The Importance of Magic in The Tempest

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Discuss the role of magic in The Tempest

By Jaidee Spear

Magic was a controversial subject in the time of Shakespeare. In Italy in 1600,  was burnt at the stake for his occult studies. Outside the Catholic world, in Protestant England, where Shakespeare wrote The Tempest, magic was also taboo; not all "magic", however, was considered evil. The magic in The Tempest was able to create many abnormal happenings as well as different feelings that are shown through the characters of Milan. The beneficial type of magic was created by studies that were done in secret and used to discover new forces, and to study the greater effects of physics. All the magic that took place results in many of the illusions that were created on the island.

The Tempest is unlike many of Shakespeare’s other plays in that it depends almost entirely on the use of supernatural powers. For example, in Macbeth, the witches may have an influence on the hero’s behaviour, but he has free will and is capable of determining his own actions. However, the destiny of all of the characters in The Tempest, no matter how different they are, is decided by supernatural intervention rather than by the character’s free will or their own intentions. As already mentioned, Shakespeare lived in a time that wholly believed in magic. Society was harsh and children were educated about magic as children today are educated about mathematics or science.

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Within the play magic is used as a kind of illusion. Ariel is shown as a spirit throughout the play who can create music, and fly freely about the island.  Ariel could form all aspects of fire, air, earth, and water; the characters could not always see Ariel but could always here him. Ariel is a very mysterious character who, when he is not serving Prospero, sometimes uses his magic to cause mischief.

One of Ariel’s key roles in The Tempest is to provide music; this is one of the main forms of magical effect within the ...

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