Macbeth

In Joel Coen’s adaptation of Macbeth, the ending takes a surprising turn that shifts the story from a traditional resolution to something more unsettling and open-ended. After Macbeth’s downfall and the crown passing to Malcolm, the scene reveals that Fleance, Banquo’s son, who was presumed dead, is actually still alive. He is being secretly kept in the countryside by Ross, a character who in this version has a morally complex role. Unlike in Shakespeare’s original play, where Fleance’s survival is hinted at but not shown, this film’s ending shows him in hiding, suggesting he could be the one to carry the torch of kingship in the future. However, the film also depicts Ross as a manipulative figure involved in hiding Fleance, implying that the throne’s future is far from secure.

The most striking departure from Shakespeare’s ending is that, instead of a peaceful transition of power and a hopeful conclusion, the film’s ending hints at ongoing chaos. The involvement of Ross as a silent schemer and the symbolic flock of ravens that overshadow the final moments hint at turbulence ahead. The political landscape remains unstable, and the prophecy about Fleance’s descendants taking the throne is complicated by the current power vacuum. With Malcolm crowned king and no clear heir from Macbeth, the film hints that a new cycle of conflict and strife is inevitable, casting a darker, more cynical shadow over the story’s conclusion. This ending leaves viewers with a sense that the cycle of violence and political intrigue is far from over, transforming what might have been a hopeful ending into a grim prophecy of further trouble to come.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58