Monkman's Macbeth: An Unfilmed Ghost & Interpretation of Macbeth's Psychology
Abstract
The 2018 film Macbeth, directed by Kit Monkman, is an unconventional production absent of visual effects of any supernatural occurrence from the Shakespearean play, namely Banquo’s ghost in Act 3, scene 1. In this bare-bones rendition of the original work, each visual choice is intentional, as are all exclusions of details; thus, a detailed analysis of this scenes determines that the lack of a physical character implies that Banquo’s ghost is not just invisible but entirely nonexistent in this production. Having established that there is no ghost, it becomes clear that Macbeth is reacting to a creation of his mind. Monkman supports this in interviews, stating that no supernatural forces are acting on Macbeth and implying that the titular character hallucinates the experience. This paper analyzes the director’s interpretation of Macbeth’s mental state and concludes that in this adaptation, Monkman portrays a version of Macbeth who potentially has a mental disorder. As such, the absence of Banquo’s ghost in the film Macbeth illustrates the director’s belief that Macbeth is hallucinating its presence and that he interprets Macbeth’s supernatural experiences and behavior as signs of Paranoid Schizophrenia.
Monkman's Macbeth: An Unfilmed Ghost & Interpretation of Macbeth's Psychology
Arts and Sciences 2-70
The 2018 film Macbeth, directed by Kit Monkman, is an unconventional production absent of visual effects of any supernatural occurrence from the Shakespearean play, namely Banquo’s ghost in Act 3, scene 1. In this bare-bones rendition of the original work, each visual choice is intentional, as are all exclusions of details; thus, a detailed analysis of this scenes determines that the lack of a physical character implies that Banquo’s ghost is not just invisible but entirely nonexistent in this production. Having established that there is no ghost, it becomes clear that Macbeth is reacting to a creation of his mind. Monkman supports this in interviews, stating that no supernatural forces are acting on Macbeth and implying that the titular character hallucinates the experience. This paper analyzes the director’s interpretation of Macbeth’s mental state and concludes that in this adaptation, Monkman portrays a version of Macbeth who potentially has a mental disorder. As such, the absence of Banquo’s ghost in the film Macbeth illustrates the director’s belief that Macbeth is hallucinating its presence and that he interprets Macbeth’s supernatural experiences and behavior as signs of Paranoid Schizophrenia.