THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH IN THE ADAPTATION OF ROMAN POLANSKI
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH IN THE ADAPTATION OF ROMAN POLANSKI

Summary/Abstract: ONE OF THE ELEMENTS NECESSARY TO MAKE A WORK OF LITERATURE TRAGIC IS THAT THE AUDIENCE HAS SOME FELLOW SYMPATHY, SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPREHENSION OF THE DILEMMAS AND SUFFERING OF THE PROTAGONISTS. MACBETH FAILS AS A TRAGEDY IF THE AUDIENCE SEES THE THANE AND HIS LADY AS UNREDEEMED VILLAINS, DEEMS THEIR SUFFERING AS DESERVED AND NECESSARY PUNISHMENT, AND TAKES PLEASURE IN THEIR AGONIES. BUT THIS IS NOT THE RESPONSE OF MOST READERS OR SPECTATORS. THE SPECTACLE OF THE NOBLE MACBETH, DRIVEN BY AMBITION AND THE WILL TO POWER TO THE MOST HEINOUS OF ACTS, SUFFERING THE MOST INTENSE PANGS OF GUILT AND REMORSE, AROUSES, PERHAPS AGAINST THEIR WILL, THE PITY OF THE READERS OR SPECTATORS. THERE IS ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE A SENSE OF FEAR THAT THE EVIL THAT CONTAMINATED MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH CAN POISON ANYONE. ROMAN POLANSKI’S ADAPTATION IS A REALISTIC APPROACH OF THE SHAKESPEAREAN TEXT. IT CREATES PROFOUND CHARACTERS, ESTABLISHING A HIGH DEGREE OF ORIGINALITY OF THE ADAPTATION.

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