Immigration adaptation of The Tempest.

If The Tempest were to be re-worked around a college-aged immigrant to the United States, there would be some radical changes made. I think that the story and trajectory of the plot would be greatly different because both Mama Day and Tempest were reworkings that still had the main character as a leader in their place of residence. In Mama Day, Miranda was seen as an idol and head on Willow Springs. In Tempest, Phillip was seen as the "boss" on the Greek island. If the main character in a re-working like this were an immigrant, the scope would be altered. He or she would no longer be "in charge" so-to-speak of wherever the novel was set. Immigrants are usually forced to leave their old ways behind them and acclimate to the culture that they are now living in. If Prospero's character were an immigrant from somewhere, like Norway or another European country, I can see how the plot would be different. This is because people would not view this character with any kind of authority. So if he or she had a daughter (a Miranda character), there would probably not be such a huge desire to please and appease as there is with the original play, and the two adaptations we have studied. The adaptation would probably end the same, with the main character going back home. The motives for the emigration from their home town would probably be slightly different as well. In the original play, Prospero and Miranda were sent away to sea. In Mama Day, Miranda wasn't really "sent away," and neither was Cocoa, but Cocoa left the island to get away. In Tempest, Miranda and Phillip also left Greece and went to the island to hide from Alonso and Phillip's wife. If the immigrant was leaving their home country to run away from something, then the plot's trajectory might be somewhat more parallel to the original text, than if the emigration was due to the seeking of new and better opportunities. In the end of these adaptations, the characters return home, grant forgiveness, and also seek forgiveness. But the motives for the immigrant character may not be the same as in the other texts, so, in the end, the character may want to stay in America. I think the adaptation would also depend on whether or not this immigrant is moving to American on their own, with family, or with a friend. In Mama Day, Cocoa moved away by herself, but she brought George home to Willow Springs with her. In Tempest, Phillip took Miranda and Aretha to the Greek island. If the immigrant was traveling alone, I think the ending may be drastically different.

Obviously, there are some main characters in the movie that are representing characters in the play. Phillip is Prospero and Miranda is Miranda. I found it interesting that the director/writer kept Miranda's name constant, but changed Prospero to Phillip. This goes back to our discussions about the importance of naming in Mama Day. I think that Freddy and Miranda's relationship is not focused on as much in the movie as it is in the play. In the play, much of Prospero's actions are driven by the relationship forming between Miranda and Ferdinand. But in the movie, their relationship is barely given any attention. I think the plot in the movie doesn't really follow closely to the play. The tempest is not a direct result of something Phillip called for. The film tries to portray Phillip conjuring up the storm, but he didn't have a spirit that was causing the storm, based on an order- like Prospero had Ariel do. I think the film reflects Mazursky's perspective on contemporary American life in a way that does not focus much on magic. Naylor includes magical realism in her portrayal of the play, but Mazursky focuses more on reality and things that can actually happen. He puts the play in context of the world of the 1980s. The music, clothing and business of the eighties is accurately portrayed. Naylor also puts the play in context of a southern island, but there are definitely more magical and spiritual themes that are kept alive in her version. I think Mazursky wants the focus to be more on Phillip's personal conflicts and journey, rather than the magic. The play focuses on the trajectory of Prospero's growth as an individual and father, while the film doesn't really show his growth. He seems very stagnant in the film. The end of the film shows him somewhat forgiving those who hurt him, but we don't get much sense of how he actually comes to terms with it all. I think the film lost a lot of his personal journey through trying to focus on the entertainment factor of the film.