William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” was predicted to be Shakespeare’s last play. Prospero’s Epilogue at the end of the play was predicted to be words reflecting Shakespeare’s way of saying goodbye to the stage. Much like “The Tempest”, The 1956 Science Fiction Film the “Forbidden “Planet” by Fred M. Wilcox seems to use the same ideas/plot, situation, and setting. “Forbidden Planet” is not necessarily a reworking of “The Tempest”, but a loose adaptation creating an allusion or Parallel Universe to Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” through the characters point of view, the setting/plot, and the theme of power seems to be similar. “The Tempest” has many similar and different characters including a Father with great amount of power alone on an Island …show more content…
Prospero was undecidedly exiled from his brother but Morbius chose to be Self-Exiled. In the film Morbius vaguely explains eliminating all the members of his expedition (symbolizing brothers much like Antonio and Prosper) to get the full knowledge of the Krells because they were an obstacle for his thirst of Knowledge (Shakespeare in Outer Space). So Morbius could have left the planet whenever he wanted but chose to be secluded. Morbius tried to send the Commander and his crew away from the planet, whereas Prospero brought Ferdinand and his crew towards the Island. There are also different reactions between these two characters for example, when the daughters have nightmares. In “The Tempest” Miranda explains to her father of her nightmare, Prospero comforts her and says everything will be okay, nothing bad will happen. In “Forbidden Planet” Morbius simply says he can’t do anything about it or he doesn’t know what to do. The biggest difference between these two characters involve power. Prospero has great amount of magic through his books. In the beginning of the play he seems like he has the potential to become a monstrous or evil character as he plots his revenge on his brother Antonio and the crew. Before his plan works out, and his plan comes to an end Prospero is convinced by his slave Ariel that he may regret this and he must learn to forgive. Ariel convinces …show more content…
Caliban and Ariel who are Prospero’s slaves are also relevant to characters in “Forbidden Planet” like Robby the robot and the Monster Id. Ariel is most likely a mirror image of Robby the Robot. When we first see Robby the link between Robby and Ariel is consciously underlined through a visual allusion when we see only a cloud of smoke moving along the barren planes at high speed, much like Ariel’s airy nature. Robby much like Ariel, follows every command or order and is loyal to his/her master. Caliban is similar to the monster “Id” with their great amounts of power, and both seems to be uncontrollable. In the end of “The Tempest” Caliban learns from his mistakes and obeys Prospero. In “Forbidden Planet the “Id” was never able to be controlled by his master and leaving the only option to destroy it. But Robby the Robot also shares a bit of similarities with Caliban. Morsberger says “Robby the Robot, a servant of his own creation, who combines the good services of Ariel with the ponder-ousness and grotesque appearance as Caliban and at the end revolts against his master as Caliban does” (Morsberger 161). In the end Robby in a way dis-obeys Morbius when Morbius asks him to destroy the Id, but he “dis-obeys” him and resets to because the Id is truly Morbius which Robby is programed to not attack. Robby, also being powerful performs the same task as Caliban. For example we see
In this film we see a colossal reconsidering of Shakespeare's dramatic measures, for example, magic, and his themes, such as the Renaissance disclosure of the 'New World' or the power of the Renaissance ruler and patriarch. One pleasure this film offer is the acknowledgement of such unique Shakespearean elements in their modern cinematic appearance. This action of acknowledgement bears the modern audience its equal to the Renaissance delight in "impersonation," the reconsidering of established messages in a Renaissance pretence, being said, the audience too needs to possibly be acquainted with the original plot keeping in mind the end goal to have an unmistakable discernment. In this film we locate an exceptionally version of The Tempest in which the island of Prospero turns into the Planet Altair IV in the year 2257 and the mariners in The Tempest happens to be the individuals from a rescue expedition that touched base in the planet on a spaceship (joined planet cruiser C57-D). We see that in Shakespeare's play the plot limited with magic, Forbidden Planet uses technology. The technology introduced in Forbidden Planet is not intended to be understood by the audience, but instead we can state that it was for all expectations and purposes, "Magic". This is without a doubt to a limited extent in light of the
Shakespeare's play, The Tempest tells the story of a father, Prospero, who must let go of his daughter; who brings his enemies under his power only to release them; and who in turn finally relinquishes his sway over his world - including his power over nature itself. The Tempest contains elements ripe for tragedy: Prospero is a controlling figure bent on taking revenge for the wrongs done to him, and in his fury he has the potential to destroy not only his enemies, but his own humanity and his daughter's future.
In the comedic, yet thrilling play, The Tempest, William Shakespeare uses characters such as Caliban, Alonso, and Ariel to show Prospero’s immense cruelness and pure monstrosity. Moreover, these Shakespearean characters are also used to highlight Prospero’s change in character into a kinder and more forgiving person. Prospero starts the play out as a vengeful monster, after an illuminating moment however, his persona transforms into his true identity of a compassionate man.
The Tempest reflects Shakespeare's society through the relationship between characters, especially between Prospero and Caliban. Caliban, who was the previous king of the island, is taught how to be "civilized" by Prospero and his daughter Miranda. Then he is forced to be their servant. Caliban explains "Thou strok'st me and make much of me; wo...
In summary, Shakespeare’s The Tempest play explores the theme of opposition to the colonial-style authority of Prospero based on various characters’ covert and overt reactions to the master’s antics. For instance, Ariel opposes Prospero’s continuous detention of the former regardless of an earlier agreement to the contrary. Moreover, Caliban expresses his dissatisfaction with the forced labor that her does for Prospero. To prove his opposition to Prospero’s authority, Caliban plans the master’s death. Miranda also makes a statement that indicates her displeasure with the way Prospero executes his authority especially with regard to Ferdinand. The imprisoned Ferdinand also indicates his opposition to Prospero’s power through a disproving statement made before Miranda.
“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.
2.) Lamming, George. " A Monster, a Child, a Slave." The Tempest: Sources and Contexts,
Shakespeare's "The Tempest" forms a world within itself. Within this world, many topics regarding government, power and colonization are addressed. Shakespeare tackles the discovery of new places and races, the relationship between the colonized and the colonist, old world ideologies on new soil, as well as theories on civilization and government. These aspects at the core reveal a very clear struggle for political power. Prospero's first major monologue creates the foundation of such a theme. In 1.2 lines 30-175 Prospero tell his story recounting the usurpation of the power he had as Duke of Milan, then quickly renews his power on the island. Prospero beings his story with an authoritative tone stating: "Obey and be attentive" (1.2 48). Desiring political power and authority becomes the core from which other themes derive.
In this whimsical play, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, after being supplanted of his dukedom by his brother, arrives on an island. He frees a spirit named Ariel from a spell and in turn makes the spirit his slave. He also enslaves a native monster named Caliban. These two slaves, Caliban and Ariel, symbolize the theme of nature versus nurture. Caliban is regarded as the representation of the wild; the side that is usually looked down upon. Although from his repulsive behavior, Caliban can be viewed as a detestable beast of nature, it can be reasonably inferred that Shakespeare’s intent was to make Caliban a sympathetic character.
Allan Gilbert’s article summarizes about the multiple parallels that can be found in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. While some of these parallels are more obvious in The Tempest, some require a scholar to fully comprehend them.
The play, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare is a very cleverly thought out piece of work. Shakespeare very deliberately inter-relates several different forms of power during the course of the play. There is political power, shown through the plethora of political characters and their schemes, while at the same time parodied by the comic characters. The power of magic and love, and its ability to reunite and absolve also plays a major role in the play. Throughout the play, Prospero, the main character, takes great advantage of his power and authority, both properly and improperly. The epiphany of this however, is realized at the end of the play.
The Tempest was written in 1611 as Shakespeare’s last romantic comedy. This play is focused mainly on the theme of power. Shakespeare portrays an aging magician who has been living in exile with his young daughter on a remote island for the past 12 years. Shakespeare presents forms of power in different ways, but mainly through the characters of Prospero. In The Tempest Shakespeare shows 3 different types of power, which are through love, power over his slave Caliban, and power of magic.
Prospero treats his two servants in very different ways as their behavior and attitudes towards him are contrasting. From this, the question arises why he treats his equally hard-working servants in different ways and if he is wise in his actions.
The Tempest, like any text, is a product of its context. It is constructed in relation to moral or ethical concerns of 17th century European Jacobean society. The resolution of conflict appears 'natural' or an inevitable consequence if regarded in relation to the concerns of its context. The resolution of conflict in this play incorporates Prospero being returned to his 'rightful' or natural position as Duke of Milan, his daughter Miranda getting married to Ferdinand, and the party returning to Milan leaving the island to the 'monster', Caliban. The resolution is a consequence of the concerns of the time, including the idea of the divine right of kings, courtly love, and colonisation.
Caliban is evil is the fact that he tried to rape Miranda, Prospero’s daughter as states by Barbara Fuchs in her article Conquering Islands: Contextualizing the Tempest where it says, “Caliban’s attack on Prospero’s daughter once more genders the colonizing impulses” (61). This suggests rape and it is not inhuman and it shows that Miranda is not the first woman who this has happen to. It not right, it’s evil. Caliban’s character in this book is horrible in the things that he does, he starting off has an evil monster that was born from an evil parents and he goes around causing trouble wherever he goes. As a servant, he does evil deed and by himself he is evil.