Nuances of Translating Metaphoric Expressions in Macbeth : A Restylization Perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the restylization of metaphorical expressions in the Arabic translation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, with a focus on how shifts in style and metaphor reflect interpretive decisions made during the translation process. Drawing on the analytical models of Elena Semino (conceptual metaphor analysis), Leech and Short (stylistic analysis), and Jiří Levý (translation as decision-making), the research examines ten metaphor-rich excerpts from the original play and their Arabic counterparts. The findings reveal that while the translator generally strives to preserve the conceptual metaphors of the source text, such as “the container,” “darkness as concealment,” and “life as performance”, he frequently engages in restylization to accommodate linguistic, cultural, and pragmatic demands of the target language. These shifts occur at the lexical, syntactic, and interpersonal levels, affecting tone, imagery, and communicative intent. The study concludes that restylization is an inherent aspect of literary translation, demonstrating the translator’s active role in reinterpreting and reshaping the stylistic and metaphorical fabric of the source text for a new readership.