Macbeth Retold and Macbeth Similarities Essays

Macbeth Retold and Macbeth Similarities Essays Macbeth Retold and Macbeth Similarities Paper Macbeth Retold and Macbeth Similarities Paper Essay Topic: Macbeth Macbeth Retold and Macbeth share many connections, yet have essential differences. Demonstrate the truth of this comment through a detailed discussion of Brozels film and Shakespeares drama. Macbeth Retold uses themes, a modified plot to be more accessible to a contemporary audience and exaggerated characters to have an effect on viewers. Retold also utilises setting to create an emotive atmosphere. Likewise Shakespeare Macbeth employs a variety of themes that reflect Elizabethan times, a historical plot and language features, relevant to Shakespeares context. Although links and onnections do exist between the two texts differences are also apparent. These differences enhance the emotional response and the understanding that a modern audience may absorb from Brozels Macbeth Retold. Brozel created Macbeth Retold In 2005 and it Is his Interpretation of the earlier play. The plot Is similar In that key events and characters appear In both texts. Brozel chose to represent the network of the Scottish aristocrats through the hierarchy of a current restaurants kitchen, but changing the setting that events take place in. Joe Macbeth, Brozels contemporary quivalent of Shakespeares protagonist, is head chef and with his wife, Ella (Lady Macbeths filmic parallelb they plan to kill the celebrity chef/owner Duncan Docherty- so that Joe would take ownership of the restaurant. The plot, but more so the setting, was modified so It resonate with people of today. Joes character is easy to connect with as he is overworked, which is evident by the dark circles under his eyes and his lack of sleep. He also answers to a selfish boss and becomes ambitious wanting to receive what he believes he deserves of. In Shakespeares Macbeth the intended udience responded to the settings, such as the aftermath of war, and castles, for example. The concept of Scottish nobility, the divine right of Kings, Princes and Thanes is an abstract concept for many people today, so it is unlikely that Retold would have been as successful if Brozel had not made changes to the plot and setting. Similar themes are employed by both composers to evoke emotions In their respective audiences. Through the relationship of Joe and Ella, Brozel questions the dynamic of a marriage. Shakespeare uses Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to re-lnforce he role of a woman, as that of a passive companion, as expected within Elizabethan society. Ella and Lady M both have aspirations and are driven, and they manipulate their husbands. Lady Ms famous quote l fear thy nature, It is too full othmllk of human kindness. (1. 5. 15-16) indicates she is doubting Macbeths masculinity. Ella also uses a similar line for the same effect, as she attempts to persuade Joe to commit murder. Lady M and Ella share some common goals but Ellas character is able to be more of an equal to her husband. This Is due to the socially accepted role that woman have. Ella is Hostess/front of house of the restaurant where she and Joe work. She maintains a very high standard, which can be observed in the scene at the beginning of the film as she Inspects the table before they open for the night. This symbolises the importance she puts on her position and may be a factor for why she t front of house to go to waste. The Elizabethan ideal of the chain of being and natural world versus unnatural is very apparent in Macbeth. Gods represenitive on Earth is the King, and when Macbeth murders Duncan he disrupts the chain of being and causes disorder. By Macbeth usurping Duncans throne unnatural things start happening, horses eating each other, owls hunting and killing hawks are both mentioned in Act 2 scene 4. Macbeths and Lady Ms spiral into insanity and instability is also an unnatural consequences of the murder committed. Shakespeares character Macbeth was flawed, he became ambitious after his encounter with the Weird Sisters, and he wanted what they promised. He was Jealous and as the play progressed he became arrogant, which eventually lead to his death. The personal Journey that he undertakes and the actions he takes are nderstandable to audience members. They may disagree with Macbeth murdering Duncan, but the ambition that lead Macbeth to commit the murder can be seen. In contrast through Retold, Duncan was portrayed as a much more selfish and egotistical man than King Duncan. Joes character is a passionate chef who is full of enthusiasm, which is demonstrated in the first scene when he is cooking. He starts singing loudly and encourages the other staff to do so. This passion for cooking and for his livelihood is later transformed into anger and extreme behaviours. The two ays that each composer has chosen to have their Macbeth are different, but both Macbeths have the same basic flaws, making them relatable. Brozel uses film techniques due to his differing median. Whereas Macbeth uses written techniques such as dramatic irony, where the audience has an overall view and idea of the plot compared to characters who are limited to knowledge, they learn in scenes they are involved in. An example of dramatic irony in Shakespeares play is when the audience learns in Act 1 that Macbeth has been appointed Thane of Cawdor, when approached by the Weird Sisters- Macbeth himself does not know this. Making what the Sisters tell him and Macbeths reaction dramatic irony. Imagery is also used in both texts, but because Macbeth Retold is a film the imagery and use of colour is more evocative for todays responders. In the moments leading up to the celebratory breakfast scene (which parallels the banquet scene in Shakespeares play) Joe is initially depicted as standing in the hall looking at his reflection in a metal door, behind him is a deep red curtain. The image given to those watching is a distorted view of Joes face with red all around him. This image is a striking one, as it carries on he black, white, and red colour pallete but it also consolidates the idea that Joe isnt really a good guy and that looks can be deceiving. The red in Brozels film symbolises the bloodshed Macbeth causes in the original play. Brozels Macbeth Retold and Shakespeares Macbeth are linked in many ways. Through plot, characters, and some themes. Yet they share distinct differences including each Macbeths character traits, setting and views on woman in society. Because Brozel made changes to his Macbeth Retold it became successful as a film. The differences strengthened the success.

The History and Goals of the Chicano Movement

The History and Goals of the Chicano Movement The Chicano Movement emerged during the civil rights era with three goals: restoration of land, rights for farm workers and education reforms. Prior to the 1960s, however, Latinos lacked influence in the national political arena. That changed when the Mexican American Political Association worked to elect John F. Kennedy president in 1960, establishing Latinos as a significant voting bloc. After Kennedy was sworn into office, he showed his gratitude toward the Latino community by not only appointing Hispanics to posts in his administration but also by considering the concerns of the Hispanic community. As a viable political entity, Latinos, particularly Mexican Americans, began demanding that reforms be made in labor, education and other sectors to meet their needs. A Movement With Historic Ties When did the Hispanic community’s quest for justice begin? Their activism actually predates the 1960s. In the 1940s and ’50s, for example, Hispanics won two major legal victories. The first - Mendez v. Westminster Supreme Court - was a 1947 case that prohibited segregating Latino schoolchildren from white children. It proved to be an important predecessor to Brown v. Board of Education, in which the U.S. Supreme Court determined that a â€Å"separate but equal† policy in schools violated the Constitution. In 1954, the same year Brown appeared before the Supreme Court, Hispanics achieved another legal feat in Hernandez v. Texas. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment  guaranteed equal protection to all racial groups, not just blacks and whites. In the 1960s and 70s, Hispanics not only pressed for equal rights, they began to question the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This 1848 agreement ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in America acquiring territory from Mexico that currently comprises the Southwestern U.S. During the civil rights era, Chicano radicals began to demand that the land is given to Mexican Americans, as they believed it constituted their ancestral homeland, also known as Aztln. In 1966, Reies Là ³pez Tijerina led a three-day march from Albuquerque, N.M., to the state capital of Santa Fe, where he gave the governor a petition calling for the investigation of Mexican land grants. He argued that the U.S.’s annexing of Mexican land in the 1800s was illegal. Activist Rodolfo â€Å"Corky† Gonzales, known for the poem â€Å"Yo Soy Joaquà ­n,† or â€Å"I Am Joaquà ­n,† also backed a separate Mexican  American state. The epic poem about Chicano history and identity includes the following lines: â€Å"The Treaty of Hidalgo has been broken and is but another treacherous promise. / My land is lost and stolen. / My culture has been raped.† Farm Workers Make Headlines Arguably the most well-known fight Mexican Americans waged during the 1960s was that to secure unionization for farm workers. To sway grape growers to recognize United Farm Workers - the Delano, Calif., union launched by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta - a national boycott of grapes began in 1965. Grape pickers went on strike, and Chavez went on a 25-day hunger strike in 1968. 3/10/1968 - Delano, CA- Senator Robert Kennedy (L) breaks bread with Union Leader Cesar Chavez as Chavez ended a 23-day fast in support of non-violence in the strike against grape growers. Bettmann  / Getty Images At the height of their fight, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy visited the farm workers to show his support. It took until 1970 for the farm workers to triumph. That year, grape growers signed agreements acknowledging UFW as a union. Philosophy of a Movement Students played a central role in the Chicano fight for justice. Notable student groups include the  United Mexican American Students and the Mexican American Youth Association. Members of such groups staged walkouts from schools in Denver and Los Angeles in 1968 to protest Eurocentric curriculums, high dropout rates among Chicano students, a ban on speaking Spanish and related issues. By the next decade, both the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unlawful to keep students who couldn’t speak English from getting an education. Later, Congress passed the Equal Opportunity Act of 1974, which resulted in the implementation of more bilingual education programs in public schools. Not only did Chicano activism in 1968 lead to educational reforms, it also saw the birth of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which formed with the goal of protecting the civil rights of Hispanics. It was the first organization dedicated to such a cause. The following year, hundreds of Chicano activists gathered for the First National Chicano Conference in Denver. The name of the conference is significant as it marks the term â€Å"Chicanos† replacement of Mexican. At the conference, activists developed a manifesto of sorts called â€Å"El Plan Espiritual de Aztln,† or â€Å"The Spiritual Plan of Aztln.† It states, â€Å"We†¦conclude that social, economic, cultural, and political independence is the only road to total liberation from oppression, exploitation, and racism. Our struggle then must be for the control of our barrios, campos, pueblos, lands, our economy, our culture, and our political life.† The idea of a unified Chicano people also played out when political party La Raza Unida, or the United Race, formed to bring issues of importance to Hispanics to the forefront of national politics. Two female Brown Berets, a Chicano activist group, stand together in matching uniforms. David Fenton / Getty Images Other activist groups of note include the Brown Berets and the Young Lords, which was made up of Puerto Ricans in Chicago and New York. Both groups mirrored the Black Panthers in militancy. Looking Forward Now the largest racial minority in the U.S., there’s no denying the influence that Latinos have as a voting bloc. While Hispanics have more political power than they did during the 1960s, they also have new challenges. Immigration and education reforms are of key importance to the community. Due to the urgency of such issues, this generation of Chicanos will likely produce some notable activists of its own.