What are the specific parallels between Shakespeare's The Tempest and Forbidden Planet?
It is often said that the classic 50s movie Forbidden Planet is basically just a remake of The Tempest, Shakesepeare's last play. (The original credits don't reference this.)
Is this right? What are the specific parallels between the characters and events in the movie and play?
Best Answer
It's my understanding that Morbius, the scientist in Forbidden Planet who is alone save for his daughter, is a reflection of Prospero, the anti-hero of Shakespeare's play who is likewise living alone on an island with his daughter. Both Morbius and Prospero seek to control the elements, and thus the world around them, through 'magic' - in Morbius' case, an advanced alien technology.
In both versions of the story a group of young men (sailors swept in by the tempest of the title, a space crew on a routine mission) enter this supposed utopia, only to cause upheaval and eventual destruction when the leader of said groups falls in love with Morbius/Prospero's daughter.
One other factor that surely reveals the origins of Forbidden Planet's storyline is the inclusion in both versions of a cook for comic relief, this character being a drunken buffoon in both versions.
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How is forbidden planet similar to The Tempest?
Like The Tempest, Forbidden Planet centres around a father and daughter isolated (in this case, on a planet instead of an island) with the father wanting nothing more than revenge on the people that put them there.How is forbidden planet related to Shakespeare?
The influence of Westerns (particularly, of course, Shane) on the film is obvious, but equally important are echoes of two other productions: classic 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet and the Shakespeare play that it's loosely based on, The Tempest. The Tempest is the story of the magician Prospero.What are the parallels between Prospero and Sycorax?
Through Prospero, Sycorax symbolizes everything that may question patriarchy. Sycorax exists only in male characters' accounts; however, Sycorax influences the men's perception of power because she is absent. In The Tempest, the only woman on stage is Miranda, who is both assaulted and honored for her virginity.01 OVID - Contextual Parallels between Marlowe \u0026 Shakespeare
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Answer 2
There is an excellent paper written on the topic. This document can be located at the following reference:
"Comparison of Shakespeare's Tempest and Forbidden Planet." 123HelpMe.com. 21 Feb 2012
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