Film Adaptation Of Shakespeare s The Tempest - 1122 Words

Julie Taymor s 2010 film adaptation of Shakespeare s The Tempest is a truthful recreation of the classic romantic tragicomedy in all aspects except that the role of the magician, Prospero, is played by Helen Mirren, turning him from Prospero to Prospera. Through this simple change in the gender of one of the main characters, we see the play s themes called into question and viewed differently to how they would have been if the role of Prospero was played by a male. These themes include the usurpation of royalty and family. This review will discuss how Taymor s decision to change Prospero s gender is a critique of modern gender discourse. When Sebastian and Antonio usurp Prospera during the flashback in the middle of the film, we†¦show more content†¦I feel that through this decision, Taymor is commenting on the state of Elizabethan society and its view of women, who were desirable only if they were silent and invisible (Greer 2007, 4) and although not as conservative as the Elizabethan era, our own contemporary society, where women are still not equal to men. It also comments on how there is a canon built around Shakespeare, whose parts for women are comparatively few and composed largely of supporting rather than leading roles. (Goodman 2001, 71). Due to this canon, Taymor (and many other directors and screenwriters) are forced to reinvent Shakespeare s plays (Goodman 2001, 84-85). Family is one of, if not the biggest theme in Shakespeare s The Tempest and this theme is of course shown in Taymor s adaptation of the play. But the fact that Prospero is a woman in the film shows the audience a deeper relationship between Prospera and Miranda – the mother-daughter relationship. In the original play, we see Prospero as owning his daughter rather than having a normal father-daughter relationship with her. It is as though Miranda is an object to be given as a prize to another man – Ferdinand. InShow MoreRelatedThe Adaptation of The Tempest by William Shakespeare to the Film Prosperos Books531 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adaptation of The Tempest by William Shakespeare to the Film Prosperos Books When adapting a play for the screen, a director’s primary responsibility is to visualize an enactment that remains true to the original work’s perception. In addition to this task, the director must also build upon the foundations laid by the script; without this goal, (s)he would have no reason to have undertaken the project in the first place. Providing an innovative reading of a well-known play is undoubtedlyRead MoreComparison of the Tempest and Forbidden Planet Essay1836 Words   |  8 PagesFebruary, 2010 Morbius’ Fatal Folly As pointed out by Merrell Knighten in his essay called The Triple Paternity of Forbidden Planet, the main difference between Shakespeare’s The Tempest and the 1956 science fiction adaptation Forbidden Planet (referred to as FP) is the use and control of power. In The Tempest, Prospero knows what power he holds through the use of his books and spells, and ultimately uses these powers to restore order to the island. However, in forbidden Planet, Morbius’ powersRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s The Tempest 2603 Words   |  11 PagesDrama When many people think of William Shakespeare, they think of plays like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth or Hamlet. One of the most influential plays written by Shakespeare is not one listed above. The play that reflects the life and all of Shakespeare?s plays is The Tempest. This work was and still is influential in both America, Britain and around the world. Although William Shakespeare was an influential writer in American and British literature, The Tempest reaches beyond a comparison to the newRead MoreRomeo And Juliet Comparing Stuff With Zeff And Luh1810 Words   |  8 PagesJuliet comparing stuff with zeff and luh One story changed with two adaptations. One a traditional Shakespearean film and the other a product of the MTV generation. Two very different films of the same love story. From the generations they come from they are very good examples of the things people were doing then but as an interpretation of text they both lack something which gives the story its element. Zeffirelli’s film best portrays love and passion. Both Baz Luhrmann and Franco ZeffirelliRead MoreModern-Day Adaptations of Shakespearian Plays3263 Words   |  14 Pages Adaptation is the process or state of changing to fit new circumstances or conditions, or the resulting change (Encarta#174; World English Dictionary #169; 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.). When something adapts, or is adapted, it retains the basic content of its former self while taking on new qualities. When a story is adapted, either to a different medium than the one originally used or to a different time or place, theRead MoreThe Vanishing American: Historical Context Essays1678 Words   |  7 Pagesnative race. Going along with societal trends, renown Western novelist Zane Grey published a work focused on the doomed people. The Vanishing American apart, none of Greys novels were ever made into really important movies; but, like other Zane adaptations, this 1925 Native American epic retained the values of his story (Everson 170). Remaining loyal to the authors ideals, The Vanishing American focuses on the plight of a vanquished tribe living in a world in which the ill-fated rarely receive