Comparing the opening scene of two different versions of Shakespeare’s’ Macbeth

Comparing the opening scene of two different versions of Shakespeare’s’ Macbeth


I am going to look at two different versions of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and study the differences in the first scene and why they have been changed in different ways.

Both the Welles and the Polanski versions are similar to Shakespeare’s version, but have been slightly altered. Welles has extended the dialogue by adding in the ingredients of the witches cauldron. This helps not only create an eeriness as the ingredients are strange, but also gives a more foul image of the witches’ as the ingredients are revolting. Because the dialogue has been changed to include this, it is immediately known who the three characters are, as the revolting ingredients are very stereotypical of witches. The first line in the Welles and the Polanski version is said by all the witches, whereas in the Shakespeare version, it is said by only one of the witches. Having all the witches say the first line helps catch ...