Yang/Briggs FNDN I
Macbeth and Throne of Blood Review
Name ____________________________
Plot: Review you notes from viewing Throne of Blood and your active reading of Macbeth. What are the major differences in the plot (hint: look especially close
at Act III forward for major differences in action)? Locate at least three differences.
1.
2.
3.
Characters: respond to the following questions about specific characters in the play and the film. Please cite the act.scene.line you reference to answer your
questions as well as imagery/moments on the film.
1. How is Duncan presented as a king (morally, politically, etc)? Is this the same or different than how the Great Lord Tsuzuki is presented in Throne of
Blood?
2. What is the witches’ attitude towards Macbeth throughout the play? Is this the same or different than the spirit’s attitude in Throne of Blood?
3. How does Banquo respond to the prophecy? How does Miki respond to the prophecy?
4. There is no direct correlation to the Macduff character in the film. How does his absence influence the theme of Throne of Blood and make is drastically
different from Macbeth? How does that shift in theme fit in with Zen?
5. Main character comparison: Choose either Macbeth/Washizu or Lady Macbeth/Asaji to focus your writing. First review your gender questions for the
Macbeth characters, then choose one question per act to compare to the Throne of Blood character. Reflect on how the character’s attitudes,
motivations, and actions are the same or different. Explain how the difference or similarities in the characters shift the theme between Western and
Eastern cultural values. (you need to refer back to your scavenger hunt notes on Shakespeare and your notes of Japan and Noh theatre)!
Macbeth Question
Throne of Blood
Reflection/explanation
Ex: 2.1.45-47 Does Macbeth reveal weakness in believing
the dagger is a figment of his imagination?
If the dagger is not real, then it reveals his personal guilt over
the murder. It also shows that this guilt may be driving him
crazy and causing hallucinations.
Washizu does not hallucinate a dagger before he kills
the great Lord. His guilt is expressed the composition
of the scene in Lord Fujimaki’s bloody room. Washizu
is surrounded by his arrows and stares slowly around
the room.
Shakespeare leaves more room for interpretation
about Macbeth’s motivation and sanity. It makes him a
more tragic character. Washizu acts without “insanity”
and further proves the suffering caused by “burning
desire”
Act I
Act II
Act III
Act IV
Act V