The Tempest Analysis

The Tempest is a romance play because it takes place in a distant environment and incorporates magical spells and spirits. Not only that but there is a combination of both humor and love that takes place as well. The tempest in this play is the storm that cripples the ship carrying the dukes and king’s advisors across the sea. Unknown by the dukes, the storm has been brought upon them by Prospero who is the former Duke of Milan. Prospero was able to create the storm because he has magical abilities that he acquired soon after he was unrightfully unseated from his status as Duke by his brother Antonio. Antonio and his co-conspirators are aboard the ship and it is Prospero’s intentions to bring them to justice for the way that they slighted Prospero more than a decade before.

Within this play exists many instances of magic and other worldliness that are typical characteristics of a Romance play. Besides Prospero’s magical powers there are two characters that are not exactly human and have magical capabilities themselves. These two characters are named Ariel and Caliban. Both are the servants of Prospero and do his bidding. Ariel is some sort of spirit that has magical powers and can take the shape of anything. Prospero saved Ariel from the dreaded witch Sycorax. Ariel is a reliable servant to Prospero and does pretty much everything he says to do, if Ariel is to refuse then Prospero will deny him freedom from bondage. Caliban is another somewhat mystical being on the island and is the son of the deceased witch Sycorax. Caliban, believing he is the rightful ruler of the island, is more disobedient to Prospero and even plots to kill him in the second act. Caliban is also berated by both Prospero and his daughter Miranda for his beast-like nature.

Another aspect of this play that represents the characteristics of a Romance style play is the presence of romance. Prospero’s daughter Miranda has been shielded from society nearly her entire life as her and Prospero have resided on the island for the past twelve years. She has never seen a man other than her father or Caliban. The next man she sees is Ferdinand who is the son of Alonso, the man that helped Antonio unseat Prospero twelve years prior. Thought to have been killed in the storm, Ferdinand has washed ashore on the island and has been held captive and guest by Prospero. Prospero’s plan is to get him to wed his daughter Miranda and fortunately Miranda instantly falls in love with him. Miranda, having been shielded her whole life, is somewhat naïve in nature but so is Ferdinand. Prospero later reveals to Alonso and the other dukes that Ferdinand is safe and even more is getting married to Miranda. The love between Ferdinand and Miranda is congruent with the characteristics of a Romance genre play as both the young man and woman of the play fall simply in love upon meeting one another on a magical island.

The play ends with Prospero making amends with the men who once treacherously unseated him as duke of Milan and forced him to live in exile. Prospero also reveals the newly to wed Miranda and Ferdinand to the others whom presumed Ferdinand to be dead after the storm hit. Prospero also gives both Ariel and Caliban their freedom as he releases them from his service forever. The dukes and Prospero then all sail home and Prospero is reseated in his rightful position of Duke.

words: 589

The Tempest

Shakespeare was very different in his approach to writing this play. Immediately the readers are taken into a ferocious and massive storm that you can only imagine and not see. Which I thought also was a big part of the play, and because he did not have the special effects like we are privileged to have now he had to use his words and metaphors to explain where the location and surroundings were. This happened multiple times throughout this play, for example when he had to explain Prospero’s island and also made sure that you understand and imagine how it was for the men who were stranded. Shakespeare also does an amazing job of explaining how the Royal crew member’s on the ship were separated into three groups and how each were effected by the storm.  For example without the storm Antonio would not have been able to convince Sebastian to kill his own brother, Prospero.

Also, in the beginning of the play I felt that Prospero is not a good character, he tries to get Miranda not to fall in love with Ferdinand, even though he is a good man and would be a good fit for his daughter.  He also uses this magical power to do things that are not only weird but I think that made it unrealistic or almost hallucinogenic. This was the first time I have really judged Shakespeare’s play in a negative tone because I like plays that involve no fantasy in them, but he uses Prospero to show the manipulation of magic, like bringing the ghost to the banquet.

Overall I thought that this was a great play, and it grasped you from the first minute and kept you engaged and interested to see who either was going to fall in love, or whom Prospero was going to punish next. I think the overall message of this play was to show even through chaos (the storm) and troubles (love) people are still loyal to one another and ultimately have good faith. Even though people were trying to accomplish power (Prospero) there were still good messages in the play and I overall enjoyed reading Shakespeare’s work.

Foreshadowing in the title “The Tempest”

When reading Shakespeare’s The Tempest, I realized I didn’t even know what this word meant. When I searched for the definition of the word I found, “a violent windstorm, especially one with rain, hail, or snow” (dictionary.com).  I found this interesting that Shakespeare would name this play after the opening scene versus one of the character’s names like we’ve seen in the past plays: Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, Titus Andronicus etc. This made me think about why Shakespeare would make a change like this. I personally believe that we see Shakespeare reaching new heights in his writing, imagery, and symbolism in this play.

Yes, the play opens with “The Tempest” and it plays a significant role in setting the scene of how the following events will play out, but to name an entire play off of this made me think that Shakespeare wanted to use it as almost a foreshadowing. The play begins with the chaotic storm and us hearing of the awful acts that led to Prospero and Miranda arrival to the island. Furthermore, Shakespeare brings magic into this play compared to keeping it very realistic. We see this as Ariel (a spirit) says, “Who, with a charm join’d to their suffer’d labour, / I have left asleep; and for the rest o’ the fleet / Which I dispersed, they all have met again” (1.2. 357-359). I relate this to the chaos of a storm, where everything seems to be happening very quickly. As a storm progresses we see the maximum amount of damage occur. In the play, we see this when Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo begin to plot Prospero’s murder. Caliban says, “Having first seized his books, or with a log / Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, / Or cut his wezand with thy knife” (3.2. 1484-1486). This is a direct threat to the main character of the play and we as the audience fear this may be the end of Prospero. Yet, like any storm, the bad weather slowly fades. I believe the scene where Ariel confronts Alonso and Antonio of their wrong-doings to Prospero, that this is Shakespeare’s way of slowly having the storm begin to roll out. Thus Prospero begins to show signs of closure when he says, “And these mine enemies are all knit up / In their distractions; they now are in my power; / And in these fits I leave them, while I visit / Young Ferdinand, whom they suppose is drown’d, / And his and mine loved darling” (3.3. 1670-1674). We also see Shakespeare allowing the love between Miranda and Ferdinand to develop into marriage.

I believe that Shakespeare will end this play with a happy ending, much like a rainbow after the storm. Thus, leading to my beliefs that Shakespeare intended for the name of the play to be a “foreshadowing” of a happy ending.

(word count: 372)

References

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Ed. Brainerd Kellogg. New York: Clark & Maynard, 1892. Shakespeare Online. 20 Feb. 2010. 8 Nov. 2014. http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=tempest&Scope=entire&pleasewait=1&msg=pl#a2,s2

“tempest.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 23 Nov. 2014. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tempest>.

 

Analysis of Caliban

In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, I noticed several of the themes we have already covered thus far in our class. We have read about power, love, hate, jealousy, revenge, suicide, violence, rape, and more, and I think it’s interesting that this play focuses on many of these issues in one.

To me, one of the most interesting characters in this play is Caliban. Caliban is Prospero’s slave/servant and uses only magic to control situations. Caliban is the only native of the island, and claims that it is essentially his. Because magic during this time often went against many citizen’s beliefs (due to their Christian faith), Caliban comes off as a bad person in the beginning. Caliban also wants to seek revenge on Prospero for making him is slave and for tricking him. Prospero also however, claims that Caliban has done bad things such as trying to rape Miranda even after Prospero claimed that he educated Caliban.

Caliban’s complexity is interesting to me. He appears to be half-man, half-monster, and the way he uses magic on other people makes his character unique. Caliban does not welcome the education that Prospero has given him, claiming it’s changed him to due to him being a servant and under oppression from Prospero. He says to Prospero and Miranda in Act 1, Scene 2:

“You taught me language, and my profit on’t

Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you

For learning me your language!”(1.2.368-370).

This demonstrates Caliban’s attitude towards Prospero, while also demonstrating that the only use for Prospero’s teaching Caliban was to curse him and bring his downfall. As the play proceeds, Caliban becomes more and more monster-like, attempting to seek revenge on Prospero in any way possible. He says in Act 2, Scene 2:

“All the infections that the sun sucks up

From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him

By inchmeal a disease! His spirits hear me

And yet I needs must curse. But they’ll nor pinch,

Fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i’ th’ mire,

Nor lead me like a firebrand in the dark

Out of my way, unless he bid ’em. But

For every trifle are they set upon me,

Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me,

And after bite me, then like hedgehogs which

Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount

Their pricks at my footfall. Sometime am I

All wound with adders who with cloven tongues

Do hiss me into madness” (2.2.1-16).

I thought this was an interesting quote for several reasons. First it reinforces the revenge Caliban seeks against Prospero. It also demonstrates that he is still a slave, by essentially saying that nothing bad will happen to him unless Prospero “bid’ them.” I also think Caliban’s language is more interesting than most other characters. The way he speaks in metaphors at the end of this quote, using “devil-like” creatures such as snakes, reinforces his rebellious nature, and also reinforces Shakespeare’s ability to manipulate language. His work seems even more brilliant to me in this play, due to the complexity he was able to give his characters. Caliban is just one example from this play of a complex character that is challenging to figure out.

Word Count: 395

The Tempest

Shakespeare’s The Tempest is definitely the oddest of the famous playwright’s works’ that I have read thus far. I say odd primarily because of the use of magic and supernatural elements in such a forthright way. Indeed, I found myself questioning what I just read, thinking perhaps my grasp of Elizabethan English was loose and that I was misinterpreting the different scenes. Alas, my initial thoughts were proven true – the play definitely incorporated magic and then some.

Admittedly, I am a fan of the supernatural and the magical and therefore found the play quite enjoyable. I was merely surprised and the change of genre that seemed to have occurred between this and the other, more ‘realistic’ plays. True, I found myself perplexed early on in the reading whereby I was attempting to understand the connection between the shipwreck and the inhabitants (e.g. Prospero). Admittedly, I actually thought that the setting (SCENE II. The island. Before PROSPERO’S cell.) was an actual prison of some sort and that Prospero and Miranda were detained on this island. Well, after researching this slight thorn and realizing cell means dwelling, I was able to move on with the play and understand it (the theme, motives, etc.) more clearly. As mentioned earlier, magic was of particular interest to me. The fact that Prospero is a wizard (or warlock) that works his learned powers to manipulate the world and bend wills was very enjoyable to me. Moreover, I enjoyed how Shakespeare tied the shipwreck to Prospero only after the wreck (or apparent) occurred, leaving the reader on edge:

A confused noise within: ‘Mercy on us!’– ‘We split, we split!’–‘Farewell, my wife and children!’– ‘Farewell, brother!’–‘We split, we split, we split!’

ANTONIO

Let’s all sink with the king.

SEBASTIAN

Let’s take leave of him.

GONZALO

Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an

acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any

thing. The wills above be done! but I would fain

die a dry death. (Act I, Scene I)

Then, of course there was the magic of the island itself. Specifically of interests was the creature Caliban, whom is the son of a witch and now slave to Prospero. Although probably wrong of me, I found the exchanges between Prospero and Caliban most humorous at times. Take for instance the first interaction (as seen by the audience) between the two:

CALIBAN

As wicked dew as e’er my mother brush’d

With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen

Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye

And blister you all o’er!

PROSPERO

For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,

Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins

Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,

All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch’d

As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging

Than bees that made ’em (Act I, Scene II)

I can easily picture these two going back-and-forth throughout the play, almost akin to a grandparent that threatens to whack you for being insubordinate. Indeed, there are serious conflict between the two, which Prospero holds the upper-hand on because of his mastery, but the dialogue that transpires is none the less funny.

Source: http://shakespeare.mit.edu/tempest/full.html

WC-374 w/o quotes (537 with quotes)

The Tempest Acts I-III

The Tempest

 

During my reading of the first three acts of The Tempest, I had an immediate flashback to almost every single play we have read thus far. A common theme I have found is the theme of power, influence, and control, especially that which takes place within a family. In Act I Scene II, Prospero and his daughter Miranda enter and are having a pretty in-depth conversation. He seems to be sitting her down and explaining to her his past and how he once was considered the “Duke of Milan” (1.2.64). I found this to be an example of power and control because not only was Prospero sharing with Miranda his previous status as Duke, but also he seems to have withheld this pertinent information for her whole life. She seems to be very naïve as her father has had some truths kept from her. Further, Miranda is asking how they came “ashore” on this island and Prospero tells a tale of the charitable person that helped them and of his enemies that just arrived to the island as well. I think I was initially pretty confused by what was happening because it did not seem real that Prospero’s own daughter was on this island with him but had no idea how she got there or who he truly was for that matter. My confusion settled when I took to realize how often Shakespeare’s plays do not make “sense” and are often filled with irony and bewilderment. For instance in Twelfth Night I never understood how it was possible that Viola could dress as a man without looking preposterous and being suspected by either the Duke or Olivia. Another irony is how in Titus, Titus spent the entire play righting the wrongs of others’ actions against his daughter then in the end he killed her himself. I think that Shakespeare found humor in creating these plays in that his audience would probably never entirely understand the reasoning behind some of the scenes.

Following this conversation between Prospero and Miranda, Ariel the spirit is introduced. It seems that Prospero has entire control over this spirit as we see in line 286 Ariel demands for his freedom and Prospero will not grant it. Then after some conversing back and forth about the “demands” Prospero gives Ariel, in lines 349-350 he states that after completing these demands, Ariel will end up getting the freedom he wants and he is excited about this. In the second half of Act I Scene II, Ferdinand enters. He is speaking to Prospero and Miranda immediately believes he is a “spirit” of some kind and Prospero explains he is in fact human. This supported my initial belief that Miranda is extremely sheltered by her father and does not know much about the outside world. Throughout the first three acts, instances of this nature were quite common and as I stated pretty baffling somewhat making it difficult to follow. I look forward to reading Act IV and V to see how the actions of Prospero end up playing out as he has exerted so much power and control over the many characters introduced so far.

(WC: 525)

 

Citations

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. The Oxford Shakespeare. Bartlby Great Books Online, 21 Nov. 2014. Web.

http://www.bartleby.com/46/5/

The Tempest Act I: Summary & Analysis of Prospero

Through this play we can see Shakespeare’s diversity in writing. Through the first half of this class I was expecting to read a number of battles to the throne and variations to that concept, but here we come across something slightly different. It is developed in a realism fashion, but a mythological one with magic with spells and other tricks. Though the aspect taken on the play is different the power hungry, totalitarian characteristics still exist through the former Duke of Milan, Prospero.

This play begins in a frantic rush of confusion in the face of a fierce storm in the sea, where a number of shipmen and nobles are on are on a ship in the midst of this. The first scene is full of chaos and fear as the characters, whose names we do not know until later acts. This scene opens further down the plot line than we are aware as we, like the characters, are thrown into a confusing scene.

The ship finally wrecks and in the next scene we see Prospero and Miranda (Prospero’s daughter) watching this scene develop. There is a sign of foreshadowing here to Prospero’s magic ability when Miranda asks that no one on the ship to be injured and Prospero promises her that nothing will happen. Prospero begins to tell the story of his past life being the Duke of Milan and how he was well respected for his ingenuity. He goes on to tell how he got bored with it and how Antonio, Prospero’s brother, colluded with the King of Naples to take over as Duke. Prospero and Miranda then fled from Milan after Antonio and the King of Naples sent an army to rid of Prospero. Here we see the first clear signs of Prospero’s magic when he puts Miranda to sleep. Prospero then begins to speak with his spirit, Ariel, who we learn was the reason for the weather behind this storm and the guaranteed the safety of everyone on board.

Caliban and Ferdinand are then introduced. Caliban is Prospero’s servant, who once used to be the sole owner of this land. Caliban is extremely frustrated with the fact that Prospero took over, but appears to have no other choice. Prospero is very threatening towards Caliban and his disrespect towards him, seen through this line:

“Get out of here, you son of a bitch! Bring us wood, and be quick about it. Are you shrugging and making faces, you evil thing? If you neglect my orders or do them grudgingly, I’ll double you up with pains and cramps”

Ferdinand, Prince of Naples, and Miranda are introduced, and they are immediately in love. Prospero finds this to be happening to quickly and chooses to imprison Ferdinand by forcing a spell on him, which doesn’t allow him to move.

This scene was key to establishing the magic behind the scenes of Prospero. Ariel is found to be the aid behind Prospero’s plan and how Ariel is servant to Prospero for serving him. We also start to see Prospero’s inability to trust anyone and his sense of entitlement. Prospero, unlike Richard III for example, doesn’t use manipulation to get what he wants, but rather his magic and assistance from Ariel to do so. Prospero does however, use manipulation to keep Ariel under his wing.

This play is different from the others in the sense that it does use magic and take a mythological aspect to it with the spirit Ariel, yet it does have a similar character complex through Prospero and Antonio. We find Antonio to be like every other power hungry character in Shakespeare’s plays and Prospero to be fighting to gain some sort of revenge, similar to that of Iago in Othello.

WC 570

The Tempest Act 1

Act 1 begins unusually for a Shakespearian play. In the plays that we had read before this one, exposition was easily interpreted through dialogue between characters or one characters soliloquy. We knew the plots and plans of both Richard III and lago in their respective plays before the first Act was up. This play however, we are not even introduced to characters, and are only given their titles as a means to identify them. This creates a more hectic scene and gives the audience and idea on how dire the situation is. If it too much conflict to introduce characters, you know something must be terribly wrong.

 

Another interesting thing about this scene was the conflict that arose between the nobles and the Boatswain. Immediately, the storm endangered the lives of both parties, but only the Boatswain had experience in dealing with the natural disaster. Because of this, their job is to navigate the storm while keeping the occupants of the ship alive, so they send the nobles under deck in order for them to stay out of the way. The nobles were obviously not used to being talked down to in such a manner complain. This may have been a reason why Shakespeare was so popular with the common man.   In this scene, the nobles may be more famous, better regarded in society, and richer than the Boatswain, but in the middle of a tempest none of that mattered. Survival was the only thing the Boatswain had their minds on, not who was higher on the totem pole. The dynamic of the working class suddenly becoming more valuable than a prince and a king almost instantly was almost astounding. It as if the nobles had home field advantage in society, but out on the open ocean was the territory of the Boatswain. Such a comparison is very humbling and makes the audience think that a person’s worth is not determined based on their wealth, but by what they can offer to situations they are placed in. Nobles can offer more than Boatswain in the community, but if I were in that storm, I would trade a hundred nobles for just one Boatswain.

 

WC: 365

The Tempest: Acts I-III

In the opening act of this play, a ship full of various men is battling to save their lives as a tempestuous storm rages upon them; it is this very storm that places these men in the exact spot a man called Prospero, desires.  Prospero was once the Duke of Milan before his brother, Antonio, had his titled removed and sent him and his daughter off into the sea; the two would not have survived if their boat wasn’t stashed with books and other necessities by Gonzalo.  The real story begins twelve years after Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, land upon an island.  Over the years, Prospero gains magical powers through his books and acquires to slaves, Ariel and Caliban.  Ariel is a spirit of some sorts and helps Prospero fulfill his intentions and desires through the use of his sorcery; he is happy to serve and help Prospero as he will be set free once his work is done.

Prospero’s plan is to seek justice for the betrayal he experienced; with Ariel responsible for the tempest upon the ship full of people whom he wants justice from, he can begin his plots.  The men upon the ship are now shipwrecked on Prospero’s island, giving him the upper hand.  His intentions are quite simple, his dukedom restored and a peaceful life.  Interestingly enough, this play may seem to be another revenge centered tale, but it is in the intentions of Prospero and the way in which he executes them, that sets this story apart from ones like Richard III. Prospero did use his slaves to persuade, trick, and advance his plans to seek justice, but his intentions regarding their lives were kept in tact.  Unlike many of the other revenge driven characters Shakespeare has introduced to us, he does not want to kill anyone or create more injustice, he just wants what was taken from him replaced.

Prospero and Ariel use their sorcery to get all of the men in one place at the same time so that he can show his case of injustice and have his title and honor restored; Ariel delivers the intentions of Prospero to the men:

For that’s my business to you,—that you three/
From Milan did supplant good Prospero;/
Expos’d unto the sea, which hath requit it,/
Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed/
The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have/
Incens’d the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures,/
Against your peace./ (III.III.85-91)

Meanwhile, the young Prince of Naples, Ferdinand and his daughter, fall in love after he wanders about the island.  Prospero is happy with this as well as their arrangement to marry; this is yet another quality that sets the tone of this play apart from those of revenge.  He wants not only his own happiness, but that of his daughter and he cares about the well being of those around him.  I believe that Prospero means well, as there is no true “fair” way to solve an injustice.  But, the way he goes about his business is quite honorable compared to the characters of Titus!  Humble may not be a word to describe the temperament of Prospero, but he does try to keep his dignity in tact while trying to restore his and his daughters life.  Who wouldn’t go a bit stir crazy after being marooned on an island for twelve years!?

Shelby

(WC: 564)

Reference:

Shakespeare, William. “The Tempest. Act III. Scene III. William Shakespeare. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare.” The Tempest. Act III. Scene III. William Shakespeare. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

The Tempest

The first impression I got from reading this play was the chaos of the opening scene. Shakespeare throws the audience into a chaotic scene of a fierce storm, and I imagine that it was up to the limited special effects of the time to ensure that this was perceived as a boat. The first word of the play is spoken by the ship’s master. He yells “Boatswain!” (I,i,1) to Antonio and this also indicates to the audience the setting. In these first 3 acts, another setting that is left to the imagination of the audience is the island on which the men are stranded (Prospero’s island). For example, Gonzalo describes the island by stating, “Here is everything advantageous to life” (II, i, 45). On the other hand, Adrian describes it as “Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible” (Ii, i, 35). Gonzalo seems to have a more positive perspective about the island because he is grateful about surviving the wreck and seems innocent in this sense. When initially arriving on the island, Gonzalo states, “You have cause, so have we all, of joy, for our escape is much beyond our loss” (II, i, 2-4). The other men proceed to mock him for his optimism, so it is perhaps because of his innocent nature that he views the island in a positive way. I believe that Shakespeare took advantage of the lack of special effects during his time by using the words and imagery of his characters paint the landscape for the audience. What’s more, the descriptions given by the characters not only created the scenery for the audience, but served as reflections about their character, their assumption, and their beliefs. The inability to create an elaborate stage set up in turn was made useful as if offered another dimension of character development.

Another impression I got from the first part of this play was that Prospero seems more like a villain than a favorable protagonist. However, Shakespeare has him as the central, main character of this play. He seems very selfish and uses his magic to reach his own goals at the expense of others (even at the expense of those he loves). An example of this is found in Act I, scene ii in which he lies to his daughter Miranda about Ferdinand’s worthiness in order to prevent her from falling in love with him. It seems odd to me that a father would manipulate and lie to his daughter in order to continue his own selfish plans for revenge. It is hard to empathize with Prospero because of actions like this, even though he is the central character so far.

Word count 421