Macbeth

Macbeth van William Shakespeare

Shape and color

The stage for this play consists of 7 volumes. The volumes differ in height and the color can also be adjusted. The difference in height symbolizes the lust for power that we see in Lady Macbeth (she wants more and more, higher) The difference in color indicates where the scene takes place. When we are in the castle of Duncan we see a blue glow in the volumes. We find the same color in Duncan’s clothes.

The witches

These creatures of the underworld literally come from the underworld. In the stage is a hatch that opens, from this hatch come the three witches surrounded by smoke. The hatch itself remains open, and light comes out of the hatch. The color of the volumes around the witches is faint white. The background turns green to reflect the atmosphere of the forest.

The murder of Duncan

This scene is set in the castle of Macbeth. The volumes are red (Macbeth’s color). Behind the volumes we see a blue sky. After Duncan’s murder, the sky begins to turn red (the blood runs from the walls). The intensity of this red will increase with every murder.

The coronation of the new king

A new king is crowned after Macbeth’s death. At this coronation, new volumes emerge from the ground. This volume is higher and larger than the other volumes. As a color for the volumes, we see yellow, the color that we saw in the clothes of the new king from the beginning. The bright red color also disappears from the sky. The sky turns blue again, peace returns to Scotland

The murder of Macduff’s wife and child

For this murder, Macbeth moves to Macduff Castle. Macduff’s clothes show that his color is purple, so the volumes turn purple when we are in his castle. Because Macduff himself has fled, his wife and child are murdered by Macbeth. Here, too, the sky turns redder with every murder.

Macbeth and color

By analogy with Duncan, Macbeth also has a color. Its color is blood red. When we are in his castle, the volumes turn red. The other characters also have their own color. We see these colors in the men in the shirt, and the color of the diamond in the kilt. The women and children also wear the color of the family they belong to.