The main themes in both the movie and play Tempest are: Prospero’s Magical Powers, the Storm (Tempest), Appearance vs. Reality, Class Distinction, and finally Redemption. Some dramatic values are more stressed than others depending on which Tempest you are referring to. This is because interpretation has been used in the film. Instead of the original work being thrown into “just another movie,” the director analyzed the play from his own perspective for an American audience by somewhat spoon-feeding them with various elements of setting, tone, and language.
For example, the drama of Mazurky’s Tempest begins in media res, or the middle of the story. That’s fairly different than the actual Shakespearian play, which began when Prospero’s magic caused a storm to fiercely bellow. The mariners are frightened with fear (Act 1 Scene 1): “Mercy on us ! - We split, We split !” Shakespeare (and Prospero) want us to feel that many of the crew members were lost in wreck of the ship (Appearance vs. Reality). However, in the film, we see the island with “Prospero” (Philip) and his family on it, but we do not find out who the shipmates are until later, and if they are even still living.
The drama in Class Distinction is also very obvious. In the play, we know that Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan, and his brother Antonio is the usurping Duke of that same city. The lesser people are subjects such as Caliban, Stephano, Trinculo, Miranda, and Ariel. These individuals are the underclass and must listen to their leaders. I believe that the point Shakespeare was giving was that humans operate within social structures. As long as we live, there will always be an upper and lower class. There will never be an equalizer that makes the status between the two classes the same. The upper class is the leader. They have more money, which allows more opportunity to do what they want. This point is also evident within the film, when both Aretha and Miranda agree that they’re “not living life.” Philip, who had the upper hand in the matter, had the “say-so.” He had the power. This also applies to the household. The father usually “runs” the household, and everything that he says MUST go.
A power like this will easily get to a man’s head. Sometimes they feel as if they’re doing everything right and they can control what happens in life, forgetting about the others around them molding themselves into selfish gods. Philip and Prospero are Megalomaniacs. “You not God, Only God God.” Kalibanos told this to Philip after Philip lost control of the tempest. This is a message letting the audience know that we cannot directly control what happens naturally as humans.
Mazurky tells a compelling tale to the audience. People can actually learn a lesson from watching, especially because of how the film ended.
In the end, redemption helps the selfish main character find out what it’s really like to live through forgiving others. This is a successful interpretation because Prospero also had to do the same, which was the highlight of both play and film. He gave up his angry spirit; although his brother took his crown, and even after he sought revenge through the tempest, he eventually had to make his heart clean, as he states in the last Act:
Sir, I invite your highness and your train
To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste
With such discourse as I not doubt shall make it
Go quick away: the story of my life
And the particular accidents gone by
Since I came to this isle. And in the morn
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-belovèd solemnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.
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