3.     What does the film All about Eve and the play Macbeth suggest about being a woman and a man?

Intro: In Mankeiwicz’s film and Shakespeare’s play the anxiety of losing one selves power or status drives characters such as Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Margot onto the verge of losing their minds. In Macbeth, the fear of being overtaken leads him to commit treacherous acts that ultimately lead to Lady Macbeth and his downfall. Similarly, in All About Eve the loss of stardom and the star theatre girl drives Margo into lashing out to her closest friends and loved ones, eventually resulting in her being alone. Conversely, the fear of losing her rising status leads Eve to manipulate those in power to benefit herself, as well as to keep her existing fame. Similarly, Lady Macbeths’ drive for keeping her status as Queen and Macbeth as King, leads her to manipulate him into committing acts of evil in order to maintain their roles. Therefore, both texts explore treacherous acts of evil and manipulation in order to maintain existing power. 
 
Compare the different attitudes to power in Macbeth and All About Eve.

 

Intro: In Mankeiwicz’s film and Shakespeare’s play the want for power in both texts drive characters to commit acts of evil to achieve the maximum control of power. The want for power leads certain characters such as Lady Macbeth and Eve into a spiral of manipulation on protagonists in both texts. However, in Macbeth and All About Eve both explore the greed and ambition for more power as they try to claw their way to the top. This want for power leads Macbeth to do such violent and murderous acts to gain the throne. Conversely, Eve increases her fame status and power by manipulating others to overall benefit her. Therefore, although both protagonists commit cruel and unforgivable acts the extreme length that they go to is different. 

What does the film All about Eve and the play Macbeth suggest about being a woman and a man?

 

Intro: In Mankeiwicz’s film and Shakespeare’s play women have to strive for stardom or control of power as they’re living in a society which is filled with the ambition and greed of men. However, this leads characters such as Lady Macbeth and Eve to lash out performing brutal and inhumane acts which tends to overall create a more masculine persona. As a result, Margo and Karen work hard to achieve high status while keeping femineity intact which leads to them becoming not as successful as other women flourish with power. Whereas, the stability of men allows them to be less easily swayed and therefore keep a clear head while having such power and allowing them to elevate their status. This then leads to men filled with ambition and greed allowing them to undertake whatever actions in order to maintain and increase their power. Therefore, in both texts women and men both strive for power causing certain impacts on each gender. 

In Mankiewicz’s All About Eve and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, there is a clear, unstable hierarchy where all of the characters want to be in power and are afraid of being taken over. In Macbeth, Macbeth becomes paranoid and kills Banquo and Macduff’s family because of his fear of usurpation. Margo also acts negatively towards Eve to make herself feel more secure in her position in the theatre All About Eve, and Birdie plants a bad image of Eve in Margo’s mind because of a similar fear about her role. The characters in Macbeth and All About Eve are afraid of losing their positions of power to others, and this drives them to take action against those who threaten them.

Compare the different attitudes to power in Macbeth and All About Eve.

The characters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Mankiewicz’s All About Eve (AAE) have different attitudes towards power. In AAE, Eve measures power by appreciation from others and becoming like another person, whilst in Macbeth power is measured by a title and a position seen to give ultimate power. However, in both play and the film, power is displayed as unlasting, and the thirst for it insatiable. There are both similarities and differences in the attitudes to power in Macbeth and AAE.

What does the film All about Eve and the play Macbeth suggest about being a woman and a man?

The portrayal of gender is a key theme in both Mankiewicz’s All About Eve and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. They both suggest that women are devious and manipulative through the characters of Lady Macbeth and Eve. Men also hold the positions of power and are the decision makers in both the film and the play, but ultimately true power is only achieved when men and women work together. Men and women are portrayed differently in Macbeth and All About Eve. 

Topic 1 – Compare the ways in which the characters of Macbeth and All About Eve are driven by their fear of usurpation. 

 

In Shakespeare’s, Macbeth and Mankowitz’s, all about Eve, the fear of losing power is often seen to deprecate an individual’s humanity. In both texts the ability for an individual’s fear of usurpation to diminish their humanity is highlighted in how it can corrupt, self-destruct and ultimately lead to their demise. Both texts demonstrate how a person’s fear of losing power can overwhelm them and can weaken their humanity.
Topic Sentences
 

1.     In both texts, the ability for the desire of power to corrupt an individual is explored through the characters, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Eve. 

2.     Both Macbeth and All about Eve discuss how the strive of power can lead to the individual become self-destructive. 

3.     The fear of losing power is often seen to lead to an individual’s ultimate downfall. 
 

Topic 2 – Compare the different method to power in Macbeth and All about Eve. 

 

In Shakespeare’s, Macbeth and Mankowitz’s, all about Eve, the attitudes towards power are often similar in both texts, however different in severity. Both texts highlight power as desirable and paramount to happiness, yet the lengths individuals go are quite different. Shakespeare and Mankowitz both explore the different attitudes towards power, which are seen to be quite similar but they also contrast.
Ideas 

 1.     Similarities – Desirable 

2.     Similarities – Paramount 

3.     Contrast –  How far there are willing to go