In what is said to be Shakespeare's last play without a co-author, The Tempest presents the main character (Prospero) seeking revenge. He has been stripped of his title (Duke of Milan) by his usurping brother (Antonio), who conspired with the king of Naples (Alonso). Prospero gets banished and ends up in exile on an island with his daughter (Miranda). Prospero learns magic on the island so he is able to conjure up a tempest. He causes the shipwreck, or an illusion of one, of the same people who banished him twelve years ago. At this point, readers expect him to exact his revenge, but he suddenly has a change of heart and forgives his enemies. His change of heart is from seeing his daughter Miranda mature, as she is now to be wedded to Alonso's son Ferdinand. This is central to his change of heart; as readers, we know he loves her very much, even though it's hard for us to see at times. Prospero's love for his daughter is best expressed when he states "I have done nothing but in care of thee, Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter"(1.2.19-20). Seeing his daughter grow up puts life into perspective for him; he realizes that he's not getting any younger, and he realizes that forgiveness is better than revenge. He gives up his magic, and decides to return home as Duke of Milan where he will contemplate his life. His love for Miranda, his forgiveness of his enemies, and his age all create a more sympathetic and appealing Prospero that readers can appreciate.
Paul Mazursky creates a modern-day interpretation of the play, called Tempest, which presents a slightly different story. The main character, Phillip, has reached a mid-life crisis that causes him to want to be secluded from the world. He follows through with his plan, taking his daughter Miranda and girlfriend Aretha to an island in Greece. He wants to get away from his career as an architect and from his wife (Antonia), to whom he says, "I hate you" at one point. Being on the island for a year, he has plenty of time to ponder the meaning of life. He discovers life is something you can't run away from; Phillip is found on an island by the same people he was trying to escape. Once he is found, Phillip realizes this is the end of his "paradise" on the island and that he must return to the real world. Masursky's adaptation of the play is successful as it shows a man who must get over his mid-life crisis. When he finally does so, it parallels the change of heart Prospero has when seeing his daughter is to be married. Phillip's mid-life crisis is life altering and causes him to use drastic measures. Both men experience life-altering events that cause them to have new revelations. Both the play and movie can best be described by the philosophical statement "I'm looking at the ocean and beginning to question man's destiny."
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