"Prospero is a self-centred magician who demonstrates some of the worst qualities" Do you agree with this statement? How should his character be portrayed on stage?
"Prospero is a self-centred magician who demonstrates some of the worst qualities" Do you agree with this statement? How should his character be portrayed on stage? "The Tempest" was one of Shakespeare's last plays and unlike the earlier ones didn't really fit into any certain genre, instead it had elements of all the themes within it: Also a lot of his plays had sad endings, take "Romeo and Juliet" a very romantic play that had a tragic ending but this changed when he was writing his last plays and so they had happier endings which contained an element of forgiveness and new beginnings. "Let your indulgence set me free." It is set in the Mediterranean and has connections with Italy like many of Shakespeare's plays such as "The Merchant Of Venice" and "Romeo and Juliet". The statement appears to be rather harsh as it seems certain aspects of Prospero's personality and character, as well as some of the qualities he possesses which become apparent later on in the play haven't been taken into consideration. "I do forgive, unnatural though thou art." He possess some very good qualities as is shown later on in the play, one of these qualities is his ability to forgive, as he manages to forgive most of the people who transgressed against him. However the statement isn't completely incorrect since at times Prospero is portrayed as very self-centred, calculating, threatening
Why is Caliban such an interesting an important character in 'The Tempest' and how should a director present this character in
Why is Caliban such an interesting an important character in 'The Tempest' and how should a director present this character in order to make the most of the issues that he raises? 'The Tempest' is the magical story of the ship-wrecked inhabitants of an island. It deals with many serious themes such as; nature/nurture, power, magic and treachery but 'the seriousness is never allowed to cause disquiet in the audience'. Many of these themes are still relevant today. The Tempest is, in effect, 'a fairytale complete with magical occurrences, suspension of the laws of nature and a happy ending'. Caliban is an interesting an important character in 'The Tempest'. He brings to the play issues that have a humorous side but are also serious, for example the treatment of inferiors. Prospero's treatment of Caliban is portrayed as being amusing, with over-the-top curses, but it reflects the poor treatment of servants (or slaves) in Shakespeare's time. From act one scene two we learn about Caliban's history and how he came to be on the island and in service to Prospero. We know this from, 'This island is mine, by Sycorax my mother . . . the rest o' th' island'. From Miranda saying, ''Tis a villain, sir, that I do not love to look upon,' we assume that Caliban must be truly bad if someone as sympathetic and loving as Miranda thinks so badly of him. We also know that he is resentful of
Caliban character study - The Tempest.
The Tempest is set on a mysterious island surrounded by the ocean. Here the magician Prospero is ruler of the isle with his two servants Caliban and Ariel. Caliban is the abrasive, foul-mouthed son of the evil witch Sycorax. When Prospero was shipwrecked on the island Prospero treated him kindly but their relationship changed when Caliban tried to rape Prospero's daughter, Miranda. Caliban then became Prospero's unwilling servant. Caliban serves his master out of fear Prospero's wrath. Prospero's other servant Ariel is a graceful spirit who has courtesy and charm. Ariel has put her services at Prospero's disposal out of gratitude for his kind actions towards her. Prospero saved Miranda from the confinement of Sycorax who held her prisoner. Prospero treats his two servants in very different ways as their behaviour and attitudes towards him are contrasting. From this, the question arises why he treats his equally hard-working servants in different ways and if he is wise in his actions. Prospero treats Caliban in a very strict, even ruthless manner insulting him, 'Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself' 1/2/319 and threatening him with harsh punishments that he can inflict by his powerful magic, '...tonight thou shalt have cramps... Thou shalt be pinched... each pinch more stinging Than bees made 'em. ' 1/2/325 Prospero appears to be a ruthless tyrant that
How does William Shakespeare's The Tempest reflect society at the time?
How does William Shakespeare's The Tempest reflect society at the time? William Shakespeare's The Tempest is a pastoral Tragicomedy that was written during the Elizabethan period in which society was expanding and extracting ideas from many other cultures. Even though King James was on the throne for a good part of the Jacobean period it was still considered as the Elizabethan period as not much changed at first. It is Shakespeare's last play that he wrote on his own that contains some of his most complex ideas that coincide with his theatrical balance. The metaphor for the theatre is in fact the play itself with Shakespeare as the leading role, "break my staff" laying down his pen and bringing his world to a dénouement. This play is very much concerned with the emotion and overall behaviour of people. There is a sense of ambiguity with the actual Tempest as its meaning is that to a real - life event. Many critics have found that there is a great chance that Shakespeare may have been influenced by the news reports of a boat journeying to Jamestown, in which a new settlement was to be created. This happened during 1609 with the written accounts of the actual survivors containing much detail in to their adventure. "Though the seas threaten, they are merciful". This shows a great reflection back upon this real event that occurred in Shakespeare's time as the survivors on the
The Tempest has been called a tragi-comedy. Show why you think this is an apt classification of Shakespeare’s last play.
LITERATURE The Tempest has been called a tragi-comedy. Show why you think this is an apt classification of Shakespeare's last play. A tragedy according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary is a " drama in prose or verse of elevated theme and diction and with unhappy events or endings ". A comedy is defined as a " stage play of light, amusing and often satirical character, chiefly representing everyday life and with happy endings ". If a play can host elements of the two " genres ", it is called a tragi-comedy. A study of action, characters and themes in The Tempest would reveal if it is an apt classification of the play. The proximity to death is the main criteria that defines tragic events.The opening scene of The Tempest has an obvious tragic potential : a boat conveying the King of Naples and his court is caught in a fierce sea storm. The passengers are in immediate danger of drowning. Although noble and powerful, they seem at the mercy of superior powers. Another tragic event , previous to the action of the play but recalled in Act I, Scene 2, is the betrayal of Prospero by his brother Antonio followed by the exile of the Duke and his daughter Miranda. The plot of Sebastian and Antonio to murder Alonso and his old councillor, Gonzalo is an echo to this. Also Prospero's " passion that works him strongly " in Act IV, Scene 1 produces a very strong effect on the other
Explore Shakespeare's presentation of the theme of power in the "The Tempest"
Explore Shakespeare's presentation of the theme of power in the "The Tempest" Shakespeare shows the theme of power throughout the play "The Tempest". Prospero has power over his daughter, his enslaved servants Ariel and Caliban. Alonso has power as king of Naples, but there is irony in the fact he has no power on the island, and in a weakened emotional state is vulnerable to the loose of power that remains. Shakespeare presents a comedic attempt to gain power through the figure of Stephano. Shakespeare then presents us with a parody of the situation of Stephano using Sebastian, where he tries to take over the island with the aid of Caliban. The power that Prospero has throughout the play is let go of at the end of the play because of forgiveness. Throughout the play Prospero continuously has control of the people that land on the island, with the help of his servant Ariel. This is because he has planned how he was going to get what he wants which is his old position as the rightful Duke of Milan. The reason why Prospero lost his powerful position was because he spent too much time over his magic and his books, this then lead to him handing over to much power to his brother. This left him in a very vulnerable state to loosing all his power. This I feel is very much like how King Alonso is portrayed while he is on the island, and thus being one of the reasons why Prospero
The Tempest as a Study of Colonialism
The Tempest as a Study of Colonialism For over a century, and particularly in the past twenty years, a number of interpreters have taken a very different approach to The Tempest, seeing in it the exploration of some particularly relevant political issues. The English critic, William Hazlitt, was the first to point out (in 1818) that Prospero had usurped Caliban from his rule of the island and was thus an agent of imperialism. Since then such an approach to the play (with various modifications) has remained more or less current, although only in recent decades has it become widespread in North America. Some of these arguments are quite simple and reductive; others are a good deal more sophisticated. I cannot do full justice to these interpretations here, but I would like to consider some of the main points in order to raise a few questions in your minds. [Those who would like to read a useful historical survey of these treatments of the play should consult Vaughan, Alden T. and Virginia Mason Vaughan, Shakespeare's Caliban: A Cultural History. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1991. I have taken historical information from this book] This approach to The Tempest also begins with some obvious features of the play. Prospero is a European who has taken charge of a remote island. He has been able to do this because he brings with him special powers. With these he organizes a life
The Tempest raises questions that were just beginning to be asked in Shakespeare's day and that we have been puzzling over ever since.
The Tempest Essay The Tempest, written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), is an Elizabethan romance that combines the conventions of drama with that of Shakespearean comedies. The `tempest' in the title refers to both the tremendous storm that opens the play and the emotional conflicts that are highlighted by what follows. The Tempest was commenting on the social context of the period it was written; the fifteenth century, the `Age of Exploration', and, in this, Shakespeare was specifically referring to the Bermuda Pamphlets, and to the tale of the Sea Adventure, which lead to the theme of the Unknown and the introduction of Prospero's Art. The Tempest raises questions that were just beginning to be asked in Shakespeare's day and that we have been puzzling over ever since. For example, it questions the true nature of man, more specifically the character of Caliban; is he in essence innocent or inevitably fallen and corrupt though redeemable either by education or through divine grace? His name, interestingly enough, seems to be an anagram or derivative of `cannibal'. This can be seen through the following lines made by Prospero: “A devil, a born devil, on whose nature / Nurture can never stick…” (Act 4, Scene 1 - l 189-190). This opinion of Prospero's that Caliban is incapable of being educated or trained (nurtured) has quite an aggressive tone, which is evident with
AQA ENGLISH LITERATURE B AS LEVEL recreative coursework on The Tempest
Re-Creative piece The day she was born was the day she died. I knew from that point onwards that my life would change forever. Never in all the fifty years of my existence had I faced a challenge as great as this- bidding my Rose farewell. The Rose who had stood by me throughout the years when I had nothing more than a shack made of stones to give her. The Rose who had bestowed upon me this beautiful blessing whom I now cradle in my arms- the epitome of her once striking mother, now as frail and feeble as an infant in the crib. But it was hard to appreciate this priceless gift while the bearer of the blessing was slowly withering away, leaving behind a piercing thorn lodged deep within the very core of my heart. My babe was dying before me and my back was breaking with each of her calloused breaths. I looked down at the bundle of joy in my arms and my eyes flickered over her innocent face, her bright green eyes, an epic contrast to her mother's faint mirage of green slowly lifted to meet my gaze and a sparkle began to emit from within the fathomless depths. I decided to name her Miranda, 'worthy of admiration' in the Latin tongue, and at that moment, I knew, just knew that I was going to do everything in my power to keep her safe. I watched her grow through the years, motherless. I was both a mother and a father to her and it was proving more difficult day by day, especially
Discuss the presentation of the supernatural in The Tempest and Dr. Faustus
Discuss the presentation of the supernatural in ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Dr. Faustus’ As per the dictionary definition, the term ‘supernatural’ is defined as something “unable to be explained by science or the laws of nature; of, relating to, or seeming to come from magic, a god, etc.” (Merriem Webster Dictionary) [1]. Theatre goers were somewhat fearful in regards to the topic of the supernatural – ‘’The Globe play-house shuddered at the appearance of Hamlet’s ghost, for it was true, that this might be either Denmark’s spirit or the very devil in a pleasing shape’’ [2]. This idea of the supernatural was something that was embraced during the 16th century, especially for those who were educated. Though magic and the belief in the supernatural was forbidden by the clerical, Renaissance based society of the time, Black and White Magic were the predominant types of magic that were practised by many. During this time however, for anyone persecuted for practising magic, it was punishable by death, as society was quite God-conscious. As the biblical reference suggests: “Let no one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) [3]. Statements such as this, as
