The Tragedy of Macbeth - A Unique Adaptation of Jacobean Tragedy

Film adaptations have been influencing stories which were previously only known through reading for over a century. While the first film adaptation, Cinderella, was released in 1899, many others have followed, and William Shakespeare’s texts have become increasingly attractive for film directors. As of today, there are countless film adaptations and some of them have had an extraordinary influence in both the film industry as well as popular culture. They have also contributed to the development and complexity of adaptation studies, and allowed it to become a relevant field of study. In this thesis, I will argue that Joel Coen provides a valuable addition to film adaptations of Shakespeare by respecting Macbeth’s stage history while also producing an innovative version of Jacobean tragedy. I will argue that The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) may be seen as a response to the ongoing debate around fate and determinism versus free-will in Macbeth. In order to achieve this, I will provide a...Show moreFilm adaptations have been influencing stories which were previously only known through reading for over a century. While the first film adaptation, Cinderella, was released in 1899, many others have followed, and William Shakespeare’s texts have become increasingly attractive for film directors. As of today, there are countless film adaptations and some of them have had an extraordinary influence in both the film industry as well as popular culture. They have also contributed to the development and complexity of adaptation studies, and allowed it to become a relevant field of study. In this thesis, I will argue that Joel Coen provides a valuable addition to film adaptations of Shakespeare by respecting Macbeth’s stage history while also producing an innovative version of Jacobean tragedy. I will argue that The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) may be seen as a response to the ongoing debate around fate and determinism versus free-will in Macbeth. In order to achieve this, I will provide a close reading of the film, including its staginess as well as the German expressionist visuals, as well as draw on texts by a variety of scholars. I will also add a detailed character analysis, and explore how Coen uses them to make his film more innovative. My findings have allowed me to discover, in part, how Coen combines elements of the play’s stage history with innovative techniques to create a modern work of art.Show less

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The Tragedy of Macbeth - A Unique Adaptation of Jacobean Tragedy