In Scene Fourteen of Laughton’s English translation of the play, the final scene of Andrea and the boys examining the witch’s house is written in a dramatically different manner. Laughton’s version has more substance in the plot, where we see Andrea conversing with the children for a longer time, ultimately enlightening them on their false witch accusations.
“Andrea: Ah! A ladle! You see, I would have taken it for a broomstick, but I haven’t looked into the matter as you have, Paolo... You saw it with your own eyes: think it over!” (Brecht 255-256).
Andrea waits to converse with the boys in Brecht’s final scene until the very end, after one of the boys shouts about the missing box, explaining the need for machinery and how they’re only at the beginning of knowledge. In Laughton’s final scene, we see Andrea attempt to show the boys the reality throughout its entirety. His parting statement is concise compared to Brecht’s, with him simply saying they saw what they saw, and to think about it first before making the bold claim that she is indeed a witch.
Why does Laughton’s translation contain much more detail in the conversation between Andrea and the village boys? Is this done purposefully to clearly show the significance of seeing reality? Does showing the children the truth for themselves parallel the Church’s “scientific” claims about astronomy and physics while they disregard blatant observations? Does Laughton’s detail provide greater insight and a concrete understanding for the audience compared to Brecht’s original?
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