Tragedy Of Macbeth’s Final Scene Changes The Meaning Of Shakespeare’s Ending

Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth makes its most critical change to Shakespeare’s original play in its final moments, with a scene that dramatically changes the meaning of the story. The 2021 film is largely faithful to the classic play, making few changes to Shakespeare’s original text. However, a wordless scene just before the credits is a new addition to the story that makes the ending of Macbeth much less definitive than it was originally written.

Released both theatrically and on AppleTV+, The Tragedy of Macbeth is a new take on the frequently-adapted Shakespeare classic. The film is shot in black and white and stars Denzel Washington as Macbeth and Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth. It is the first movie directed solo by Joel Coen, best known for his films with his brother Ethan Coen. The Tragedy of Macbeth has received considerable acclaim, including multiple Oscar nominations, for its fresh take on familiar material.

The final scene represents the biggest divergence in Coen’s Tragedy of Macbeth. The last minute of the film reveals that Banquo’s son Fleance, presumed dead, is still alive, and that he is being hidden in the countryside by Ross. In the original play, Fleance escapes the murderers Macbeth has sent after his family, and the three witches’ prophecy suggests that he will go on to spawn a long line of kings. Fleance never returns in Shakespeare’s original text, but several screen adaptations, such as Orson Welles’ Macbeth and Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, have him returning in the final moments. However, The Tragedy of Macbeth adds a different wrinkle by putting Fleance in the custody of Ross, who has played a morally ambiguous role throughout the Denzel Washington-starring version.

Shakespeare’s original play ends with Malcolm being crowned king after Macduff kills Macbeth. This ending was common in Shakesperean tragedies like Hamlet and King Lear. After many deaths, these plays end with an outsider arriving to restore a benevolent monarchy. These endings were a way to both provide a hopeful resolution after a bloody conclusion and avoid angering Shakespeare’s royal patrons.

However, The Tragedy of Macbeth‘s ending disrupts this resolution. This reflects the increased role of Ross in Coen’s adaptation, which transforms the character from a bit player into a silent schemer. Like some other Macbeth adaptations, Coen uses Ross as the third murderer sent after Banquo and Fleance. Using Ross in this role suggests that, rather than the murderers simply failing to kill Fleance, Ross hid the child away to be used for his own purposes. This could set up a succession struggle straight out of the houses of Game of Thrones.

Because King Duncan died with no heir, there is no clear claimant to the Scottish throne at the end of Macbeth. The witches’ prophecy says that Fleance, or a descendant of his, will begin a line of kings, but Malcolm has already claimed the throne following Macbeth’s downfall. The involvement of the scheming Ross, and the symbolic flock of ravens that overtakes the camera leading into the end credits, suggests that Banquo’s line will not take the throne peacefully, and that further struggle and conflict is to come. Thus, the silent final scene of Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth changes Shakespeare’s reassuring ending into a cynical prophecy of further trouble ahead.

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