Macbeth – BBC Shakespeare Retold Students' Questions
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Macbeth – BBC Shakespeare Retold Students’ questions Characterisation Does Joe Macbeth seem as evil as the Macbeth from Shakespeare’s text? Is Ella as manipulative as Lady Macbeth? How does Ella manipulate Joe? Why does Joe let Ella persuade him to kill Duncan, even when he is clearly tormented by the thought of it? Why are the ‘witches’ portrayed as garbage men in the film? What do the garbage men prophesy for Joe and Billy? What do the other characters in the kitchen think about Joe? What links are there between the dialogue in the film and in Shakespeare’s text? Relationships How is the closeness of the characters (Joe Macbeth and Ella) reflected in the film (up to Duncan’s murder)? How is the audience supposed to respond to the main characters? Do you think some of the relationships in the film are false? Why? How significant are gestures made by the characters? Comment on the relationship between Joe Macbeth and Ella. Comment on the relationship between Joe and Duncan. Comment on the relationship between Ella and Duncan. Comment on the relationship between Joe and Billy Banquo. Why does Ella flirt with Duncan? How do Joe and Ella each respond to Duncan’s declaration (that he is leaving the restaurant to Malcolm)? Does the relationship between Joe and Ella differ to the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s text? Themes What themes are explored in the first half of the film? Comment on betrayal in the film. Comment on love in the film. What is the most significant theme in the film? How must Joe feel when Duncan takes the credit for his work? (When the diners ask to see the chef.) How is friendship portrayed? Stagecraft Does the setting make the events more or less sinister than the text version of the play? How does the use of lighting affect the overall atmosphere? How does using close-ups with pauses make the dialogue more effective? What effect does the occasional music have? Comment on the effect of different shots and camera angles. Why has the play been set in a London restaurant? How does the setting influence the characters’ behaviour? Miscellaneous What is the significance in the warning to not mention the ‘Scottish chef’? .