Dan Nolan S5m o

Macbeth-performance analysis Patrick Stewart Version act 3 Scene 4

Patrick Stewarts unique take on the character of Macbeth has won Goulds take on the play much critical acclaim. Goulds interpretation of Act three Scene four is ripe with intricate detail and great acting and deserves some attention. The banquet is set in large, spacious hall, with an intimidating Stalinesque portrait of Macbeth draped over the far wall, which portrays the dictatorship that Macbeth is leading. While at this stage in the scene both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are close, trying to play a welcoming host, and cover up Banquos death, Gould purposefully decides to portray Lady Macbeth in an extremely vulnerable manner. This vulnerable appearance helps portray Macbeths dominance in the latter half of the scene after the guests have left. This display of vulnerability also plays with the original idea of how these characters are meant to be working together. Throughout the scene Lady Macbeth looks terrified of her husband, which again reinforces the idea of a Macbeth being a dictator. When the murderer appears Macbeth seems to freely speak to him, shouting at him not caring to even to attempt to conceal what he is doing. This, once again is playing on the dictatorship idea, Macbeth has no need to worry about being heard, all the thanes are terrified of him, Gould makes them all looks as if they are not listening to the conversation , just getting on with their meal, scared of what might happen if they are caught listening. However it is a different story when the ghost of Banquo appears. Macbeth is reduced to an emotional wreck at the sight of the risen body of his once best friend. The actual portrayal of the ghost and the build-up to its appearance is pretty much unique as performances of Macbeth go. When Macbeth is asked to sit, he turns to his, which to his surprise, he finds the three witches upon he seat. It is worth mentioning here that the three witches were previously serving food to the guests which implies that they might have something to do with the appearance of the ghost, and that it is not simply a figment of Macbeths tormented imagination. But the very fact that Macbeth was asked to sit in a chair which the witches were seated upon begs a controversial question. Can the other guests see the witches? Perhaps asking Macbeth to sit was implying for

Dan Nolan S5m o

the witches to move, or it could more complex than that, perhaps the witches are simply a figment of Macbeths imagination, something he made up to try and deal with the guilt he could well be feeling. Or it could be some form of an intermediate, where they are actually there, but only Macbeth sees them as the three witches. Whichever way you look at, the appearance of the witches on Macbeths stool and the rising tension in the music immediately tells the audience that something about to happenprobably for the worst. The entrance of the risen again Banquo is a dramatic one. Gould switches the lighting to a dark blue light cloaking the hall, everything is slowed down and the ghost moves towards Macbeth across the table, spilling wine, symbolising the spilling of blood. The contrast in the section startling- a dead man is walking across a table, causing havoc and knocking things over (in Macbeths eyes anyway), while the rest of the guests are sitting the eating and generally not even looking up. Macbeth stubbles backwards and falls on the floor, crying his lines in pure fear, directly contrasting with his portrayal earlier on as the dominant confident dictator. Lady Macbeths reaction to her husbands apparently hallucination is an awkward attempt to reassure the guests; with a false smile she tells them to regard him not in a vain attempt cover up her husbands suspicious behaviour. Macbeths reaction to the ghost eventually leads to Lady Macbeth sending their guests away, at this point; Gould portrays her as being at her tipping point, head in hands, she accusing Macbeth of displacing the Mirth and almost crying dismisses the thanes. This leaves only Macbeth and his wife left in the room, and Gould portrays them as being very distant. Lady Macbeth is sat down, crying and not looking at her husband, While Macbeth is standing, making Lady Macbeth look much the inferior character. Macbeth looks relaxed, completely different from his encounter with the dead earlier. He stands eating soup and speaking of visiting the witches and of more evil to come, with a disturbing lack of care about him as if what he saying is really that important. In contrast, Lady Macbeth has started descending into her tormented state of madness. While she sits listening to Macbeth speak of witches and blood, you can see her rubbing at her hand, which is probably the start of the spot appearing that hurts her so much later on. Macbeths apparent lack of care at the very end makes it almost more sinister as he ends by saying we are yet still young in deed and drags the distressed Lady Macbeth off to bed. Leaving the audience scared of what might happen next.

Dan Nolan S5m o