Blood, Guts and Gore

In MacBeth

Special effects

Modern filmmakers use dazzling special effects to enhance realism or create fantasy worlds. Using computers and other gadgetry, they make volcanoes erupt, ships sink, pigs talk, and dragons swoop.

When Shakespeare wrote plays, all the action took place on a small stage with only a painted back wall to suggest the setting. A character wounded in a sword fight clapped a hand to his chest, bursting a pouch (pig bladder) beneath his shirt to release ripe red blood.

Bloody Globe Theatre Special EffectsBloody special effects were used to excite and

astound the audience. The simplest would be a handkerchief soaked in blood. Bloody special effects could also be produced to mimic wounds and injuries. Bloody Special effects could be used such as turntable using a blood soaked dummy to be substituted for an actor.

Bloody Globe Theatre Special Effects...Con’tAnimal intestines, tongues and bones could

be used to enhance the effects. Bladders filled with the blood of animals such as sheep or bulls were concealed beneath the actor's costumes which could be pierced by the points of daggers or swords used in stage fights, or just a thump to the chest could produce a gruesome death scene.

Elizabethan AudienceGlobe Audience Capacity - the Globe theatre

could hold 1500 people in the audience and this number expanded to 3000 with the people who crowded outside the theatres

Royalty - Queen Elizabeth I loved watching plays but these were generally performed in indoor playhouses for her pleasure. She would not have attended the plays performed at the amphitheatres such as the Globe

Elizabethan Audience...Con’t

The Nobles - Upper Class Nobles would have paid for the better seats in the Lord's rooms paying 5d for the privilege

The Lower Classes, the Commoners, were called the Groundlings or Stinkards, and  would have stood in the theatre pit and paid 1d entrance fee. They put 1 penny in a box at the theatre entrance - hence the term 'Box Office'

Why is violence important When Shakespeare used violence , like sword

fights , and battles it was a amazing thing to witness if you were a spectator in Shakespeare's time.

Shakespeare's “special effects” gave the audience a more realistic look on the play and make the audience think it was actually happening. They became more interested in the play also.

Blood as a symbol in MacbethBlood comes to symbolize Macbeth and Lady

Macbeth's guilt that is a permanent stain on their hands

They feel that their hands are stained with blood and they cannot wash the blood off

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” (Act 2, Scene 2. Line 61)

War in MacbethThere are 3 wars in MacbethThe first is the war against MacDonwald, the

traitor, who was killed by MacbethAnother was against the Thane of Cawdor

(who was executed and replaced by MacBeth) and King of Norway

The last was the war against MacBeth, even though the English and Scottish forces did not faced little resistance from MacBeth

Blood and ViolenceThe opening scene of Macbeth is the first

event of blood shed as described by the wounded captain

“Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell—But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.” (Act 1, Scene 2)

MacBeth kills MacDonwald, which makes Duncan happy so he makes MacBeth the Thane of Cawdor

Blood and Violence CONT’DMacBeth kills the King, Duncan. His murder

was not shown on stage in Elizabethan times, because they thought that a murder of a king should not be shown on stage

This is the beginning of all the murders that are committed during the play

“My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white.” Lady MacBeth (Act 2, Scene 2)

Blood and Violence CONT’DMacBeth is responsible for two murders:

Banquo and MacDuff's family“To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus.

Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared.” (MacBeth Act 3, scene 2)

“The castle of MacDuff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes....” (MacBeth act 4, Scene 1)

Blood and Violence CONT’DMacBeth is slain and beheaded by MacDuff

(who was born of a Caesarean section so technically not born)

MacDonwald, ex-Thane of Cawdor is hung for being a traitor to Scotland

Works Cited Stage. Photograph. Web. 15 June 2010.

<http://msparktba.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/globe-theatre-fisheye.jpg>.

Stage 2. Photograph. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://theriverreporter.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/globe_theatre_innenraum.jpg>.

"Globe Theatre Pictures." Globe Theatre. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/globe-theatre-pictures.htm>.

Shakespeare, William. MACBETH. Toronto: Harcourt Cananda, 1988. Print.

Web. 15 June 2010. <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_srKLQ9PUso4/SNJJJFY5ruI/AAAAAAAAAWY/6DuZkludb0U/s400/Bloody+Hands.jpg>.