Character Relationship Map: Tempest

Characters

• Phillip (played by John Cassavetes) — protagonist

  Phillip is a middle-aged New York City architect experiencing a difficult mid-life crisis. After discovering his wife's affair with his boss, he takes Miranda to Greece, begins a relationship with Are...

• Aretha Tomalin (played by Susan Sarandon) — supporting

  Aretha Tomalin is a singer whom Phillip meets in Athens after leaving New York with Miranda. She and Phillip become lovers and move with him to a remote Greek island to escape Alonzo and Antonia. Thei...

• Miranda (played by Molly Ringwald) — supporting

  Miranda is Phillip's teenage daughter, whom he takes with him when he leaves New York for Greece after learning of Antonia's affair with Alonzo. She remains connected to Phillip during his relationshi...

• Alonzo (played by Vittorio Gassman) — supporting

  Alonzo is Phillip's boss and Antonia's lover, making him directly responsible for the personal betrayal that drives Phillip away from New York. He travels to Greece with Antonia and later approaches t...

• Phillip's Father (played by Paul Stewart) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Phillip's Father → Phillip (father)
• Phillip → Alonzo (Professional Boss And Employee) — Their existing workplace hierarchy follows Phillip into the island story when Alonzo arrives.

  Phillip's character profile identifies Alonzo as his boss. The plot says Alonzo later arrives at the island with companions, disturbing the isolation...

• Phillip → Aretha Tomalin (Romantic Lovers) — Their relationship is part of Phillip's attempt to build a different life on the island.

  The character profile says Phillip and Aretha become lovers and move together to a remote Greek island. The plot describes their affectionate exchange...

• Phillip → Miranda (Family Father And Daughter) — Phillip takes Miranda with him when she wants to leave, and their conversation marks a shift toward traveling together.

  The character profile identifies Miranda as Phillip's teenage daughter. The plot says she asks to travel with him, confirms she wants to go, and they...

Story Analysis

Phillip and Miranda leave their troubled routine for an island refuge, where an approaching influx of visitors unsettles their temporary freedom.

Plot Progression

1. Restless at Home — Phillip's recurring nightmare and absorption in theater work sit alongside a distant domestic routine. Miranda voices her unhappiness and desire to escape.
2. A Shared Departure — Miranda confirms that she wants to travel with Phillip, and the two leave for a remote island. They imagine that they can make a paradise there together.
3. Island Encounters — A local describes a community depleted by residents leaving for work abroad. Phillip and Miranda encounter Kalibanos, whose awkward advances add tension to the island's comic, unusual rhythms.
4. Visitors on the Horizon — Phillip, Miranda, and Aretha find moments of island life before Alonzo arrives with companions. When Phillip learns a tourist boat is approaching, he proposes selling local curiosities, but the suppli...