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Mastering Imagery Although I am mostly unfamiliar with Roman Polanskis work, his use of imagery in William Shakespeare's Macbeth was woven meticulously. With some subtle, and some not so subtle, applications of lighting, blood, and use of the crown the film flows with multiple agendas. Through the use of lighting Polanski set the mood for this tragedy. During a good part of the film the set is gloomy and rainy. Even though the sun does break through from time to time I didnt believe that these sunny moments held much in the thought of hidden meaning. On the other hand, the dark scenes in this movie threw you into the evil in which they portrayed.
For instance, before the King was murdered, we found Macbeth wandering around in the darkness trying to justify his soon to be actions. The rain began to fall and thunder rumbled helping to set the tone for the upcoming malice. The storming countryside seemed to react to the thoughts and actions taking place in the castle. Upon the finding of the Kings body the morning sunrise sprays a red tint across the set and those who occupy it. The red faces keep you right there on the hint of murder. It is after the Kings death that light cleanses the previous nights misfortune.
Macbeth is named King of Scotland covered in a white robe. The sun shines as the people celebrate a new King. I thought this momentarily gave the film a relaxing point. This point of relaxation did not last long.
The gloom stretches out over Scotland again and evil stirs once more. After Macbeth makes plans for more murder, he speaks a line, which I thought was perfectly fitting for Polanskis version. Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; and with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale! Light thickens; and the crow Makes wing to the rooky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; While night's black agents to their preys do rouse. (Act 3 scene 2). The mindfully placed blood imagery in this version of Macbeth positioned emphasis on important scenes. Most of the blood sightings in this film are excessive, but only to get the viewer in that mood again.
Macbeth's demise comes from a desire for power. In preservation of, and search of more power, Macbeth is thrown into uncontrollable mind decay. His clouded head leads him to shed more and more blood. The first significant use of this type of imagery is put on the screen when the King is killed. Macbeth leaves the room covered in red.
The sight of his blood covered hands starts to make him realize what he has done. Understanding he cannot metaphorically wash the blood from his hands he starts his downward spiral. Another moment blood is used magnificently, is when the Queen sees the blood on her hands. This implying the same as with Macbeth after the slaying of the King, these actions cannot be taken back. The implication of this type of imagery was also used without even being seen. The Queen, in her madness, tries clean blood from her hands when she is covered with none.
The crown is used sparingly to signify the falling of power. When Macbeth first slays the King the crown rolls off the side of the bed and sits on the floor waiting to be placed on the head of another King. After Macbeth is made King, he wears the shiny crown with pride. Upon the new Kings demise the crown once again falls to the ground. Without the dramatic use of lighting, the strong moods and eerie tones of the play, would have been a waste of film. The accurate handling of blood placement made the sinful scenes more dynamic.
Also, the crown was a great symbol of how power concludes. While I had not seen any of Roman Polanskis work before, Im extremely impressed with his use of imagery.
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Research essay sample on Roman Polanskis Work Type Of Imagery Macbeth
