Macbeth

When the three Witches remind me of the Norns, the goddesses of fate, Macbeth gives a similar impression to Oedipus the King, also known as Oedipus Tyrannos, written by the 5th-century BCE poet and dramatist Sophocles. Both Macbeth and Oedipus ascend to the throne through regicide, and their stories are woven with prophecy. I plan to design my costume based on the Ionic chiton from the time of Oedipus, incorporating thread and embroidery details inspired by Greek deities, symbolizing the thread of fate used by the Norns. I will use design motifs such as Zeus as the king's symbol, Hera's for queens, and Ares' for generals or nobles, and so on. It will be evident to the audience that a signal from King Duncan's transformation to the new king Macbeth signifies the shift in power. Additionally, the witches will not bear any symbols of deities, as they are likely to be interpreted as goddesses of fate in this context.

Character Analysis

Macbeth

Macbeth is ambitious. But, as Lady Macbeth said, he made up his mind but hesitated before taking action, like a coward. When he first heard the prophecy, he mentioned that he would prefer someone else to do it for him. This means that he is greedy but does not want to pay. Therefore, when he murdered the king, he backed down again and again, not because he had a conscience, but because he was unwilling to take responsibility. Such a person is easily swayed, just as he easily believed the prophecy, and he appears to have followed Lady Macbeth's urging to kill the king. In fact, he knew exactly what he was doing; he just needed an excuse, as if someone else told him to do it, and the responsibility lies with others.

Macduff

Macduff abandons his wife and son to follow Malcolm. If he were loyal to the legitimate crown prince, then he had betrayed Macbeth, the king at the time. He insisted on justice and stood on the opposite side of Macbeth, so he ran away to find Malcolm. Did he consider how Macbeth would treat his family in this situation? I don't think so. He seemed to have been prepared when he received the bad news. He knew that his wife and children would be brutally killed by Macbeth, but he did not escape with them. Instead, he just angrily accused Macbeth of cruelty after the death of his family. He stands for justice but is also selfish, timid, and very contradictory.

Banquo

In contrast to Macbeth, Banquo exhibits greater loyalty and honesty. He is aware that there is no such thing as a free lunch. The witches' prophecy, to him, appears more as a malevolent deception or a curse. If he wants to pursue the fame and power promised by the prophecy, he must compromise his kindness and adopt a more ruthless approach. In terms of moral standards, Banquo stands as a role model for Macbeth, illustrating that a man can stick to his principles when confronted with the allure of power.

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is an ambitious person. She knew that her husband was also ambitious but very cowardly. Compared to Macbeth, she is more ruthless and determined. She calmly plans the murder of King Duncan and cleans up after Macbeth does it. Later, when Macbeth lost control of his emotions, she also covered up for her husband several times. She was terrified and hallucinating after the murder but seemed to have no regrets.

First Witch

Witches appear as supernatural beings in the play. They speak unexplained words like songs against a strange background sound. Shakespeare deliberately portrays them as significantly different from normal humans, emphasizing that their words and prophecies are abnormal. These witches are full of malice. The First Witch, who has the most lines, once proudly displayed the evil deeds she had committed against innocent humans, acting smug as if she deserved it.

Lady Macduff

Lady Macduff is well aware that Macduff has abandoned them and run away. When she angrily accuses her husband of abandoning her, she also satirizes the injustice of society towards good and evil. She has a sharp perspective on world affairs but is unable to make any changes. She was unable to stop her fleeing husband, and Lady Macduff did not realize or consider dealing with the danger when it came. She is one of the few characters in the play who shows care for children.

Moodboard &

Colorboard

Motif Design

Interpretation through Costume

Macbeth

Macbeth was a great lord who fought for King Duncan before encountering the Witches. He fought as a king in battle with Macduff. I interpret the warrior and tyrant characteristics of him as violence, so his costume will be heavy in armor in red and brown. At the same time, the motif of Ares is going to be on the center front, as an identity (later changed to Zeus as the king), repeated on the waistband to signify his violence and cruelty like Ares. He is greedy, easily swayed, but does not want to pay at the beginning. I am considering having some special fabric to make the motif on his back heart, which only flashes the motif of Zeus in a certain angle or light. This will imply his hidden desire for the throne. His shoulders will be bare until he becomes the king and having a cape with the motif of Ares on the shoulder. Bare shoulders indicate he does not want to carry the responsibility, until he became the tyrant and enforcing ruthlessness.

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is ambitious and determined, but she is also skilled at portraying herself as a gracious lady and wife in public. I will dress her in a light Ionic Chiton in soft shades of color, creating the initial impression of gentleness. However, upon closer inspection, the audience will notice numerous metal embellishments on her neck, shoulders, waist, and arms, suggesting her passion for wealth and status. I've designed a motif based on the symbol of Hera—crowned hearts held by peacock feathers—that can be used in embroidery on the chiton. Lady Macbeth will also have this motif on her headdress, and the complex colors of her dress will both allude to her delusional fate.

Macduff

To contrast with Macbeth and to create a better alignment with Birnam Wood, I will design Macduff's attire in green and gold. Macduff will wear armor on both his upper body and lower limbs, each adorned with a corresponding motif of Ares. These motifs will be placed only on the front, not on the back. They serve both as a symbol of identity and an implication of fate, representing Macduff's journey as he flees to find Malcolm and abandons his family. On one side, he is a great warrior, but on the other side, he is not.

Lady Macduff

Lady Macduff will have her colors aligned with Macduff in a softer green and gold. She will have the motif of Hera embroidered on her shoulders, signifying her responsibility as a wife and mother. There are motif on one side of her waist or thigh, too, that hints at her future imbalanced fate between a lovely child and a husband who abandons her. She will not have as much metal decoration compared to Lady Macbeth. She is vulnerable and unable to make any changes or help herself. She might have some decoration with motifs around her arms as she will be hugging her child with these arms in the play.