Film Analysis

While watching Goold’s version of Macbeth, a scene that particularly struck me was Act 4, scene 3 when Malcolm tests Macduff’s character and Macduff discovers the news of the murder of his family. First off, the setting of the scene was what initially sparked my interest. Instead of being outside of King Edward’s palace, they appear to be inside (maybe), where Malcolm was interrupted from enjoying a piano concert. Such an event is often regarded with high social standing, and the intense, intimate discussion that turns into much more than mere whispers stands in stark contrast to the elegance of what is going on in the background. Moving forward, when the scene transfers into the church as Malcolm discovers the state of disarray that Scotland it is, I thought that placing this part of the scene in the church displays the disparity and desperate condition that they were really in. As Malcolm kneels down in the pew as if he were praying, it signifies his much more upright moral character (compared to Macbeth), as well as marking the point where things are at their worst and perhaps there is no turning back. With the increasing number of dead bodies arising and complete chaos abounding due to Macbeth’s reign, it seems the only response (besides vengeance) is to kneel down and pray. I also enjoyed when Macduff discovers the news of his family’s murder. The raw and genuine emotion portrayed was incredible, it made me feel the emotions he was myself. The extended period of silence helped to contribute to this emotion, and I enjoyed how much thought was clearly put into the workings of this scene, and altogether, the entire movie. Goold’s adaptation is exceptional, and I look forward to re-watching this piece in order to better understand and appreciate the intricacies that went into producing such a wonderful piece of art.