February212012

In the movie, The Tempest, starring Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, and Ben Whishaw, director Julie Taymore portrays Ariel as a being of the air and Caliban as a creature of the earth. Ariel disappears into thin air and blends in with the somber blue sky after a storm. Caliban is dark and is covered in what looks like mud or the bark of a tree. Typically, those associated with land stay true to their beliefs and roots and are slow to change to the evolving world around them. The air is affiliated with constant motion from wind and fluctuating movement. In the Tempest, the characters break from their appearance. Caliban is eager to switch alliances, while Ariels devotion to Prospera is unwavering. What does this switch reveal about the power of association to specific personality traits? Does this change our thoughts on any other characters that appear to fit in one box, but break from their affiliation?

-Rachel F.

art media The Tempest Ariel Caliban Prospera Helen Mirren Julie Taymore appearance earth air character traits 

February162012
I loved the fact that The Tempest movie, Helen Mirren was Prosperpa. I feel that having a woman play Prospero really changes the power dynamic with all of the characters. For instance, when Miranda is talking with Prospero in the book it seems she is very submissive and worshipful of her father and his power. But in the movie, when she is speaking with Prospera, their relationship seems very similar to a mother and daughter relationship that we would see in our day to day life, not worshipful or submissive. Although I understand that some of this dynamic could be the interpretation of the director of this film, there is no denying the drastic difference in dynamic between Prospera and Miranda. Do you guys see any other places in the movie where there are differences because Prospero is a woman? How do you think people in Shakespearean times would react to this interpretation? -Courtney

I loved the fact that The Tempest movie, Helen Mirren was Prosperpa. I feel that having a woman play Prospero really changes the power dynamic with all of the characters. For instance, when Miranda is talking with Prospero in the book it seems she is very submissive and worshipful of her father and his power. But in the movie, when she is speaking with Prospera, their relationship seems very similar to a mother and daughter relationship that we would see in our day to day life, not worshipful or submissive. Although I understand that some of this dynamic could be the interpretation of the director of this film, there is no denying the drastic difference in dynamic between Prospera and Miranda. Do you guys see any other places in the movie where there are differences because Prospero is a woman? How do you think people in Shakespearean times would react to this interpretation?

-Courtney

helen mirren felicity jones Shakespeare gender roles gender switch 

February92012

This is a clip from the movie The Tempest directed by Julie Taymor starring Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, and Ben Whishaw. This clip is from around the lines 322-347 when Prospero is criticizing Ariel for complaining about his duties. I love this scene because it gives such a good visual of Ariel becoming the pine, but also the special effects emphasize both Ariel and Prospera’s power. They are able to turn their setting from inside a room into a flashback of Ariels imprisonment, which shows how Prospera and Ariel are able to control the island with their magic. I also like the fact that Julie Taymor made Prospero into a Prospera, male to female. In this scene, Helen Mirren portrays a very intimidating Prospera who I would be equally frightened of, male or female. Another reason why I like Prospero portrayed as a woman is because either way, Miranda cannot tell the difference between parenting. In the text, she has never known her mother, but in the movie, she has never known her father but that doesn’t make a difference because one or the other is still parenting her. What do you guys think of Prospero being portrayed as a Prospera?

-Amanda

the tempest media william shakespeare shakespeare helen mirren prospero russell brand 

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