Macbeth Movie and Throne of Blood: A Comparison

The BBC production of Macbeth is a theatre production that situates the story of William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” in the 1300-1600 eras. Akira Kurasawa’s movie is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” depicted in an ancient Japanese setting. The style of Noh is used in Kurasawa’s movie; it is a highly stylized, abstract, and philosophical Japanese dramatic form that emphasizes the spiritual aspects of human action and emotion. Although both shows roughly have the same plot, there are some differences as well.

The BBC production of Macbeth has followed the plot of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, without making any changes. Although the lines of the actors may be the same as the original script, what we see on in the show is actually the director’s interpretation of the script, what he actually visualizes it to be. For Kurasawa to adapt Macbeth into an ancient Japanese setting, some changes had to be made.

The main gist of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is portrayed but some of the events have been altered. For example, in Shakespeare’s original script, there are supposedly three witches. However in Kurasawa’s movie, there is only one witch. In addition, in Kurasawa’s movie, the character MacDuff did not exist at all. In the original script, MacDuff slew Macbeth by cutting off his head at the end of the story. However in Kurasawa’s movie, MacDuff does not exist as there is no need for him to kill Macbeth’s character, Washizu, at the end. Washizu was killed by his own soldiers, who shot arrows at him, until the fatal shot on his neck.

Both protagonist, Macbeth and Washizu, are blinded by ambition. We can see this when Macbeth encounters the three witches, he says “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more!” (Act 1, scene 3, line 30) which indicated that Macbeth was interested.  Macbeth was a Scottish warlord and Washizu a samurai, both are extremely brave. A common flaw is that they are both easily manipulated by their wives, Lady Macbeth and Lady Asaji respectively. Macbeth was reluctant to murder Duncan at first as he had given him many titles and glory and Macbeth did not want to lose the good reputation and wanted to enjoy the glory.

“We will proceed no further in this business.
He hath honored me of late, and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon” (Act 1, Scene 7, pg 39, line 32)

He was susceptible to his wife’s manipulation and eventually killed Duncan. However, it was evident that they had discussed about overthrowing Duncan before.

“The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements”
(Scene 1, Act 3, page 31, line 29)

It is ironic that at the beginning Macbeth says Duncan is a good king, but he eventually kills him. Similarly in the Throne of Blood, Washizu, the samurai did not want to murder Suzuki, the Great Lord as that would be breaking the samurai code. This is a case where the samurai (Washizu) tries to conquer the daimyo (Suzuki). A samurai does not fear death, for to die during battle or because of a battle, victorious or not, was an honourable death and to be respected by all. The only thing a samurai feared was breaking the code and the disgrace it would bring upon his family name, and the name of his clan, his daimyo and himself.  After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth felt extremely guilty and heard voices. Washizu could not react quickly after killing Suzuki, Lady Asaji had to pry the daggers from his hand and put them in the guard’s hands, and soon after, shouting that the Great Lord had been murdered. Only then, Washizu managed to regain his composure.

In Shakespeare’s play, Lady Macbeth is a vicious and cruel. In the BBC production, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a woman who lusts for status power.

“Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty!”
(Act 1, scene 5, page 31, line 40)

Her speech shows that she is calling the spirits and demons to take away all her female qualities and to fill her with cruelty. Cruelty that is needed to murder Duncan.  Early in the play, she seems to be the more dominant, stronger and crueller person.  The first sign of Lady Macbeth not being as strong as she pretends is when she does not murder Duncan because he resembled her father too much. In Kurasawa’s Throne of Blood, Lady Asaji is not able to act like Lady Macbeth as the show is styled in Noh style where there is little dialogue and focuses more on actions. Lady Asaji manages to manipulate Washizu by saying that Miki (Banquo’s character in the Throne of Blood) would have already told the Great Lord about the witch’s prophecy. That would deem Washizu as a potential threat and Suzuki would murder him. At the end both shows, both Lady Macbeth and Lady Asaji breaks down due to the guilt of the murder.  They are under the illusion that Duncan/Suzuki’s blood was still on their hands, and not able to be washed off.

Banquo is Macbeth’s companion that had accompanied him, was also present when the three witches said the prophecy. It is said that Banquo’s children would ascend the throne after Macbeth. Although Banquo has the same ambitious thoughts as Macbeth, he does not carry them out. Macbeth decides to kill Banquo because he had a path which allows him to achieve his ambitious dreams but does not have to resort to violence and murder. Banquo’s character Miki in the throne of blood was far more political than Banquo. When the rightful heir of the throne arrived at his castle, he not only didn’t open the gate, he also shot arrows down. This is also a form a treachery by turning away the legitimate heir. In addition, the fact that Miki already knew that Washizu was going to adopt his son Noriyasu before the banquet also means that a political deal was struck.

Both the BBC production of Macbeth and Kurasawa’s Throne of Blood have literary devices. In Macbeth, many of the imagery made are related to clothes.

“Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.”
(Act 1, scene 7, page 39, line 34)

In the Throne of Blood, a few of the imagery symbolize the same thingy. When Washizu and Miki were trying to find their way out of the forest, they realized that have been riding in circles. This symbolizes that in the end, everything will end up as nothing. Their hope to achieve their ambitious dreams will be futile. The witch in the forest was spinning a wheel, it symbolizes fate. Men is not able to control the events in their lives and everything depends on destiny. When a horse is being trained, it is made to walk in circles. At the same time, Washizu is circling in the room. The repetitive symbolism of circles embodies Samsara. The cycles in which a person is filled with desire, he commits a crime, suffers, dies and is reborn again.  When Suzuki arrived at Washizu’s castle, Washizu had to spend the night in the Forbidden room where the traiter commited suicide. It is ironic as he would be the next traitor.

In conclusion, Kurasawa did capture the essence of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Despite the alterations to fit into the 1400 era, the main plot remains the same. The characters in the Throne of Blood do not vary much from the original Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo. Irony and especially imagery is present in the Throne of Blood and has portrayed Shakespeare’s Macbeth very accurately, just in a different setting.