7/30/2019 Act 3 Scene 4 Performace Options Patrick Stewart
1/3
Dan Nolan S5mo
Macbeth-performance
analysis Patrick StewartVersion 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
Stalinesqueportrait 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, whichagain 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
otherguests see the witches? Perhaps asking Macbeth to sit was
implying for
7/30/2019 Act 3 Scene 4 Performace Options Patrick Stewart
2/3
Dan Nolan S5mo
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 couldbe 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
happen-
probably 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 ofdisplacing the
Mirthand
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 deedand drags the distressed Lady Macbeth off to bed. Leaving
the
audience scared of what might happen next.
