My Shakespeare project is a comparison of graphic portrayals of Macbeth's agency and includes an original comic strip, a paper, and of course-this blog. Enjoy!
You can read my paper at the bottom of the comics and my comic is featured after the paper.
You can read my paper at the bottom of the comics and my comic is featured after the paper.
Elizabeth Barney
Dr. Lenhardt
English 4320
April 16, 2012
Graphic Portrayals of Macbeth’s Agency Compared
Through the comparison of different comic book and graphic novel set interpretations of Macbeth, it is revealed that different authors and illustrators choose to portray Macbeth in different ways regarding the agency he had in his own story. Some choose to blame the entire upset and the actions that follow on Lady Macbeth’s sexuality and ruthlessness, while others take an alternative route and showcase Macbeth as a man acting out of perfect circumstances, and sometimes even out of ambition related boredom. The last page of my paper includes the different comic strip and graphic novel based interpretations that are mentioned throughout the following pages. Through analysis of the different representations of Macbeth’s agency the reader is able to discern messages about gender, power, and pressure from others.
The first comic that I came upon displays Macbeth as a kilt clad, shocked man, stating, “Are you sure that’s right, only we Sagittarians aren’t usually ambitions.” to the Weird Sisters who are sitting around a lit cauldron sneering at him. This portrayal of Macbeth depicts a man that succumbs to female power or suggestion and displays that as a negative or ugly thing because of the conventionally unattractive styling of the Weird Sisters. The cartoon asserts that without their influence Macbeth would not be pursuing the path of power, and that he is so upset and stunned by the suggested action that is present in the Weird Sister’s prophecy, that he is willing to use something as distrusted as astrology in order to act on his own accord. The snarling faces and bodies of the Weird Sisters show a sense of disappointment with Macbeth’s reaction.
The second portrayal of Macbeth’s agency is a short comic strip that focuses of the humor that can be taken out of Macbeth, and in my opinion forms a humor that is not necessarily existent in the play and is the result of a comedic eye, gives Macbeth a platform of total self determined agency. The Weird Sisters are painted more like vessels when they speak of the prophecy, not enforcers of the future or any political agenda, and they have to refer to a calendar in order to make sure they can meet once again without being interrupted by a dental appointment. The Weird Sisters are seen as regular women that happen to have a gift, not evil women seeking the downfall of anyone.
The next few frames begin the construction of Macbeth as an extremely self determined and slightly insane man when Banquo asks Macbeth what he is thinking regarding the Weird Sister’s prophecy that, “Macbeth will be king, but Banquo's sons will be kings.” Macbeth’s face twists into an uncomfortable nearly murderous daze and he appears with the thought bubble that states, “Kill Everyone”. Though this is a funnier more modern interpretation of Macbeth’s agency it does do the character justice in highlighting the ides that almost immediately over take him upon hearing the prophecy. This version shows Lady Macbeth, in the three frames titled, “Unsex Me, Sex Me”, as someone who desires power and regrets that she is not male therefore making it impossible or harder, in her opinion, to murder Duncan. She also speaks of the hypothetical penis she would have if she were a man and the erection that would result from her killing Duncan. In response to this Macbeth looks a little surprised but also thinks that Lady Macbeth is creating a very manly scenario. This series of frames takes the sexual power of being female away from Lady Macbeth as she wishes she were male in order to kill Duncan. Not only does she, in this series of frames, not persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan based on her personal agenda, but she even laments that fact that she is not a man and a murder. This enforces the idea that Macbeth is acting based on his own accord and not due to the persuasion of any one else, especially anyone female.
After a funny anecdote about the ghost of Banquo being invited to the feast via printed invitation, Lady Macbeth is shown in distress screaming, “I’m covered in blood”, and “Get this blood off me”, she is depicted as out of touch with reality and therefore someone who could not have had that much sway over Macbeth’s actions. At the end of the comic strip Macbeth’s head lands itself in a flower pot. His disgusting solitary head, that which features two x’s for his eyes, sitting next to what appears to be arugula, symbolically ends the comic with the idea that Macbeth’s agency lead him to act alone and in the end to be mocked alone.
The third comic depicts Macbeth as a man that takes advantage of the circumstances that he is placed into by others. The captions show Macbeth speaking about the way that the Weird Sisters, and the King’s messenger, both addressed him as the “Thane of Cawdor” and how they proclaim that the title belongs to him now. Macbeth looks anxious and worried as he glances over his shoulder, his hunch like stance indicates an uncertainty in the new title and the circumstances that have lead to his newly acquired title, “Thane of Cawdor”, but the non encapsulated sentences at the bottom of the page illuminate the scene more clearly, “I though I should tell you this news, my dearest partner in greatness, so that you could rejoice alone with me about the greatness that is promised us. Keep it secret, and farewell.” The words are featured underneath a picture of a disapproving Lady Macbeth, which further indicates that Macbeth was not influenced by individuals alone, but buy the collision of circumstances that allowed him to act in a way, via multiple murders, in order to attain the power that he desired, or came to desire in its pursuit. This comic is not focused on humor, so it pays greater attention to the realities of the play and the mix of emotions that had to be displayed.
The fourth comic is the most modern in appearance but uses the play’s original lines. The strip depicts the Weird Sisters as very conventionally beautiful women who are studying chemistry as opposed to a cauldron. They plan to meet Macbeth on the basketball court of their school and when he arrives he is clearly enamored with their beauty. This version of Macbeth and the Weird Sisters meeting features a Macbeth that almost appears star struck by the physical appearances of the three women and it is assumed that because he is distracted by their beauty, that he is vulnerable and under their control or suggestion in some way. This comic depicts Macbeth’s agency as less individual and more based on the influence of the Weird Sisters. Though this is not a purposefully comedic frame it does highlight the humor in one person’s ability to be influenced by the appearance of others. It also elevates the Weird Sisters to a higher position of power because it eliminates them as evil or archaic witches as positions them around a lab table in a chemistry classroom. They are depicted as intelligent individuals who have control over their experiments, especially the unsuspecting Macbeth, who speaking to Banquo and dribbling a basketball.
The fifth and final comic strip shows Macbeth from a few different angles in regards to watch his motivation is and who is controlled by, and if he is controlled by anyone at all. This strip is modern in that it does not use any of the classic Shakespearian language and uses slang terminology which simplifies the different situations that Macbeth is a part of. Of the different viewpoint that Macbeth is depicted from in regards to his agency, the first viewpoint is of the opinion that Macbeth is simply a pawn in the Weird Sister’s grasp and that their desire to turn the world upside just happens to include him. The conversation between the Weird Sisters is as follows,
First Weird Sister-“Yo, guys, let’s go see Macbeth.”
Second Weird Sister- “and we can screw with the balance of the world”
Third Weird Sister- “Sounds great!”
The dialogue asserts that the Weird Sisters are responsible for the events that occur throughout the play but the frames that follow depict circumstances extremely differently. After the second Weird Sister tells Macbeth that he is going to be king one day Macbeth pauses and meditates on the fact that he does not want to kill the King. Directly following this scene, Macbeth meets with the King and expects to be named the Prince of Cumberland, unfortunately for Macbeth the King tells him that he will be naming his son as the Prince of Cumberland and that Macbeth must throw a fancy party in the King’s honor at his castle. The final speech bubble features Macbeth, frowning, and all alone in the frame with the sarcastic statement, “Fantastic”. The ending of the this comic strip, especially the final frame, strongly asserts that Macbeth’s actions are entirely his own and are motivated by his unfulfilled political desires and the lack of respect that he feels he deserves. This comic paints Macbeth as under appreciated , overworked, and mostly overlooked. Painting Macbeth in the same way that one would paint a disgruntled employee highlights that success will only be achieved by Macbeth when he improves his standing and gain notoriety-once again illuminating Macbeth as a man that chooses his own destiny. The different views of Macbeth’s agency in the comic strip are not contrary to one another because they are both possible within this strip, and even suggest that Macbeth’s agency is a result of the Weird Sister’s control over the world-including the King and his decisions.
After analyzing five comics, some humorous, some serious, it is understood that the different interpretations of Macbeth’s agency in regard to the women and men he interacts with is as varied as the personal responses that people have to the play. The comics reflect the personal interpretation that the author feels fits the play the best in the same way that different people have different opinions after viewing a movie. The differences in gender, style, and language, are separate but telling aspects of the comics that present Macbeth in a multifaceted manner, and compliment each other without representing the same ideas.
Thank you for reading!
