Act 1 sceen 2 The Tempest - Explore the dramatic significance of this episode within the play.

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Look again at Act 1, scene 2, from about line 410, when Miranda says “What is’t? A spirit?” to the end of the scene at the stage direction, “Exeunt”, after Prospero says “Come, follow! (to Miranda) Speak not for him.”

Explore the dramatic significance of this episode within the play.

                                                                                                          1/18/2004

         In this scene when Miranda says “What is’t? A spirit?” she is referring to

Ferdinand, they both have a similar response to each other; he also responds to her in

wonder, ‘Most sure the goddess on whom these airs attend.’ Miranda and Ferdinand

have fallen in love at first sight.

        This scene is very near the beginning of the play; it is in the second act. This

shows the audience that the scene is going to be very significant to the rest of the play

and that the love between Miranda and Ferdinand is a major theme. Ferdinand is lured

to Prospero’s cave by Ariel’s singing, ‘this is no mortal business, nor no sound that

the earth owes. I hear it now above me.’ This straight away brings the question into

the minds of the audience whether this manipulation over Miranda is right; Prospero

has obviously brought these two together in the inevitability that they will fall in love,

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‘The fringed curtains of thine eye advance, and say what thou seest yond.’ As

Prospero planned they do fall in love, ‘At the first sight they have changed eyes.’

Ferdinand loses no time in proposing to Miranda, ‘I’ll make you the Queen of

Naples.’ This is significant because Ferdinand is giving Miranda her rightful position

as royalty back to her without realising who she is. Prospero loves his daughter dearly

as he proves throughout the play ‘I have done nothing but in care of thee- of thee my

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