셰익스피어 『맥베스』의 영상화: 폴란스키의 각색과 변용

Abstract

This paper examines how Roman Polanski’s adaptation and transformation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth are carried out and aims to consider the implications of his interpretation transmitted to the audience. In Shakespeare’s play, many violent parts of the text are verbalized and not acted out on stage. But Polanski’s movie version shows scenes of brutality implied in the text with graphic violence. With regard to technical style, some asides and soliloquies are changed into inner monologues for the sake of psychological realism. He also changes the role of Ross, who is a relatively insignificant character in the play, and makes him an amoral, opportunistic person. The most significant difference between the original play and its adaptation by Polanski lies in the ending. The ending of Shakespeare’s tragedy leaves the audience with a positive feeling and indicates the restoration of legitimate order and political stability for Scotland’s future after Macbeth’s tyranny. However, Polanski defies this traditional interpretation of the original play. The conception of his movie is to dramatize at its heart not the reestablishment of order but unending power struggles. For this purpose he inserts the scene of a visit to the witches’ den by Donalbain. Through this epilogue Polanski demonstrates the idea that the role of evil is persistent and will never end. This scene completely undercuts the hopeful words uttered by Macduff that “the time is free.” Polanski’s version suggests that greed and violence may be a vicious, never-ending cycle. Thus, the ending of Polanski’s Macbeth leaves the audience with the sense of continued political unrest in Scotland. In conclusion, Polanski’s modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth questions human nature and destiny, showing his pessimistic view of the modern world.