In what ways does Prospero use (and abuse) his power? Has he learned anything by the end of the play?
In what ways does Prospero use (and abuse) his power in The Tempest? Has he learned anything by the end of the play? In "The Tempest", Prospero has become obsessed with power and magic, this is proven in the past when he pushed his duties of Duke of Milan aside, giving his brother Antonio governing authority in order to learn the arts of magic. By the time the play begins, he is able to conjure up storms and spirits, and cast spells and charms over others. He has the power to raise a tempest at the start of a play. His magical power is also used on many other occasions. Prospero brought Miranda up on the island for twelve years; he explains this to her and the story of how his brother Antonio had plotted against him with the king of Naples to fully usurp his obligations as duke of Milan, "o'er- prized all popular rate, in my false brother Awkward and evil nature: and my trust, like a good patient, did beget of him" This causes Miranda to worship Prospero for what he has done, raising her on his own for the past twelve years. "Your tale, sir, would cure deafness", Prospero already gains power over her when he shows her how he has nurtured and cared for her, making her feel like she owes him for what he has done. "Alack, what trouble was I then for you!" He uses his magic powers to soothe his daughter, casting a spell to send her to sleep after he has told her
'The Tempest' Act II Scene I.
'The Tempest' Act II Scene I In this scene the characters of Gonzalo, Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio contrast each other as follows. Gonzalo is full of good cheer and 'merry', he is an optimist and tries to cheer up Alonso by telling him that he does 'have cause of joy'. Alonso in contrast will not be cheered up and is manically depressed because he believes that Ferdinand has drowned. Alonso finds Gonzalo tiresome, commenting to Gonzalo 'you cram these words into mine ears, against the stomach of my sense.' Antonio and Sebastian pair at the beginning of the scene and mock Gonzalo sarcastically saying that he is 'winding up the watch of his wit.' Our encounter with Antonio whereby he shows no remorse what so ever for usurping Milan from Prospero confirms Prospero's description of Antonio's ruthless greediness and craving for power. From the previous scene we are aware of Antonio's ruthlessness when we discover that he was well prepared to kill his brother Prospero in order to gain full control of Milan, and might well have done so had they not feared a revolt from the Milanese people in response. In this scene our encounter confirms what Prospero said when we see Antonio trying to persuade Sebastian to kill his brother Alonso whilst he is asleep and steel his throne in Naples, just as Antonio did with Prospero in Milan. The ideas presented in Gonzalo's picture of the ideal
Write about what Shakespeare's theatre was like and how this links to 'The Tempest'. Next talk about the characters Ariel and Caliban and say how Prospero treats them. Which character do you prefer and why?
THE TEMPEST Write about what Shakespeare's theatre was like and how this links to 'The Tempest'. Next talk about the characters Ariel and Caliban and say how Prospero treats them. Which character do you prefer and why? William Shakespeare wrote 'The Tempest' at the earlier stage of his career. The Shakespeare's theatre was for all classes of people, from the poorest to the richest. There were three different places for people to either sit or stand and watch the play. The Groundlings had to stand in the yard, because they only had to pay one penny. The place of Gentlefolk's was in galleries for the price of two pennies and the lords would get to sit next to the stage and watch the play, because they paid twelve pennies. The theatre had no scenery. It only had a few props in the upper room where the machinery was located. Bu the language that the players used was very detailed and strong, which would have created a picture of the scene in audience's mind. As when Ariel describes that how the created storm was, she describes the scene of the play as well by the language that she talks. 'To every article. I boarded the king's ship. Now on the bear, Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flamed amazement. Something I'd divide, And burn in many places; on the topmast, The yards and bowsprit would I flame distinctly, Then meet and join, Jove's lightning's, the precursors
Throughout of Act 1 Scene Shakespeare keeps the audiences attention in many ways. Prospero is the main character in the Tempest and throughout the play he changes his mood a lot. This keeps the audience interested a
The Tempest is written by William Shakespeare it is the last complete play that he is believed to have written. The Tempest is unlike any other play that he has written because it follows the unities. The unites are the principles of drama established by ancient Greeks. The play must be in the space of one day, all of the action must relate to the main plot and all happen in the same place. The Tempest means storm, which is a symbol for change. Because at the beginning of a storm it is always dark and cloudy, however after the storm has ended it is bright and the air is fresh. The theme of the play is also change. At the end of the play when everyone is going to leave the island Prospero puts down his magic staff and garments. This relates to Shakespeare since it was his last play it could symbolize Shakespeare put his pen down and giving up writing. Super natural powers are also another theme in the play. In Shakespeare's time people believed in witchcraft. Also sailors going to other countries would bring back stories of strange civilizations and creatures, which the audience would have heard of. The first scene is very important because it introduces the characters and the themes. The first scene starts with a storm with thunder and lightning this would have immediately caught the audience's attention. The storm shows a disorder in the play. The boatswain
The Tempest - Prospero's Rebirth.
Written by Maggie Quale Prospero's Rebirth Prospero is a man who struggles with his humanity. As a leader and father he is dichotomous - equally judicious and naïve. His exile from Milan is proof of his inadequacy as a Duke, but the loyalty demonstrated by his devoted companion Gonzalo as he saved him from death, suggests that he is also worthy of allegiance. As a father to Miranda and master to Caliban and Ariel, Prospero is equally manipulative and compassionate. Within the scenes of The Tempest, and the historical events narrated by Prospero, we watch him metamorphose from self-absorbed and over-critical to someone coming to terms with his own failings, able to forgive others' transgressions and relinquish his dependence on magic to control others. His emotional transformation at the play's culmination is one of reparation and personal growth. What sets Prospero apart from the other characters in The Tempest and those seeking revenge in other of Shakespeare's plays is his ultimate penitence. The positive attributes of his personality enable a powerful transformation. His use of control becomes a window to his auspicious inner qualities, represented by their outward manifestations of ascendancy on those who he protects. Consider his love for Miranda exhibited in his careful selection of a mate and his attempt to portray Miranda as an incomparable treasure to Ferdinand.
Is Prospero the wronged Duke of Milan, or a cruel colonial master?
Is Prospero the wronged Duke of Milan, or a cruel colonial master? Prospero had his throne usurped by his brother and he and his daughter set adrift to survive only by chance. Prospero appears to wish to restore justice and himself to power by any means at his disposal which includes magic and enslaving Caliban and Ariel. Ultimately there is a happy ending; Prospero forgives everyone; Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love, Ariel gains his freedom and Caliban remains on the island. However the end does not necessarily justify the means, in that although Prospero has been treated badly himself, his treatment of Caliban and Ariel is harsh and immoral. Consequently the sympathy of the audience moves between the characters, initially having sympathy for the shipwrecked and usurped Prospero and later, surprisingly, for the much maligned and manipulated Caliban as the audience gains different insights into the events, characters and the challenging situation the characters find themselves in. When Prospero first arrives on the island, he enslaves Caliban and Ariel; his relationship with Caliban is very negative, he does not treat Caliban well and makes horrible threats; 'Thou most lying slave, Whom stripes may move, not kindness' In contrast, Prospero's relationship with Ariel is mainly positive and Ariel serves Prospero willingly; 'Told thee no lies, made no mistakes, serv'd
'The Tempest is concerned with government - of the self and of the state' Discuss with reference to Act One.
Katrina Stalker English Literature The Tempest - Essay Question 'The Tempest is concerned with government - of the self and of the state' Discuss with reference to Act One Act one of 'The Tempest' takes place at sea during a storm which the nobles of Milan and Naples get caught in and also on an island inhabited by Prospero, Miranda, Ariel and Caliban. Prospero brings the nobles to the island through his creation of the storm. Act one is also concerned with the theme of government of the self and of the state to a certain extent. Prospero is the character most obviously concerned with this theme. His preoccupation with being self-discipline led him to neglect his commitment to the state as the Duke of Milan. Prospero describes himself as being too 'rapt in secret studies' of 'the liberal arts' making him 'cast upon (his) brother (Antonio)' the Dukedom. Prospero was too passionately involved with his studies, this is clear from the words 'rapt' and 'transported' that have been used to describe his mentality towards his studies. It could be seen that Prospero's need at 'bettering (his) mind' could lead him to become a better person possibly a more effective leader, however Prospero began to withdrawn from his leadership to concentrate on governing himself rather then his nation. I believe it is clear that Prospero is a poor political leader and this can be seem when he
Exploring the themes of Imprisonment, Freedom and Authority in the Tempest.
Exploring the themes of Imprisonment, Freedom and Authority in the Tempest In the Tempest you see a variety of themes set in many different contexts which develop further as the play progresses, many of the themes are based on what would have been current issues around the time the play was written. However the strongest of these themes have to be Freedom, imprisonment and the Authority, which Shakespeare has decided specifically to highlight. This is probably due to the fact that the Tempest was written in the early 17th Century, which is a period in time well known for the very powerful monarchy. It is also during this era that Magicians were very high profile, and people in these times actually believed the magic they witnessed on stage and therefore in this play the audience would have believed the unrealistic elements and spellbinding scenes that take place. Such as Prospero having the ability to create the illusion of a storm to the sailors and having a spiritual slave. The Oxford Dictionary definition of Imprisonment is "put into prison, confine". An overview of the play would be that only Ariel was imprisoned in the tree and Ferdinand in a prison, however an in depth look at the play shows that there are many other examples of confinement, be it physically or emotionally. The definition of Freedom is "the condition of being free or unrestricted", which we see
The Tempest
The Tempest Act 1 scene 1(the storm): The opening scene of the Tempest I think is brilliant. There is an instant unsuspecting panic, which quickly gains ones attention. Usually in a play there is a build up to a dramatic moment but The Tempest opens with this and the dramatic moment is when there is the inevitability of death. One can see the last instant panic and hear the words of lost hope, and people preparing for the final moment, "give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. Cheerily good hearts out of our way I say". This was said by the boatswain, and it is an example of how Shakespeare used a great climatic moment like a shipwreck, in the beginning scene. This had a brilliant effect, as it shows the flare of emotion and the intensity of the situation, which grabs ones, attention, and then holds it throughout the play. This scene is also interesting, as even at the supposed final moment of Anthonio's life, he still holds himself above others, "Hang cur hang you whoresen, insolent noise maker, we are less afraid to be drown'd than thou art." This is a great example of the insolence of man, and how one lets out his anger to another as to relieve it from themselves. Shakespeare has created an art of depicting ones emotions and in this scene, he portrays emotion at its highest
Analysis of the Tempest by Shakespeare
Analysis of the Tempest by Shakespeare Throughout time various tales have been told in diverse ways to provide us with entertainment. The most popular and interesting ones sometimes make it by as classics. There are many different elements to a classic play or novel, which a number of authors can produce. Shakespeare was perhaps one the best known classic authors to generate such plays. The Tempest is one of William Shakespeare's plays that undeniably deserves to be considered a classic because of the use language to convey meaning, the moral lessons taught, and the characteristics presented by Prospero. The way Shakespeare uses language in the play is the first reason for the play being considered a classic. One way the language skills are displayed is by putting depth meaning into a word. The word "maze" is one detail that shows depth in meaning by describing how the noblemen have been travelling around the island, which is really created to be a maze for them (Shakespeare 56). Bate, is another detail that means to leave out of account but is sarcastically used to answer a question of accepting a person (29). Other examples are lines, which also contain intensity in meaning. Fernando speaks the phrase "the white cold virgin snow upon my heart abates the ardor of my liver" when he proclaims his love for Miranda (64). Another detail used in the play is when Antonio says