Macbeth Vs Scotland Pa

Lou Abrams

Mr. Yeager

Section 7

February 9, 2016

Macbeth VS Scotland, PA

In 1606, William Shakespeare wrote and presented a dark, psychologically charged story about the evil nature of a man at odds with his conscience in the play Macbeth. Four hundred years later, the movie Scotland, PA takes the play someplace it has never been: 1970’s white-trash America- not always accurate, but clearly connected. Although world’s apart, this dysfunctional fast food fantasy mirrors Shakespeare’s story of royal deception and assassination by capturing elements of plot, character, and theme in a bizarre and twisted contemporary setting.

From nobility to no-ability the story of Macbeth has been tossed in a salad of 70s stereotypes and sly humor. Plot somewhat swaying and setting ever changing, the story unfolds. The two separate tones of the productions are obvious, Shakespeare meant for the audience to go through the gruesome tragedy of Macbeth, while Morissette created a comedy to have the viewers bust a gut laughing over. The plot being slightly altered, and having a few more bells and whistles than the original still tips its hat off to the original writing of the script.

The regal knights and castles of Scotland turn into the modern fast food industry of America. From a noble thane on the line to the throne to the fry cook at Duncan's burger joint. From riding horse back at night to driving a camaro at high speeds after having a fight. The setting was altered greatly. The entire surroundings was different. The only woods being that they hunted in. The castle Mac overtook was really a burger joint. Macbeth had a courtyard and hundreds of supporters. Mac had a camaro a new house that wasn't a trailer and the support of a small down in the middle of nowhere in PA. A shoutout to the original writing of the play would be the fact that the bar the characters of the movie frequented was called Wytches brew.

Macbeth was a part of the hierarchy of the royal nature. He was rich beyond belief. His name dripped with golden rings and purple sashes. He was a war hero, a man of status. Joe aka “Mac” was a man of low means, little to his name, and was at the bottom of the food chain of society. He was a good man. Both characters were men of honor and good heart in the beginning of both productions. Lady Macbeth was a meek woman just as the women in the time. stereotypically so, she was a quick mind though but she stayed within the lines of a woman for the