Explores the play “Dead White Males” written by David Williamson which explores the various ideologies (Patriarchal, Feminism, post-modernism, etc.) that surround society today and how it reflects upon Shakespeare’s Universal Truths and the Canon of great literature. This is done by the writing of an extra scene, which is featured here.
SHAKES Thou thinks my works are worthy of nothing? Hadst my works not revolved around the concept that Universal Truths constructs persons rather than ideology? I shalt make thou reconsider.
[Fire intensifies.]
SWAIN [Scoff and folds his arms across his chest.]
Sure.
SHAKES Love. Hate. Greed. Grief. Life. Death. Do they mean nothing to thee?
[Walks towards SWAIN and grabs Macbeth from his grasp.]
“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”[1]…a favourite of mine, I scarcely believe mine own hands hast written it. Ere, Macbeth speaks a soliloquy. He grieves over the loss of Lady Macbeth, the lives he hath taken for power and how life is a stage…grief only a man can possess from his birth with the demon of greed. Greed and grief that has forced thou Macbeth to wish for death to out, his brief candle. Canst mine works not look at …ideology; methinks Macbeth ventures instead, to the Universal Truths.
[MACBETH, played by MARTIN, appears depressed sitting around the fire. Angela looks down at him sympathetically.]
When God created man and woman, mine thinking voices he made greed more apparent in man than that of woman, mine…
SWAIN Enough!
[Pulls out a pistol and points it at MACBETH. MACBETH looks up and eyes ANGELA in sadness. ANGELA gazes back, transfixed by his gaze.]
MACBETH [mutters] Life’s but a walking shadow…
[Shoots MACBETH. ANGELA is horrified.]
SWAIN What is this talk of Universal Truths? Macbeth does not relate to Universal Truths; it is purely comprised of ideology! Macbeth only suffers from greed to be King as his Western Liberal Humanism patriarchal society associates men wielding power and women being nurturers. It is only through the ideology of Western society which perceives the deed of murder an act of hell that Macbeth grieves.
SHAKES [SHAKESPEARE shakes his head disappointedly.] I pity you.
[SWAIN aims his pistol at SHAKESPEARE.]
ANGELA I’m tired of this! Put that gun down!
[SHAKESPEARE and SWAIN look at ANGELA in bewilderment. SWAIN reluctantly pockets his gun. The fire extinguishes.]
I…[Silence]
[ANGELA is speechless and runs out of the tutorial, confused.]
[1] Macbeth
Welcome to Authspot, the spot for creative writing.
Read some stories and poems, and be sure to subscribe to our feed!
