Discuss the use of imagery in the Tempest and relate the extract to the themes of the play.

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Discuss the use of imagery in the Tempest and relate the extract to the themes of the play.

At the start of this extract in the play a vengeful Ariel enters, taking credit for the shipwreck, and makes the banquet, which the three members of the royal party (Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian) were mulling over vanish.

Ariel’s sudden appearance accompanied by the way in which he does appear, seems to frighten the men, who draw their swords at the appearance of the harpy like image of Ariel.

”Ariel like a harpy enters with thunder and lightning and claps his wings upon the table”

After Ariel finishes verbally attacking, and shaming the men, “you ‘mongst men, being most unfit to live”, “men like you would hang and drown their proper selves”.

 Ariel’s words become Prospero’s and he speaks of his life and usurpation, over dramatising slightly to evoke a reaction out of the men, “Exposed onto the sea...him and his innocent child, for which foul deed licensed all the creatures, seas and shore against your peace”

Alonso recognizes Ariel's words as being that of Prospero's, and the guilt of Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian begins to take them over, at the thought of Prospero being alive, and so nearby.

Prospero is transferring his anger here, through Ariel and in the middle of the extract does not seem to be at all forgiving, however at the end of the extract he depicts that if they say they are sorry for the wrong deeds they did to him, then he will offer them forgiveness, “and a clear life ensuing”. Prospero’s power is an underlying theme in this extract as he is the one summoning Ariel and causing food and torment to appear, Prospero is like God of the island and wants them to understand that if they want to have a happy life they have to ask for his forgiveness for their foul deeds.

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At the very beginning of the extract there is an immediate stress on the word ‘are’, “you are three men of sin”, stating the fact that there is no way in which they cannot be men of sin, due to the bad deeds that they have done. When Prospero refers to the, “never-surfeited sea”, he could be referring to the fact that he himself will not be satisfied until he gets justice, either in the form of harming and tormenting them, or Antonio, Sebastian and Alonso asking him for their forgiveness, being humble, trusting and putting their future in ...

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