into someone completely controlled by his ambition and fear. At first, he feels unsure about killing King Duncan and worries about the consequences. But once he starts thinking about becoming king, his ambition grows stronger and soon takes over his actions. The performance showed how his inner conflict turns into cold determination as the play progresses.
Examples:
- After hearing the witches' prophecy, Macbeth struggles but finally decides to kill Duncan to become king.
- After murdering Duncan, he says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" showing his guilt and horror.
- He orders the murder of Banquo and Banquo's son, Fleance, because he fears their threat to his throne.
- Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff's wife and children, showing how far he has fallen into cruelty.
- Toward the end, Macbeth reacts coldly to Lady Macbeth's death, saying, "She should have died hereafter," showing how numb he has become.
The Motif of 'Blood' as a Symbol of Guilt and Violence
While watching the play, I saw that the idea of blood came up a lot. It was not only in the words but also shown by the actors in their actions. In Macbeth, blood is the symbol of both the violence that happens and the guilt the characters feel after. For example, after Macbeth kills King Duncan, he looks at his bloody hands and says, "This is a sorry sight." This shows how guilty he feels. Later, Lady Macbeth tries to wash her hands but says, "Out, damned spot!" even though there is no real blood. This means she cannot forget what they have done. The word "blood" is mentioned 40 times to remind us of the crimes and the guilt. The way the actors showed this made me feel how the characters are stuck with their guilt and violence.
The Impact of the Supernatural Elements on the Plot and Characters
The supernatural plays a very important role in Macbeth and strongly affects the characters, especially Macbeth himself. The witches are the first to appear, and their strange way of speaking, along with the dark setting, created a feeling of fear and mystery in the performance. When Macbeth hears their prophecy that he will become king, something changes in him. The idea stays in his mind and slowly begins to control his actions. Even though the witches do not tell him to kill anyone, their words push him to think about doing whatever it takes to make the prophecy come true.
Later, in Act IV, the witches show Macbeth strange visions. These visions make him feel overconfident. He believes he is safe and that no one can defeat him. Because of this, he becomes careless and more violent. I noticed in the performance that after each meeting with the witches, Macbeth looks more disturbed and driven. He stops thinking clearly and trusts the witches completely. This shows that the supernatural does not force him, but it works by feeding his ambition and confusing him. The witches and their magic add a dark and powerful energy to the story and lead Macbeth deeper into his downfall.
Comparison Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
In the performance, the contrast between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was very clear. At the beginning, Lady Macbeth seemed stronger and more determined. She encouraged Macbeth to kill King Duncan and questioned his manhood when he hesitated. Macbeth, on the other hand, appeared nervous and full of doubt. But after the murder, their roles began to change. Macbeth became more confident, violent, and independent, while Lady Macbeth started to lose control. She was no longer part of his decisions and slowly became overwhelmed by guilt. By the end of the play, Macbeth was cold and distant, and Lady Macbeth was broken and full of regret. The performance showed this shift through the actors' expressions and behaviour, helping me understand how both characters played a part in the tragedy.
| Aspect | Macbeth | Lady Macbeth |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of the Play | Hesitant, loyal, full of doubt | Bold, ambitious, pushes Macbeth |
| Attitude Toward Murder | Feels guilty, scared of consequences | Sees it as necessary for power |
| Change Over Time | Becomes confident and ruthless | Becomes weak and filled with guilt |
| Relationship Shift | Starts making decisions alone | Becomes excluded and isolated |
| End of the Play | Emotionless, lost in ambition | Broken, mentally disturbed, dies tragically |
Conclusion
The Globe Theatre's performance of Macbeth, that we watched recently, helped me see the play in a deeper and more meaningful way. Watching the characters on stage made the story feel more real, especially the struggles with ambition, guilt, and fate. The use of sound, lighting, and facial expressions brought new layers to the scenes that I didn’t fully understand when reading the text. This screening gave me a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s work and helped me connect with the emotional and dramatic power of the play.
References
Barad, Dilip. Worksheet - Screening Shakespeare's Macbeth. 29 Aug. 2023, ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373482185_Worksheet__Screening_Shakespeare's_Macbeth. Accessed 30 July 2025.
Macbeth. Directed by Eve Best, The Shakespeare Globe Trust, 2021. Globe Player, https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/. Accessed 30-31 July 2025.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Fingerprint Classics, 2016.
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