The Tempest: 3 Differences Between the Play and the Movie

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3 Differences Between The Play And Movie “The Tempest”

“The Tempest” is a play written by William Shakespeare in early 1600s that has been previewed in different kinds of movies, such as the one made in 2010, directed by Julie Taymor. It is a play containing themes such as; revenge, allusion, retribution, forgiveness, power, love and hatred. When it is compared to the play, there are specific differences seen in the movie, such as; Prospero is reflected as a woman in the movie. The time differences between the play and the movie and how the spirit Ariel is shown as a white man in the movie. The play starts with the story of Prospero, the Duke of Milan. He gets banished from Italy and was cast to sea by his brother Antonio. He has perfected his skills during twelve years of exile on a lonely island. Prospero creates the tempest to make his enemies’ ship to wreck and lead them to the island. Meanwhile, Antonio takes Prospero’s place and starts to make everyone believe he is the duke and makes an agreement with the King of Naples, Alonso. Besides the drama happening in the island, Prospero forgives Alonso and the others.

The first difference between the play and the movie “The Tempest” is; the protagonist Prospero, the Duke of Milan, is played by a female character named Prospera in the movie filmed in 2010, directed by Julie Taymor. He is a complex character in the play however the personality that Shakespeare created was slightly changed in the movie. The key point of this gender difference is to highlight the role of women’s empowerment over the last two hundred years. Taymor’s movie is making a statement on how Prospera’s power is limited for the island, she is still able to empower throughout the text sexually,...

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...ave now. It gives the chance to see the differences between education and language, then and now. Ariel being a black male character adds a closure to the differences in the play and the movie. By changing such important details is changing the play entirely. “The Tempest” written by William Shakespeare, is no longer a tragicomedy containing love, revenge, hatred, retribution and forgiveness, we know and love.

Bibliography

• Roger, Ebert. N.d. 0. n.p.

• Johnson, W. Stacy. "The Genesis of Ariel." Shakespeare Quarterly. (July 1951) 2.3 pgs. 205-210

• Sharkey, Betsy. n.d., n.pag.

• Ms. Barga. 2013.0

http://jessebarga.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/the-tempest-text-vs-film/.

• Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. 1st edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. 115-121. Print.

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