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.”● Thenecessityofcomplianceasunderscoredbythemoda