Adapting William Shakespeare's the Tempest in Film and Literature
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Adapting William Shakespeare's The Tempest in Film and Literature Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Magisters der Philosophie an der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz vorgelegt von Gerhard SCHREIBER am Institut für Anglistik Begutachterin: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. phil. Maria Löschnigg Graz, 2014 I would like to dedicate my diploma thesis to my mother, Gertrude, and to my father, Ernst, who are always there for me and have supported me selflessly throughout my studies. This thesis would not have been possible without the help, support and patience of my supervisor, Mag. Dr. Maria Löschnigg. Thank you. Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2 William Shakespeare - Life and Works ........................................................................................ 3 2.1 Biographical Background ......................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Overview of Shakespeare's Works .......................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 Drama .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.2.2 Poetry .............................................................................................................................. 6 3 William Shakespeare's The Tempest ........................................................................................... 7 3.1 An Introduction to The Tempest .............................................................................................. 7 3.2 A Brief Summary of the Plot .................................................................................................... 9 3.3 An Analysis of the Main Characters ...................................................................................... 12 3.3.1 Character Constellation ............................................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Prospero ........................................................................................................................ 12 3.3.3 Caliban ........................................................................................................................... 15 3.3.4 Ariel ................................................................................................................................ 17 4 Adapting The Tempest ................................................................................................................ 18 4.1 A General Introduction to Adaptations .................................................................................. 18 4.2 Literary Adaptations of The Tempest .................................................................................... 20 4.3 Cinematic Adaptations of The Tempest ................................................................................ 22 4.3.1 Film Versions of The Tempest ....................................................................................... 23 Excursus: Postcolonialism............................................................................................................ 25 5 Aimé Césaire - Une Tempête ...................................................................................................... 28 5.1 Aimé Césaire's Life and Works.............................................................................................. 28 5.1.1 Biographical Background ............................................................................................... 28 5.1.2 Aimé Césaire's Major Works and Legacy ...................................................................... 31 5.2 Martinique - A Brief Overview ................................................................................................ 32 5.3 Aimé Césaire's Une Tempête ................................................................................................ 35 5.3.1 Introduction to the Play .................................................................................................. 35 5.3.2 A Brief Summary of the Plot .......................................................................................... 36 5.3.3 The Tempest vs. A Tempest ......................................................................................... 38 5.3.4 Une Tempête - An Epilogue .......................................................................................... 48 6 David Malouf – Blood Relations ................................................................................................. 50 6.1 David Malouf’s Life and Works .............................................................................................. 50 6.1.1 Biographical Backgound ................................................................................................ 50 6.1.2 David Malouf’s Literary Works ....................................................................................... 51 6.2 Australia’s Colonial History .................................................................................................... 52 6.3 A Brief History of Australian Theatre ..................................................................................... 54 6.4 David Malouf’s Blood Relations ............................................................................................. 57 6.4.1 An Introduction to the Play ............................................................................................ 57 6.4.2 A Summary of the Plot ................................................................................................... 59 6.4.3 Blood Relations vs. The Tempest .................................................................................. 63 6.4.4 Malouf's Revision of Characters .................................................................................... 68 7 Peter Greenaway - Prospero's Books ....................................................................................... 74 7.1 Prospero’s Books – Background Information ........................................................................ 74 7.1.1 Prospero’s Books – An Introduction .............................................................................. 74 7.1.2 Peter Greenaway – The Director ................................................................................... 76 7.1.3 Sir John Gielgud - Prospero .......................................................................................... 78 7.2 Prospero’s Books – The Film ................................................................................................ 79 7.2.1 The Technology Behind the Film ................................................................................... 79 7.2.2 Prospero’s 24 Books...................................................................................................... 80 7.3 The Tempest vs. Prospero’s Books ....................................................................................... 85 7.3.1 General Notes ................................................................................................................ 85 7.3.2 The Main Characters in Prospero’s Books .................................................................... 87 8 Fred M. Wilcox – Forbidden Planet ............................................................................................ 90 8.1 The ‘Brains’ Behind the Film .................................................................................................. 90 8.1.1 Fred McLeod Wilcox – The Director .............................................................................. 90 8.1.2 Other Persons Responsible for the Film........................................................................ 91 8.2 Forbidden Planet – An Introduction ....................................................................................... 92 8.2.1 The Film ......................................................................................................................... 92 8.2.2 The Cast of Forbidden Planet ........................................................................................ 94 8.3 A Summary of the Plot ........................................................................................................... 95 8.4 The Tempest vs. Forbidden Planet ....................................................................................... 99 8.5 The Main Characters of Forbidden Planet .......................................................................... 100 8.5.1 Character Constellation ............................................................................................... 100 8.5.2 Dr. Morbius/Prospero................................................................................................... 101 8.5.3 The Monster from the Id/Caliban ................................................................................. 102 8.5.4 Robby the Robot/Ariel.................................................................................................. 103 8.5.5 Commander Adams/Ferdinand & Altaira Morbius/Miranda ......................................... 104 9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 105 10 Works Cited ...........................................................................................................................