The Concept of Evil in Roman Polanski’s films

Introduction

Immoral, wicked, and morally wrong are all definitions of evil. It is mostly characterized or accompanied by suffering or bad luck. Others hold that evil is acting in a way that goes against God’s will or with a malicious intention. A narrow and a broad understanding of evil are often the two that exist. In a broad sense, moral evil and natural evil are the two fundamental categories of evil. Natural evil refers to a negative situation that does not originate from moral actors’ or negligent individuals’ intentions (Vetlesen 20). Hurricanes and illness are included in this. On the other hand, moral evil often does not come from negligence or intentions of various moral agents. Examples include lying and murder. In contrast, the narrow concept of evil tends to pick out only the most ethically despicable kinds of characters, actions, events and many others. By analyzing three different films of Roman Polanski, one would be able to understand the concept of evil. There are mainly three questions that need to be answered. This includes:

• How is evil part of losing one’s sense of identity?
• How is evil demonstrated in emotional shifts?
• How is evil part of humanity’s transformations as embodied in sexual relationships?

Step Two

Roman Polanski has demonstrated the theme of evil through different events and characters in his films namely: The Tenant, Rosemary’s Baby and Repulsion.

Renata, Adier. Rosemary’s Baby. New York Times, 1968 http://www.nytimes.com/1968/06/13/arts/rosemary.html?_r=0 Accessed 5 Apr. 2017

The author claims that if an individual was to exhibit different paranoid symptoms, then it would be considered common decency of not reporting him or her to the people that persecutes the person. However, in the movie, Mia Farrow tells her story to her obstetrician who decides to deliver her to a coven of witches with peculiar motives on her baby. The author further claims that the story is concerned with a young couple, John Cassavetes and Miss Farrow who move into a new house located in Dokota. This is considered as a likely place for bizarre happenings and horrors. Miss Farrow, startles one of the witches reading by claiming that she is in a fantasy of what might have happened to her while she was asleep. She read on asking herself of what she did while she was asleep, what is she really pregnant with and what if everyone was lying to her. The author also explains about Maurice Evans having a small role as a friend to Miss Farrow, and that when he tried to warn her he was put into a coma (Renata). The author claims that everyone in the film is fine apart from the movie. The author claims that the film is extremely plausible, and that the young couple lives an ordinary life with old individuals living the next door.

McComarck, Tom. Roman Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy at MoMA. Art blog, 9 Sep. 2011, http://altscreen.com/09/09/2011/roman-polanskis-apartment-trilogy/ Accessed 4 Apr. 2017.

The author begins with describing Roman Polanski who is cross-dressed as a woman. He stands in front of the mirror and describes that he thinks he is pregnant (McComarck). He is evidently thrilled with the image he sees because he is dressed up in black dress, a blue form of eye shadow, red nail polish, nude stockings, strappy pumps and a blond wig. Schulz who was a previous tenant had committed suicide in the same apartment. As a result, he starts to suspect his neighbors and landlord of attempting to subtly making him the last tenant residing there by ensuring that he also kills himself. The author explains that Trevosky is an isolated immigrant without any family or friends. He feels that he does not fit it. The tenant comments that, in some cases, one is made to feel like an alien by his or her own psyches, in some cases even at home. However, the author claims that the characters in the film tend to mirror Polanski’s life in some ways. He claims that Polanski is estranged from various privileges of Hollywood due to the fact that he is running from justice. He also has no family, and his wife had been slaughtered a few years back.

Tavormina, Angelique. The Eye Boundary: Repulsion. Senses of cinema, Apr. 2004. Accessed 5 Apr. 2017.

Confinement is one of the most recurring themes in the Repulsion. The author claims that confinement acts as a form of narrative structure and aesthetic. Carol is described as a young, beautiful and reserved woman who suffers from schizophrenia. She is left alone, and she gradually shuts herself inside the flat eventually falling into a disturbed state of mind. This induces her to commit suicide. The story tends to focus on a character that has mental problems. The author claims that the movie has a crude figuration of solitude and confinement with the aim of giving a cinematic form. The author further explains that the film demonstrates the theme of confinement by showing space that is confined to three main places. This includes the beautiful parlor where the main actor works, the streets where she walks to get to her place of work and the flat. The author claims that Carol’s schizophrenia is keeping her connected to the space that distorts reality. For instance, she allows the food she has in the flat to go moldy which is a form of slow deterioration. He claims that Polanski tends to carry confinement to mental paroxysms and aesthetic with the aim of associating it with the uneasiness of being.

Step Three

The above research topic is of major importance to both individuals and the society. Firstly, it will shed light on the importance of providing counsel and support groups to persons who have had various traumatizing events such as rape and bullying to ensure that they do not suffer from any form of post traumatic disorders, depression, alienation or suicidal predispositions. The Tenant can serve as an example. One can say that the film tends to portray evil in that it reveals a man’s alienation from a society that is hyper-individualized. It is, therefore, important to study the concept of evil with the aim of guiding and encouraging those affected by various forms of evil. It is important for everyone learn how to treat others with respect and dignity to build their self-esteem and help them cope with different situations. Another example of a person who is affected by a tragic event is Carol in the Repulsion. For instance, when she is left alone in the apartment, Carol’s moments of hallucination and catalepsy tends to deepen and increase into a state of madness (Vetlesen 24). She sinks into depression and also has horrific visions of violence and rape. It is therefore advisable for counsel be offered to such victims in order to prevent them from suffering psychologically.

Another important aspect of studying evil in this context is to remind the society about the significance of abiding to laws. Laws tend to play four primary and distinct laws which are to protect individuals from harm, persuade individuals to do the right thing. Settle disputes and arguments with regards to finite resources as well as ensure a secure and safe life for all citizens. Therefore, by conducting this study, we will be able to teach the society about ethical and moral values, as well as benefits of abiding by the stipulated rules and regulations. For instance, in the Repulsion, Carol was raped as a young girl what is against the rules of law. It is, therefore, an iniquity that needs to be eliminated in the society. Culprits should be incarcerated to deter other individuals from committing this evil.

In conclusion, it is evident that Mr. Polanski believes that evil is manifested through unhealthy sexual relationships such as rape, and infidelity. Carol is raped as a young child by her father, her sister has an affair with a married man and Rosemary is raped by what someone whose nature seems to be a kind of demonic. He also believes that evil brings about emotional shifts that provoke alienation and depression in some of his characters. Carol isolates herself from the rest of the world which leads her to fall into a state of depression. Evil is also seen through loss of one’s sense of identity. Trelovsky in The Tenant loses his identity by wearing heels and wigs to look as a woman. Therefore, we see that evil represents everything that is considered as morally wrong.

Work Cited

McComarck, Tom. Roman Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy at MoMA. Art blog, 9 Sep. 2011, http://altscreen.com/09/09/2011/roman-polanskis-apartment-trilogy/ Accessed 4 Apr. 2017.

Renata, Adier. Rosemary’s Baby. New York Times, 1968 http://www.nytimes.com/1968/06/13/arts/rosemary.html?_r=0 Accessed 5 Apr. 2017

Tavormina, Angelique. The Eye Boundary: Repulsion. Senses of cinema, Apr. 2004. Accessed 5 Apr. 2017.

Vetlesen, Arne, J. Evil and Human Agency: Understanding Collective Evil doing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.