Macbeth Today
Many elements of "Macbeth" can be seen in much of literature and media today, such as:
"Knock, knock": Macduff and the Porter shared the first knock, knock joke. And the receiver still gets just as annoyed as the Porter.
Breaking the fourth wall: Many of Shakespeare's soliloquies are spoken to the audience, breaking the fourth wall that separates the audience from the world of the play. As a pioneer of these metafictions, shows like "The Office" and "Modern Family" have integrated into our modern entertainment.
Lady Macbeth as female power: According to Marjorie Garber, Lady Macbeth has become the model for "an ambitious female politician who will stop at nothing to gain her own ends" ("Shakespeare and Modern Culture"). By invoking the spirits to "unsex" her, Lady Macbeth draws from masculine traits to allow her to accomplish what most women could not do.
Modern Media Adaptations:
"Knock, knock": Macduff and the Porter shared the first knock, knock joke. And the receiver still gets just as annoyed as the Porter.
Breaking the fourth wall: Many of Shakespeare's soliloquies are spoken to the audience, breaking the fourth wall that separates the audience from the world of the play. As a pioneer of these metafictions, shows like "The Office" and "Modern Family" have integrated into our modern entertainment.
Lady Macbeth as female power: According to Marjorie Garber, Lady Macbeth has become the model for "an ambitious female politician who will stop at nothing to gain her own ends" ("Shakespeare and Modern Culture"). By invoking the spirits to "unsex" her, Lady Macbeth draws from masculine traits to allow her to accomplish what most women could not do.
Modern Media Adaptations:
- Films: "Scotland, PA", “Throne of Blood”, “Joe MacBeth”, “Men of Respect”, and “Maqbool”.
- TV: “Breaking Bad”, “The Black Adder”, and “ShakespeaRe-Told Macbeth”.