The Tragedy of Macbeth Parent Guide

Victory for King Duncan of Scotland (Brendan Gleeson) on the field of battle against the King of Norway and some treasonous thanes has brought honour to Macbeth (Denzel Washington), Thane of Glamis, and his friend Banquo (Bertie Carvel). While traveling across the heath to receive honors from the King, they encounter three strange witches (all played by Kathryn Hunter) who prophesy that Macbeth shall be, not only Thane of Glamis, but of Cawdor, and later, King of Scotland. However, though he shall be king, it is Banquo’s line that will inherit the crown. Filled with dreams of power and nobility, Macbeth writes home to his wife (Frances McDormand) to inform her that King Duncan will be coming home with him to celebrate, and that they have an opportunity to take his place…if they have the courage to do the unthinkable.

Directed by Joel Coen, and with a tremendously impressive cast, this production gave me high expectations. Unusually, they were met and exceeded. Without making any major changes to the play’s original dialogue, Coen managed to put a very distinctive visual stamp on his adaptation, one which encourages viewers to think about the themes and ideas of the original text. The stark, stylized sets bring the characters into sharper focus, and give the audience a sense of the stage. It’s a beautiful, if somewhat liminal, film to watch, and that dreamlike quality makes it very different from any version of Macbeth I’ve seen before.

Of course, the success of any Shakespearean production is dependent on actors. Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand do a stellar job as the murderous power couple, but the parts that really stood out to me were smaller roles. Brendan Gleeson is wonderful, warm, and avuncular as King Duncan, a character who’s dead by the end of the second act. The player that really knocked me dead, however, was Kathryn Hunter as the Weird Sisters. Her intense physical performance, unnerving vocal choices, and huge staring eyes make the dreamlike sets feel like a nightmare. She’s superb, and I wish the play had room for more of her characters.

Teachers and parents will be relieved to hear that this is much less violent and sexual than some other cinematic adaptations, making it an excellent choice as a teaching tool. I wouldn’t recommend it for young children, who would struggle with the Early Modern English of Shakespeare anyway, but it shouldn’t cause any problems for teenagers. Hopefully, the unique style and powerhouse performances can help bring Shakespeare to life for students and fans of the Bard the world over.