The Tempest Notes

InTheTempest, Shakespeare… Recognises… Punishes/Warns… Commends/Rewards… Theneedforkingshipandauthority,inthehandsofagoodruler● Antonio● Sebastian● Caliban ConsiderthenaivetyofGonzalo’svisionofanidyllicutopia Thosewhoarenegligentasrulers● Prospero,inMilan Thosewhoareprescientandprudentasmasters● Prospero,ontheisle Theinherentlimitationsofpower● Caliban● Antonio● Sebastian Thosewhoabusetheirpowertoharm● Sycorax Thosewhoexercisepowerwithcareandrestraintforanedificatorypurpose● Prospero Theneedforlearningthroughthe‘bitterwisdom’ofexperience● Prospero● Caliban● Alonso Thosewhoremainincorrigibleinthefaceofeducativeattempts● Antonio● Sebastian● Caliban,initially Thosewhoarecapableoflearning,growthandredemption● Prospero● Alonso● Caliban,bytheend Theinstinctualdesireforvengeance● Prospero● Caliban Thosewhopursuevengeance,inallitsdisruptive,brutalandbloodyform● Caliban Thosewhotakethe‘rarer’courseofvirtue,forgivenessandmercyinthenameofreconciliationandorder● Prospero Theillusorydistinctionbetweenmanandmonster● Antonio● Sebastian● Caliban Thosewho—forgettingtheirplace—seektoundermineorusurptheirmasters● Antonio● Sebastian● Caliban Thosewhodisplayasenseofdutyandresponsibilityinservice● Gonzalo● Adrian● Ariel● Ferdinand Thecapacityforappearancestobothreflectandbeliereality● Ferdinand● Caliban● Antonio● Sebastian Thosewho—outofinnocenceandwonder—judgeonthebasisofappearancesandnotcharacter● Miranda● Caliban Theemptinessofcivilisedstructuresandcourtlyritual● Boatswain● StephanoandTrinculo Thosewhoarefoolishlycaptivatedby‘trumpery’● StephanoandTrinculo Thehopeandreconciliationonwhichthefutureisbuilt● FerdinandandMiranda Theincompatibilityofmagicalpowerwithcivilisation● Prospero’srenunciationof

magic Thefrailtyandtransienceofhumanlife ● Vanishingofspectacle● Prospero’smeditationsonour‘littlelife’ Theneedforcommonmercy● Epilogue EvidenceforCommonArguments Argument Act / Line Quote Prospero Prospero’spowerfulmagic I.i(~55) “Mercyonus!Wesplit,wesplit!Farewell,mywifeandchildren![...]Wesplit,wesplit,wesplit!”● Epizeuxis,prayers,farewells…asceneofchaosrepletewithfear. I.ii(~5) “Thesky,itseems,wouldpourdownstinkingpitch,butthatthesea,mountingtothewelkin’scheek,dashesthefireout.”● Hottar,usedasadefensiveweaponincastles—thetempestisalmostassociatedwiththeviolenceofwarfare!● Theseaisatthe“cheek”oftheheavens—howhighthewavesmusthavebeen! I.ii(~200) “SometimeI’ddivideandburninmanyplaces...Jove’slightnings,theprecursorso’th’dreadfulthunder-claps…thefireandcracksofsulphurousroaringthemostmightyNeptuneseemtobesiege,andmakehisboldwavestremble…”● Considertheimagesoffire,lightning,thunder,andtheroaringseas—Ariel(andProspero)seemtohavemasteryovernatureandtheelements. I.ii(~210) “Withhairup-staring—thenlikereeds,nothair—wasthefirstmanthatleaped;cried,‘Hellisempty,andallthedevilsarehere!”● Comparisontohell,andthevividsimiletoshowthedegreeofterror. I.i(~370) “Imustobey:hisartisofsuchpower,itwouldcontrolmydam'sgod,Setebos,andmakeavassalofhim.”● Thenecessityofcomplianceasunderscoredbythemodal“must”,theintensifier“such”,andthedouble

Argument Act / Line Quote outclassingofSycorax! I.ii(~290) “Sycoraxcouldnotagainundo;itwasmineart…” III.iii(~20) Sebastian:“NowIwillbelievethatthereareunicorns;thatinArabiathereisonetree,thephœnix’throne…”● SomagnificentisProspero’sbanquetthatitcanonlybeunderstoodviacomparisontomythicalcreaturesandexoticlandsfaroutsidetherealmofordinaryhumanexperience! III.iii(~90) “Myhighcharmswork,andthesemineenemiesareallknitupintheirdistractions:theynowareinmypower;andinthesefitsIleavethem”● Metaphorofbeing‘knit’orboundup,andtheirmentalagitationanddisorientationofa‘fit’ IV.i(~125) “Letmelivehereever;sorareawonder’dfatherandawifemakesthisplaceParadise.”● Soawe-inspiringwasthemasquethatFerdinandwantstostayonthisisland,andcomparesittoEden!○ Commentontheintensifier“so”andtheaweoftheepithet“wonder’d” V.i(~35) “Yeelvesofhills,brooks,standinglakes,andgroves;andye…youdemi-puppets…andyouwhosepastimeistomakemidnightmushrooms…”● Nameseachofthemusingthesecond-personpronoun,asinadirectinvocation● Spanswhiteandblackmagic! Prosperoasaplaywright/director I.ii/II.i Abilitytoholdpeopleinsuspense/putpeopletosleep II.i FoilingAntonioandSebastian’splotjustintime● Arielre-entersrightastheconspiratorshavetheirswordsdrawn III.i/III.iii Prosperoremainsonstagebut“invisible”or“atadistance,unseen” I.ii(~390) [inresponsetoAriel’ssong]:“Whereshouldthismusicbe?[...]thenceIhavefollow’dit.Orithathdrawnmerather.”● Ferdinandisled(“drawn”)toMirandabyProspero’sdutifulservant! I.ii(~410) Prospero:“Thefringedcurtainsofthineeye

Argument Act / Line Quote advance,andsaywhatthouseestyond.”|Miranda:“Whatis’t?Aspirit?”● ProsperodirectsMirandatonoticeFerdinand Prospero’sfatherlylove I.ii(~20) “Ihavedonenothingbutincareofthee—oftheemydearone,theemydaughter”● Tenderanadiplosis,anaphoricrepetitionofthesecond-personpronoun,andtheaffectionatepossessive“my” I.ii(~25) Miranda“assists”Prosperointakingoffhisgarment● Anintimatemoment! ProsperoasaneglectfulDuke I.ii(~75) “Andtomystategrewstranger,beingtransportedandraptinsecretstudies.”● Completeabsorption,asifhehadlefthisdukedomforanotherrealm(e.g.rapture)!● Studiesofmagicandthesecretarts,butalsostudiesconductedinseclusion. I.ii(~90) “I,thusneglectingworldlyends,alldedicatedtoclosenessandthebetteringofmymindwiththatwhich,butbybeingsoretired,o’er-prizedallpopularrate,inmyfalsebrotherawakenedanevilnature”● Dictionofseclusion● Theuseof“awakened”createsadirectcausallinkbetweenProspero’sneglectandAntonio’splot! Prospero’spitifulexile I.ii(~150) “Arottencarcassofaboat,notrigg’d,nortackle,sail,normast;theveryratsinstinctivelyhavequitit…Tocrytotheseathatroar’dtous;tosightothewinds,whosepity,sighingbackagain”● Comparisontoabareskeleton,unfitevenforanimalsassmallasarat…● Repetitionofthenegatives● Evokeselementalpity—juxtaposedagainstthemurderousintentofthebetrayers… Prosperoasanostensiblyharshmaster I.ii(~290,295) “itwasatormenttolayuponthedamn’d…ifthoumoremurmur’st,Iwillrendanoak,andpegtheeinhisknottyentrails,tillthouhasthowl’dawaytwelvewinters.”● ThreatenstodowhatSycoraxdid!● Theextremetortureofconfininganairyspirit,asevincedbythe“howling”andcomparisontohell…

Argument Act / Line Quote I.ii(~325) “Forthis,besure,to-nightthoushalthavecramps,side-stitchesthatshallpenthybreathup;urchinsshall,forthatvastofnightthattheymaywork,allexerciseonthee;thoushaltbepinch'dasthickashoneycomb,eachpinchmorestingingthanbeesthatmade'em.”● Similesandmetaphors,tounderscorethepainCalibanshallbesubjectto… I.ii(~345) “Hereyoudostymeinthishardrock,whilesyoudokeepfrommetherest‘otheisland.”● WeknowCalibanhasanintimateknowledgeofandlovefortheisland! II.ii(~10) “Foreverytriflearetheysetuponme;sometimelikeapes,thatmowandchatteratme,andafterbiteme;thenlikehedgehogs,whichlietumblinginmybarefootway,andmounttheirpricksatmyfootfall;sometimeamIallwoundwithadders,whowithcloventonguesdohissmeintomadness.”● Calibancompareshistorturetothesufferinginflictedbybeastsandanimals,andallfortrivialmistakes!○ Howmuchdowebelievehim? II.ii(~150) “AplagueuponthetyrantthatIserve!I’llbearhimnomoresticks…” Prospero’sregardfordesert,justiceandrequital I.ii(~360) “thereforewastthoudeservedlyconfinedintothisrock,whohadstdeservedmorethanaprison.” III.iii(~55) “Youarethreemenofsin,whomDestiny–thathathtoinstrumentthislowerworldandwhatisin’t”● Second-personaddressandreferencetofategivesthisspeechasenseofsupernaturalordivinejudgment! III.iii(~75) “...forwhichfouldeedthepowers,delaying,notforgetting,haveincensedtheseasandshores,yea,allthecreatures,againstyourpeace.”● Asenseofeventualrequital/justpunishment IV.i(~5) “IfIhavetooausterelypunish’dyou,yourcompensationmakesamends,forIhavegivenyouhereathirdofmineownlife”● Dictionofrequital/reward!

Argument Act / Line Quote V.i(~170) “Mydukedomsinceyouhavegivenmeagain,Iwillrequiteyouwithasgoodathing;atleastbringforthawonder,tocontentyeasmuchasmemydukedom”● Dictionofjusticeandreciprocation! Prospero’shumanityandmercyasamaster I.ii(~295) Ariel:“Pardon,master…”|Prospero:“Doso;andaftertwodaysIwilldischargethee.” I.ii(~255) “tr