Theatrical productions in Shakespeare's time used crude special effects to depict violence and gore on stage, including concealed animal organs and bladders filled with blood that could be popped to simulate wounds. The Globe Theatre seated up to 3000 spectators who sought excitement from these bloody effects. In Macbeth, blood comes to symbolize the title characters' guilt from Duncan's murder and their inability to wash away the stain of their crime. The play depicts several wars and murders committed by Macbeth that involve graphic depictions of blood and violence, culminating in Macbeth's death at the hands of Macduff.
2. Special effects Modern filmmakers use dazzling special effects to enhance realism or create fantasy worlds. Using computers and other gadgetry, they make volcanoes erupt, ships sink, pigs talk, and dragons swoop. When Shakespeare wrote plays, all the action took place on a small stage with only a painted back wall to suggest the setting. A character wounded in a sword fight clapped a hand to his chest, bursting a pouch (pig bladder) beneath his shirt to release ripe red blood.
3. Bloody Globe Theatre Special Effects Bloody special effects were used to excite and astound the audience. The simplest would be a handkerchief soaked in blood. Bloody special effects could also be produced to mimic wounds and injuries. Bloody Special effects could be used such as turntable using a blood soaked dummy to be substituted for an actor.
4. Bloody Globe Theatre Special Effects...Con’t Animal intestines, tongues and bones could be used to enhance the effects. Bladders filled with the blood of animals such as sheep or bulls were concealed beneath the actor's costumes which could be pierced by the points of daggers or swords used in stage fights, or just a thump to the chest could produce a gruesome death scene.
5. Elizabethan Audience Globe Audience Capacity - the Globe theatre could hold 1500 people in the audience and this number expanded to 3000 with the people who crowded outside the theatres Royalty - Queen Elizabeth I loved watching plays but these were generally performed in indoor playhouses for her pleasure. She would not have attended the plays performed at the amphitheatres such as the Globe
6. Elizabethan Audience...Con’t The Nobles - Upper Class Nobles would have paid for the better seats in the Lord's rooms paying 5d for the privilege The Lower Classes, the Commoners, were called the Groundlings or Stinkards, and would have stood in the theatre pit and paid 1d entrance fee. They put 1 penny in a box at the theatre entrance - hence the term 'Box Office'
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8. Why is violence important When Shakespeare used violence , like sword fights , and battles it was a amazing thing to witness if you were a spectator in Shakespeare's time. Shakespeare's “special effects” gave the audience a more realistic look on the play and make the audience think it was actually happening. They became more interested in the play also.
9. Blood as a symbol in Macbeth Blood comes to symbolize Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's guilt that is a permanent stain on their hands They feel that their hands are stained with blood and they cannot wash the blood off “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?” (Act 2, Scene 2. Line 61)
10. War in Macbeth There are 3 wars in Macbeth The first is the war against MacDonwald, the traitor, who was killed by Macbeth Another was against the Thane of Cawdor (who was executed and replaced by MacBeth) and King of Norway The last was the war against MacBeth, even though the English and Scottish forces did not faced little resistance from MacBeth
11. Blood and Violence The opening scene of Macbeth is the first event of blood shed as described by the wounded captain “Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds, Or memorize another Golgotha, I cannot tell—But I am faint, my gashes cry for help.” (Act 1, Scene 2) MacBeth kills MacDonwald, which makes Duncan happy so he makes MacBeth the Thane of Cawdor
12. Blood and Violence CONT’D MacBeth kills the King, Duncan. His murder was not shown on stage in Elizabethan times, because they thought that a murder of a king should not be shown on stage This is the beginning of all the murders that are committed during the play “My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white.” Lady MacBeth (Act 2, Scene 2)
13. Blood and Violence CONT’D MacBeth is responsible for two murders: Banquo and MacDuff's family “To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared.” (MacBeth Act 3, scene 2) “The castle of MacDuff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes....” (MacBeth act 4, Scene 1)
14. Blood and Violence CONT’D MacBeth is slain and beheaded by MacDuff (who was born of a Caesarean section so technically not born) MacDonwald, ex-Thane of Cawdor is hung for being a traitor to Scotland
15. Works Cited Stage. Photograph. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://msparktba.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/globe-theatre-fisheye.jpg>. Stage 2. Photograph. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://theriverreporter.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/globe_theatre_innenraum.jpg>. "Globe Theatre Pictures." Globe Theatre. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/globe-theatre-pictures.htm>. Shakespeare, William. MACBETH. Toronto: Harcourt Cananda, 1988. Print. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_srKLQ9PUso4/SNJJJFY5ruI/AAAAAAAAAWY/6DuZkludb0U/s400/Bloody+Hands.jpg>.
