Something Wicked This Way Comes

1.
In Acts I and II of "Macbeth," by William Shakespeare, 3 witches make a prediction that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor (the prior Thane having been executed as a traitor) and then King, and they also predict that Banquo will beget Kings. Macbeth and Banquo are honored by King Duncan for their efforts in the battle with the Norwegians, and Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor, and the King's son, Malcolm, is named Prince of Cumberland, and heir to the throne. After this he begins to set some store by the witches' prediction, and writes to his wife to explain what happened. Lady Macbeth immediately decides that King Duncan must be killed, and when she finds out that the King will be staying at Macbeth's castle. When Macbeth returns, Lady Macbeth and him plot to kill the King. During the night, Macbeth stabs King Duncan, and Lady Macbeth puts blood on the guards, so they will be blamed for the murder. In the morning, Duncan's body is discovered, Macbeth kills the guards in a "fit of passion," Duncan's sons run away, fearing for their lives, and the entire court left without a king by Macbeth's act of treason.

2.
Macbeth is a good person, who is direly mislead by his own perceptions, and the malign motives of others around him. He is a war hero, and a "valiant...and worthy gentleman ," and valuable asset to the army of King Duncan. He is "brave," and is "valour's minion." Not only that, but he is distressed to hear that the traitor, the Thane of Cawdor is to be executed, and that he is to receive the title. He asks "why [he is] to be dressed in borrowed robes." Unfortunately, he is also ambitious, and when he finds that part of the witches prediction was true, and believes that the prediction is a "happy prologue to the swelling act of the imperial theme." He is led even farther astray by Lady Macbeth, who convinces him to kill King Duncan, and while many would see fit to antagonize his character, we must remain aware of his redeeming qualities. When he is on the cusp of murder, he wavers, and questions his intent. He believes that they "still have judgement [there]," and that as "his kinsman and his subject," he should be strong against the deed, and as his host, "who should against murder shut the door." Unfortunately, in the end, he does commit murder, but in truth, he is a noble and honourable man who is direly mislead by the temptations placed before him.

3.
If I were to direct an adaptation of Macbeth, I would set it in a medieval time. However, to improve upon the version we watched, I would focus less on the blood and gore, and make the play much more psychological. For example, the witches would not be so creepy, but more personable, to stick with the them that "foul is fair, and fair is foul." I would not show the "dagger [he] sees before [him]," but instead use a visual image of a tower in the distance to illustrate this image. I would not show Duncan's murder, but would use the text more to illustrate the horror of his actions. I would hope to make the audience more sympathetic to Macbeth, and to understand his motives for the actions he performs.
Throughout my play, I would try to remain true to the real spirit of Shakespeare, and to illustrate the intricate themes through dialogue and human interaction, as opposed to violence.