Revenge and Letting Go, by Charlese Button

Shakespeare’s play The Tempest shows conflict between the main character Prospero and the family and life he once loved. We can see this in his explanation to Miranda: “My brother and thy uncle, called Antonio I pray thee mark me, that a brother should be so perfidious he who next thyself of all the world I loved.” Ever since Antonio, with the help of Alonso, kicked him out of Milan, Prospero had been holding a grudge to get back at them. The rage that he holds in his heart made Caliban a slave and brought misery to all that was around him. He has taken the island from Caliban. Even when Caliban has sworn to Prospero that he will “Show thee the best springs; I’ll pluck thee berries: I’ll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough.” Caliban promises Prospero the utmost hospitality but Prospero doesn’t care. Prospero even tries to control his daughter, but realizes that his control is fading away because of her love for Ferdinand. Prospero kept Miranda and Ferdinand away from each other by giving him some work to do because he wasn’t ready to give Miranda away. He torches everyone on the island for a while, but in the end he lets every hate go and asks for forgiveness.

In the movie Tempest, the character Phillip is faced with some midlife crisis. He isn’t happy with the way his life is and the way it is becoming. His father questions what is going on at home because he had picked up that his son isn’t himself. It isn’t until he meets Aretha when he will find and escape from the reality of his life. Aretha has the answers that make Phillip feel like he could have it all. This is what leads to Phillip having powers. Phillip is a controlling, manipulating person. He come to an island where he controls everyone. Phillip is waiting on his wife Antonia to find him so he could punish her and her lover (his ex-boss) because blamed them for his unhappiness. Phillip’s daughter and Aretha want to leave the island, and try to get Phillip to see the light so that, maybe, he would want to leave as well. Phillip doesn’t want to go home until he see his wife Antonia again and is reunited with her. At that point, he says his apology and then asks for forgiveness.