Compaison Of Bbc'S Macbeth To The Play Essay

Fellow Shakespearean enthusiasts, once again we have seen one of Shakespeare brilliant texts slaughtered and smeared onto a movie screen. The BBC version of Macbeth, Shakespeare Retold strays so far from Shakespeares original text it is no longer a good representation of the story. The essence of the original play is all but gone and all that is left is a shell of its original self. This has happened before I think we all remember the abomination that was Baz Luhrmanns Romeo + Juliet. How many more times will we see movies like these ruining Shakespeares masterpieces?

To the BBCs credit the movie Macbeth: Shakespeare Retold does follow the essential inclusions of a Shakespearean tragedy. All the major elements are there but they may have been twisted for a modern audience and to suit the setting. Macbeth is still a man in high estate in sense that he still has a title however he is no longer the Thane of Glamis, rather a top chef for a well renowned restaurant in the middle of London. Even though Macbeth still has a title he no longer seems as powerful as he did in the play, this invites the reader to think that Macbeth in the movie doesnt deserve as much respect as the loyal, enemy slaying hero, in the play. Some elements are less easy to spot such as the occurrence of the supernatural. No longer is there a floating dagger however in the kitchen we see that the knives are kept in the air with magnets for easy access and the witches are no longer witches but garbage men. Although all the sections may be there many of them are fleeting and seemed rushed. Tragic recognition of the flaw by the tragic hero and the last courageous attempt to restore lost honor appear to be balled into one and we dont get to see much of Macbeth trying to regain his lost reputation.

The language used in the BBCs version of Macbeth is not Shakespearean but rather modern day English although it may be easier to understand it is not at all traditional. The language is not the only thing that has differed from the original play. The setting as well as the time has been changed. No longer is this story set in Scotland or in the 17th century, no, it is now set in London and in the 21st century. However, does this lack of Shakespearean language and the different setting really affect the film? Yes it does. Not once was there reference to the original Shakespearean language if it was not for the title, Macbeth: Shakespeare Retold most people would not even know that it was based on a story written over 400 years ago. As for the setting the only reference is that everyone in the restaurant seems to have a Scottish accent and if thats the only reference they could fit in it leaves a lot to be desired.

Not only is there change in setting as well as language it seems the director decided to change many of the characters including Macbeth himself. In the original play Macbeth is the perfect soldier slaying all of the Kings enemies. However in the film Macbeths jealously of the Kings or in the movies case the Head Chefs wealth and position has been foregrounded so it can be seen even before the influence of Lady Macbeth. As well as Macbeth, Head Chef Duncan has been changed. In the play his is loved by all his people as well as his soldiers, trusted by all, and is portrayed as a good well-liked successful king. However in the movie this is not the case. The two main characters in both the film and the play, Macbeth and Banquo, express a disliking for the Head Chef. This is because in the movie the Head Chef takes credit for cooking that was not done by himself but rather Macbeth and Banquo. This positions the reader into starting to dislike Head Chef Duncan as well.

Unfortunately not only has the director of the BBCs film changed the setting and the language as well as the characters he has done the worst thing of all he has made numerous omissions. There are two big sections that have either changed or just been plain left on the cutting room floor. The first and most significant is that a majority of Act V has disappeared. We see no doctor who looks at Lady Macbeth and therefore Macbeth never talks to anyone about how strange his wife is acting. This changes our perspective on the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, promoting a view that Macbeth no longer cares for his wife. The second section that is missing is Malcolm leaving. In the play after the King is killed Malcolm flees for England. However in the movie Malcolm never leaves the Kitchen, meaning that the relationship between Malcolm and Macbeth are completely different. Malcolm gives the impression that he still trusts everyone in the kitchen even though his father has just been murdered.

The director of the BBCs Macbeth: Shakespeare Retold, Peter Moffat, has not only changed the language, the setting and the characters he has also changed the story. It seems the only thing he has left intact is Shakespeares original tragedy structure. Even so a director of a film can only have so much creative license and still be able to claim that the movie is based the play. This movie over steps this line and not a good representation of one of Shakespeares best plays.