‘Macbeth’ discovers the good and evil throughout the lives of its characters. In this production, a man with many good qualities, by the lust for power is corrupted until he turns into a horrific perversion of the good general and loyal lord he was. Even at his death, he retains hints of the mannerisms that helped him in his rise and that makes him fall so tragic. If Macbeth displays that no one is beyond the reach of evil, Lady Macbeth demonstrates that the effects of crime cannot be escaped, even by those who believe themselves most hardened to them. In the end her madness and his reflections on the insignificance of a life twisted by greed and crime express the truth that evil means never lead to good ends.
Shakespeare creates numerous other memorable figures, along with those two great characters. He questions how much we control our own lives and how much of what happens to us is due to forces beyond us, through the witches. Macduff and Banquo prove that it is possible to resist temptation and propose that, one may suffer but for one’s refusal to be dishonoured, justice will finally be prevailed. Shakespeare’s comic skills are used to balance and improve the tragic effects at their height through the character of the Porter.
The play’s great speeches of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are amongst the best in all of Shakespeare. ‘Macbeth’ is predominantly extraordinary for its use of repeated imagery. Night, darkness, blood, clothing, and savage or ominous animals, all reappear frequently, accumulating to the plays grim atmosphere and helping to drive home its themes.
For an adaption of the play and more information about 'Macbeth' go to: http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/macbeth/theplay/film.html