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Macbeth Dagger Scene Essay

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The Kenneth Branagh version of the Macbeth dagger scene is the most successful in representing Shakespeare's true intentions. It is the most successful because of the pace changes, and the scattered and questioning tone, that is conveyed through the pace changes. The Kenneth Branagh version of the Macbeth dagger scene has the fastest pace and has the most stark pauses that convey the drama in Shakespeare. The fast pace and pauses in this version illustrate Macbeth's humanity as his mind is scattered and he is questioning himself. The fast pace in this version also illustrates Macbeth's anxiety about killing Duncan. In Macbeth's soliloquy he says “A dagger of the mind, a false creation Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? I see thee yet, in form as …show more content…

Macbeth is confused and scattered and he is wondering if this is really happening. In the Kenneth Branagh version of Macbeth these lines are emphasized as his pace starts to get faster and right at the end of this quote the first stark pause occurs. These lines illustrate Macbeth's confusion and by pausing right after the word use it is emphasized that Macbeth is human and that he is scattered and confused. Through Kenneth Branagh playing with pace/pause Macbeth's humanity and confusion is emphasized. The other 2 versions do not play with pace/pause as much they have more of a set pace. The Patrick Stewart version of the Macbeth dagger scene is has a more staged than scattered/ questioning/confused tone. It has a more staged tone because of the number of pauses throughout and the pace barely changing. In this version because of the pace it seems that he has already resolved that he is going to do it, not questioning if he is going to do it. In this version of Macbeth’s soliloquy the pace only changes for one set of lines. Macbeth says “Thus to mine eyes. Now o’er the one-half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtained

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