Differences Between Two Shakespearean Adaptations: An Analysis of Two Film Adaptations of The Tempest from the Perspective of Gender

Abstract

In recent years, some social phenomenon (e.g. changes in clothing of male and female) reveals that the gender identity is gradually changing. This essay mainly focuses on analyzing gender differences in the two adaptations of Shakespeares tragicomedy The Tempest. The two selected films are The Tempest directed by George Schaefer in 1960 and directed by Julie Taymor in 2010. This essay is attempting to find out in what way do the male and female characters change in the film in 2010 compared with the film in 1960. Although, Shakespeares work had already been adapted and researched by a considerable number of playwrights, directors and scholars, as the last work of Shakespeare, The Tempest has many uniqueness. This essay will analyze the two films from the perspective of film technology and text, pointing out the differences between the male and female characters in the two films, so as to reflect on the transformations of gender concepts and the trend of female social status.