When comparing Roman Polanski's version of Macbeth with the original text written by William Shakespeare we can see that his work is in keeping with Shakespeare's to a an extent however Polanski adds innovations to show of the more natural side of the witches which is more realistic to the modern audience. Although William Shakespeare wrote the play circa 1603 (for king James) the play is set in the Dark Age Scotland. Polanski uses this and sets his film around this era unlike other directors who have set their films in Jacobean times when it was written, this makes Polanski's version more credible. The essential theme for Macbeth is tragedy.

The importance of the witches is established in the opening scene. Even the first stage direction, ` Thunder and lightning. Enter three WITCHES' is appropriate as many people around Shakespeare's time blamed witches for the conjuring of storms, this is...