Shakespeare

🎈Shakespeare Unit 12 – The Tempest: Magic and Colonial Redemption

The Tempest, Shakespeare's final solo play, weaves magic, power, and colonialism into a tale of redemption. Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan turned sorcerer, orchestrates a shipwreck to bring his enemies to his island, setting in motion a complex plot of revenge and reconciliation. The play explores themes of control and freedom through characters like Ariel and Caliban, while also commenting on European colonialism. Prospero's journey from vengeance to forgiveness, culminating in his renunciation of magic, reflects broader questions about the nature of power and justice.

Plot Overview

  • The Tempest opens with a storm conjured by Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, causing a shipwreck on his island
  • Prospero, a powerful sorcerer, lives on the island with his daughter Miranda, the spirit Ariel, and the deformed slave Caliban
  • The shipwrecked passengers include Alonso (King of Naples), his son Ferdinand, his brother Sebastian, and Prospero's treacherous brother Antonio
  • Prospero manipulates events to bring Ferdinand and Miranda together, causing them to fall in love
  • Caliban plots with Stephano and Trinculo, two drunken servants, to overthrow Prospero but their plan is foiled
    • Ariel uses magic to confuse and manipulate the conspirators, leading them into a trap
  • Prospero confronts his brother Antonio and Alonso, revealing his true identity and reclaiming his dukedom
  • In the end, Prospero renounces his magic, frees Ariel, and prepares to return to Milan with Miranda and Ferdinand, who are to be married

Characters and Relationships

  • Prospero: The protagonist, the rightful Duke of Milan, and a powerful sorcerer who uses magic to control events on the island
    • He has a complex relationship with his daughter Miranda, whom he loves deeply but also manipulates
  • Miranda: Prospero's innocent and naive daughter who falls in love with Ferdinand
  • Ariel: A spirit bound to serve Prospero, who carries out his magical commands and helps him achieve his goals
    • Ariel longs for freedom and is eventually granted it by Prospero
  • Caliban: A deformed slave, the son of the witch Sycorax, who resents Prospero's control and plots to overthrow him
    • Caliban claims the island as his own and feels it has been stolen from him by Prospero
  • Ferdinand: The son of Alonso, who falls in love with Miranda and undergoes trials set by Prospero to prove his worth
  • Alonso: The King of Naples, who believes his son Ferdinand has drowned in the shipwreck
  • Antonio: Prospero's treacherous brother who usurped his dukedom and conspired to have him exiled
  • Sebastian: Alonso's brother, who plots with Antonio to kill Alonso and take the throne of Naples

Themes of Magic and Power

  • The Tempest explores the nature of power and how it can be used for good or ill
  • Prospero's magic is a source of both his power and his downfall, as it leads to his exile and isolation on the island
    • His magic allows him to manipulate events and people, but it also creates a barrier between him and others
  • The relationship between Prospero and Ariel demonstrates the power dynamic between master and servant
    • Ariel's longing for freedom highlights the inherent imbalance in their relationship
  • Caliban's resentment of Prospero's control over the island raises questions about the legitimacy of Prospero's power
  • The tempest itself is a symbol of Prospero's magic and his ability to control the natural world
  • Prospero's decision to renounce his magic at the end of the play suggests that true power lies in forgiveness and reconciliation

Colonial Context and Interpretation

  • The Tempest is often interpreted as a commentary on European colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples
  • Prospero's arrival on the island and his subjugation of Caliban can be seen as a metaphor for colonial conquest
    • Prospero's treatment of Caliban, including his attempts to "civilize" him, mirrors the attitudes of European colonizers towards native populations
  • Caliban's resentment of Prospero and his claim to the island reflects the perspective of colonized peoples
    • His plot to overthrow Prospero can be interpreted as a form of anti-colonial resistance
  • The play's depiction of the island as a magical and exotic place reflects European fantasies about the New World
  • The tempest itself can be seen as a symbol of the destructive force of colonialism, uprooting and transforming the lives of those it touches
  • Prospero's ultimate decision to return to Milan and leave the island behind suggests a critique of the colonial enterprise

Language and Literary Devices

  • The Tempest is written in a mix of verse and prose, with characters of higher social status generally speaking in verse
  • Shakespeare uses a variety of literary devices to create meaning and convey themes
    • Metaphors and similes are used to describe the island's magical qualities and the characters' emotional states (e.g., "the isle is full of noises")
  • Prospero's speeches are often long and complex, reflecting his power and control over language
    • His final speech, in which he renounces his magic, is a notable example of his rhetorical skill
  • Caliban's language is more earthy and crude, reflecting his lower social status and his resentment of Prospero's control
    • His curses and insults (e.g., "you taught me language, and my profit on't is I know how to curse") are a form of linguistic rebellion
  • Ariel's songs and poems add a magical and ethereal quality to the play
  • The play's epilogue, spoken by Prospero, breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the audience
    • This meta-theatrical device highlights the artifice of the play and the power of the playwright

Symbolism and Imagery

  • The island itself is a central symbol in the play, representing both a place of exile and a site of transformation
    • Its magical qualities and strange inhabitants reflect the characters' inner states and conflicts
  • The tempest that opens the play is a symbol of Prospero's power and his ability to control the natural world
    • It also represents the chaos and upheaval that his magic brings to the lives of others
  • Prospero's books are a symbol of his knowledge and his magic, as well as his isolation from the world
    • His decision to drown his books at the end of the play represents his renunciation of magic and his reintegration into society
  • Ariel and Caliban are both associated with the elements (air and earth, respectively), reflecting their supernatural qualities and their roles in Prospero's power structure
  • The masque (a symbolic play-within-a-play) performed for Ferdinand and Miranda's betrothal is rich in allegorical imagery
    • It celebrates the harmony and fertility of marriage, in contrast to the discord and barrenness of Prospero's exile

Performance History and Adaptations

  • The Tempest was first performed in 1611 and was one of Shakespeare's last solo-authored plays
  • The play has been adapted and reinterpreted numerous times over the centuries
    • Notable adaptations include the science fiction film Forbidden Planet (1956) and Julie Taymor's 2010 film version
  • The role of Prospero has been played by many renowned actors, including John Gielgud, Patrick Stewart, and Helen Mirren
    • The casting of a female actor as Prospero adds a new dimension to the play's themes of power and gender
  • The character of Caliban has been a focus of many post-colonial adaptations and critiques
    • Aimé Césaire's 1969 play A Tempest reimagines the story from Caliban's perspective as a anti-colonial allegory
  • The play's themes of magic, power, and colonialism have resonated with audiences and artists across different cultures and historical periods
  • Modern productions often highlight the play's political and social implications
    • For example, a 2017 production at the Royal Shakespeare Company featured a diverse cast and emphasized the play's themes of migration and exile

Key Quotes and Analysis

  • "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." (Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1)
    • This quote reflects the play's themes of illusion and reality, suggesting that life itself is a kind of dream or fiction
  • "This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak'st from me." (Caliban, Act 1, Scene 2)
    • Caliban's claim to the island reflects the perspective of colonized peoples and highlights the injustice of Prospero's rule
  • "Hell is empty and all the devils are here." (Ariel, Act 1, Scene 2)
    • Ariel's quote suggests that the island is a kind of purgatory or hell, and that its inhabitants are tormented by their own demons
  • "O brave new world, that has such people in't!" (Miranda, Act 5, Scene 1)
    • Miranda's exclamation reflects her innocence and wonder at the wider world, but also ironically highlights the corruption and treachery of the play's characters
  • "Let us not burden our remembrance with a heaviness that's gone." (Prospero, Act 5, Scene 1)
    • Prospero's final act of forgiveness and reconciliation suggests that the only way to move forward is to let go of the past and its grievances
  • "Now my charms are all o'erthrown, and what strength I have's mine own." (Prospero, Epilogue)
    • Prospero's renunciation of magic in the play's epilogue reflects his acceptance of his own humanity and his reintegration into society


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.