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CONTEXT
Written in 1610–1611
Most likely the last play written entirely by Shakespeare
One of only two of his plays whose plot is entirely original.
Draws on travel literature of its time• accounts of a tempest off the Bermudas that separated and
nearly wrecked a fleet of colonial ships sailing from Plymouth to Virginia.
Interested in the English colonial project
STAGING
Elizabethan and Jacobean stages were quite part bare and
simple: • little on-stage scenery, or possibilities for artificial lighting. • Much dramatic effect was left up to the minds of the audience.
However, The Tempest includes stage directions for a number
of elaborate special effects• pageants and songs• ornately costumed figures• stage-magic
The play has an eerie, dreamlike quality.
Greater emphasis on situations than
characters
Young lovers struggle to overcome
difficulty,
often presented by elders
Separation and re-unification
Deception of characters (especially
mistaken
identity)
A clever servant
Shakespearean comedy is not quite like comedy as we
now understand it. Here are some of its characteristics:
COMEDY
Unexpected twist at climax
Multiple, intertwining plots
Use of all styles of comedy
(slapstick, puns, dry humour, earthy
humour, witty banter, practical)
Pastoral elements
Happy ending
Son of Zeus
God of reason/the
rational
Son of Zeus
God of the
irrational/chaos
APOLLONIAN VS. DIONYSIAN VALUES
Apollo Dionysus
Many plays, both tragedies and comedies, are interested in the
conflict between these two sides: logical thinking will often be
pitted against emotion and instinct, either within individual
characters or with different characters representing either side.
ROMANCE
The Tempest is not your typical comedy. In fact, some don’t count it as
a comedy at all. Another possible genre to classify it is the romance.
fictitious narrative
set far away from ordinary life; often set in coastal regions
typically featuring exotic, fantastical locations and situations
dealing with themes such as
• the supernatural • wandering, exploration and discovery • transgression and redemption• loss and retrieval• exile and reunion
PLOT
A group of Italian aristocrats are caught in a storm on their way
home from a wedding in Africa. The storm was created by Prospero,
a former acquaintance of the people aboard the ship, who is now
ruler of the island onto which the aristocrats are now stranded.
Prospero created the storm to get revenge on those who wronged
him and his daughter, Miranda. Prospero, with the help of a spirit
named Ariel, messes with his victims, forcing them to reveal their
true colors and, ultimately, to repent.
PLOT
Meanwhile, Prospero also facilitates the beginning of a
new love between his daughter, Miranda, and Ferdinand,
the son of one of the Italian aristocrats.
A third plotline follows a couple of drunks and a monster
(or island native?) as they blunder around the island,
scheme (stupidly) against Prospero, and imagine ruling
the island themselves.
Prospero: rightful
Duke
of
Milan
Miranda: his
daughter
Ariel: an airy spirit
who
serves
Prospero
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Alonso: King of Naples
Sebastian: his brother
Ferdinand: his son
Antonio: Prospero’s
brother and
usurping Duke
of Milan
Gonzalo: an honest old
councilor
Trinculo: a jester
Stephano: a
drunken
butler
Caliban: an island
native
and
Prospero’s
slave
PLOT ONE PLOT TWO PLOT THREE
THEMES
Justice (subjectivity of…, illusion of…, definition of…)
Man vs. Monster (how to distinguish between the two)
Nature vs. Society / Civility vs. Barbarism
Colonialism, Conquest, and Control
Art and Creativity (the role of…, the power of…)
Freedom vs. Confinement
Compassion and Forgiveness
Farewell (a magician giving up his art)
Etc.
DISCUSSION
1. Why is it significant that the play begins with a
storm at sea?
2. How might you stage this scene? What props,
sound effects, lighting/visual effects would you
use to portray the tempest?
READING
Act I, scene ii, lines 1-186 – Miranda begs Prospero, her father, to
spare the men aboard the ship that was wrecked in the
storm. Prospero assures her that the men are fine. He then
tells Miranda about their own past, including the treacherous
roles played by the shipwrecked men.
“O, I have suffer’d / with those that I saw suffer”
(1.2.5-6)
“Mark his condition, and th’event: then tell me / if this might be a
brother.”
(1.2.117-18)
DISCUSSION
1. Why does Miranda have such immediate empathy for the men in the ship? Since we learn
that she has lived on a deserted island with her father since childhood, where would she
have gotten these ideas of pity and mercy?
2. What does it mean that Prospero has to take off his robe, his “magic garment,” before he
can tell Miranda about her history?
3. Think about how you might tell your own child or a close friend the story of your past. How
would you tend to characterize yourself and your actions in your story? What about
Prospero’s story? Does he take any responsibility for what happened to him? Should he?
4. What crimes does Antonio, Prospero’s brother, commit? What motivates him? For which
crimes is he most responsible? How do you judge him?
READING
Act I, scene ii, lines 187-373 – Prospero summons Ariel, an airy spirit and Prospero’s
servant. Prospero thanks Ariel for his role in creating the storm and begins to give
him more instruction. Ariel reminds Prospero of his promise to free Ariel soon, and
Prospero reminds Ariel why he should be grateful, not demanding. Ariel apologizes
and Prospero gives him his next instructions. Prospero wakes Miranda, and the two of
them visit Caliban, another servant, but a much more bitter one.
“Dost thou forget / from what torment I did free thee?”
(1.2.250-51)
“For I am all the subjects that you have, / which first was mine own king.”
(1.2.341-42)
DISCUSSION
1. Why does Miranda have such contempt for Caliban? Where and how
would she have gotten her ideas?
2. Why was Ariel was imprisoned by Sycorax.
3. What connection does Shakespeare establish between outward
appearance and inner spirit? Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
4. What is your reaction to Prospero’s treatment of Caliban? Does Caliban
have a legitimate complaint? Why does Prospero keep Caliban as his
servant? Why do you think Caliban attempted to “violate the honor” of
Miranda?
READING
Act I, scene ii, lines 373-502 – Ariel brings Ferdinand to Prospero and
Miranda. Miranda and Ferdinand fall instantly in love. Prospero, wishing
to slow their courtship, treats Ferdinand with feigned hostility.
“This swift business / I must uneasy make lest too light winning /
make the prize light?” (1.2.250-51)
“All corners o’th’earth /let liberty make use of – space enough /
have I in such a prison.” (1.2.493-94)
DISCUSSION
1.Prospero is happy that when Miranda first sees
Ferdinand she is immediately captivated by his
appearance? Why? What is his plan?
2.Ferdinand uses images of prison and confinement, but
with a much more positive main idea than we might
expect? Does the generally negative imagery undermine
the positive idea he means to convey?
READING
Act II, scene i – Meet Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, Gonzalo, Adrian, and Fransisco. They
banter as they assess their surroundings. Ariel puts all but Antonio and Sebastian to sleep,
and Antonio takes this opportunity to convince Sebastian to kill his brother and become
the next King of Naples.
“All things in common nature should produce / without sweat or endeavour. Treason,
felony, / sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine / would I not have, but nature should
bring forth / of it own kind all foison, all abundance to feed innocent people.” (2.1.155-60)
In reference to conscience: “If ‘twere a kibe / ‘twould put me to my slipper, but I feel
not / this deity in my bosom.” (2.1.)
DISCUSSION
1. What type of person is Gonzalo? What was his role in the plot against
Prospero? Does his behaviour seem consistent with how he acts now?
2. Sebastian and Antonio ridicule Gonzalo. What does this tell us about their
characters?
3. What is Gonzalo’s idea of the type of government or life style that could be
possible on this island? Why does he say this at this time?
4. Antonio incites Sebastian to kill his brother and take the crown of Naples.
Why? What does this tell us about Antonio’s motives? What does
Sebastian’s response tell us about him? What could Shakespeare be saying
about human nature?
READING
Act II, scene ii – Caliban is collecting wood and cursing Prospero, when Trinculo arrives.
Caliban, afraid that he is one of Prospero’s spirits, hides under his cloak. Trinculo
inspects the odd sight, but is then frightened by an approaching storm, so he
hides with Caliban under his cloak. Stephano arrives, and after some confusion
about what he has found, is reunited with Trinculo. Caliban decides to worship
Stephano (or at least his wine).
“Misery acquaints a man with / strange bed-fellows.” (2.2.38-9)
“’Ban “Ban, Ca-Caliban / has a new master—get a new man! / Freedom, high-
day!” (2.2.179-80)
DISCUSSION
1. Is it surprising that Caliban willingly worships
Stephano and desires to give him control of the
island when he resents Prospero for usurping
what he considers his rightful claim to the island?
What does this show about Caliban?
READING
Act III, scene i – Prospero watches on as Miranda and
Ferdinand profess their love for one another.
“At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer / what I
desire to give, and much less take / what I shall want…I am
your wife if you will marry me; / if not, I’ll die your maid.”
(3.1.77-84)
DISCUSSION
1. Does the extremely romantic language used by
Ferdinand and Miranda give you more or less
confidence in the authenticity of their affection
for one another?
2. How might Miranda’s speech beginning at line 77
be seen to challenge traditional gender roles?
READING
Act III, scene ii – As Ariel watches on invisible, Caliban
proposes that Stephano kill Prospero and take control of the island.
CALIBAN: “Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises, /sounds,
and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not…”
STEPHANO: “This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where
I shall have my music for nothing.” (3.2.131-41)
DISCUSSION
1. Assuming that this subplot serves to emphasize
(through comparison) the follies depicted in
either of the other plots, what aspects of society
or human nature are being ridiculed? In other
words, what attitudes and/or behaviours do
Stephano/Trinculo/Caliban demonstrate that are
similar to those shown by
Antonio/Sebastien/Alonso/Gonzalo?