Szekspir na drodze genezyjskich wcieleń Króla-Ducha

Abstract

The article describes selected Shakespearean motives in the late works of Juliusz Słowacki. The subject of this analysis is Slowacki’s translation of several excerpts of Macbeth, done in the spirit of Slowacki’s genesian philosophy. The Polish Romantic playwright writes his own vision of the world, seen as a battle of spirits, into the scenes of this Shakespearean drama. In the translation of Macbeth appears the vision of the world as a stage, which is so characteristic of both Shakespeare and Calderon. Słowacki also uses biblical language, as he evokes the image of Satan - “the dark angel”. Another excerpt analysed in this article is a scene of unknown provenance. It was found on the manuscript of Fantazy, but its contents are reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Mother and child talking about a ghost which roams the castle, bring to mind the scene in which Lady Macduff and her son appear. Both excerpts analysed in the article, illustrate Slowacki’s tendency to read his genesian vision of the world into the greatest pieces of world literature. To achieve this goal, an ingenious individual was needed, one who would inherit the powerful spirit, the king-spirit, able to lead others. According to Słowacki, Homer, Calderon and Shakespeare were such individuals. He also believed that he himself had inherited the king-spirit.