Essay On Tempest

“The Tempest” is a story that has been rendered on stage or in the theatre for hundreds of year. That makes any modern rendition of it a difficult proposition. Critics are likely to be harsh with any treatment of what they consider to be a timeless story. In Julie Taymor’s 2010 film version of “The Tempest,” Taymor made the bold decision change the lead character's gender. This focus changed the movie, and I argue made for not just a unique, but one of the finest and boldest renditions of “The Tempest” ever rendered.
In William Shakespeare’s original play, the main character is a man named Prospero. In the 2010 film version of The Tempest, Prospero becomes PRrospera. In romantic languages changing the ending “o” to an “a” changes the gender of the word. It was indeed a bold decision to change the gender of the main character, but it works in the film.
Helen Mirren fits her role of Prospera well. Since the film takes place at a time when woman served a subservient role to men, this makes the character she plays even more dramatic. The drama of the play is heightened because the protagonist’s gender is adding to the list of external conflicts that she faces.
Prosper’as brother has sent her off with her daughter on a ship because he suspects her of witchcraft. The ship never arrives though, and she ends up on an uninhabited island where she must struggle to survive. But this is not a masculine tale of overcoming conflicts through force. Taymor has created a tale in which intellect is the weapon of choice to overcome obstacles. The result is a completely new take on a timeless tale.