SOCIETAL DEGRADATION How is it that man descends into savagery, furthering himself away from civilisation? Lord of the Flies and Justin Kurzel’s 2015 Macbeth – an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play – both prominently elucidate that man’s ambition for power corrupts him to an irredeemable self. William Golding, author of award-winning Lord of the Flies, explores this principal theme by placing several young boys on an uninhabited island and investigating their subsequent descent while Macbeth’s degeneration is similarly portrayed in his aspiration for the throne. Political ambition is thus illustrated as a treacherous obsession, collapsing the subject’s innocence and morals, converting them into savages. With expert exploitation of aesthetic features, characters, plot and symbols signifying the common theme, the audience is manipulated to accept the dominant message of both texts. Skilled character …show more content…
The eponymous antihero is first introduced in the film as a warrior hero; a close-up shot of Macbeth’s face is shown to be similarly painted as Jack’s, foregrounding his ‘double-identity’. Engaged in civil war, Macbeth’s violent actions are supposedly justified, yet, soon enough, he cold-bloodedly murders innocent people. As the film advances, a low angle shot is utilised by Kurzel to depict Macbeth as dominant, while a high angle marginalises King Duncan, conveying his loss of power. Smothered in blood, the subsequent high angle shot relegates Duncan, emphasising Macbeth’s superiority; red blood signalling violence and Macbeth’s bloodlust for supremacy. Additionally, dismally orchestrated music is inserted to establish the fatal scene, enhancing Macbeth’s dominance. Thus, unlike Golding, Kurzel is advantageous with access to audio and visual features to establish the theme, and in one scene alone, he represents Macbeth as a killer in thirst for