Guernica and Shakespeare

Pablo Picasso’s Guernica is strikingly similar to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The painting Guernica represents the horrors displayed by the Nazis during the practice bombing of the city Guernica. Macbeth also deals with the horrors of killing, and the tragedies that war can bring. Guernica and Macbeth both also deal with some psychedelic aspects of war as well. Picasso’s painting depics several animals and bodies, as well as a warped sun. On the left of the painting there is a chimney with smoke coming out. These aspects play on the mind of the view as the killing of Duncan and Banquo play on the mind of Macbeth. The smoke coming out of the chimney on the left of the painting seems to suggest that while the horrors of war are occuring, life goes on. This can also be seen in Macbeth with the doctor. The doctor knows that there is no more oppertunity in Macbeth’s castle, so he leaves as soon as he can. The doctor knows that life will go on after the war, so he must plan accordingly. The carnage depicted in Guernica represent the carnage that war can bring. Like in Macbeth however, it is not humans. The majority of Guernica is animal carcasses, and Shakespeare uses trees and the forest to depict the horrors. Guernica and Macbeth both deal with the tragities of war, and makes the reader or viewer think about all of the death and destruction that war can bring.

http://www.pablopicasso.org/guernica.jsp