Act 1, Scene 1 Flashcards
Why is A1S1 important?
It establishes the ideas that Xp will critique and explore throughout.
“A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard”
represents social/political structures. Chaotic overthrow of order.
Boatswain- “Here master. What cheer?”
Ready to work, demonstrates a strong-work ethic. Exploration of the master/servant dynamic. Chain of Being.
Boatswain- “Blow till thou burst thy wind, if room enough.”
ecocritical perspective, imperatives, man of action, man vs nature, challenging the storm, cocky.
Boatswain- “Keep your cabins! You do assist the storm”.
Out of place, disruption to the chain of being and a reversal of the master-servant dynamic. Asserts authority over the courtly party. Displays the Boatswain’s morals and credentials most important.
Boatswain- “What cares these roarers for the name of the king?”
Nature doesn’t care for class, at nature’s judgement everyone is equal, chain of being. Humanist language, he values his life, roarers= waves.
Boatswain- “Use your authority! If you cannot… make yourself ready in your cabin.” “Out of our way I say!”
Humanist ideas. Presents an ultimatum to the courtly party and asserts his authority in his workplace, disturbs the order of social hierarchies and indicates class is superficial.
Gonzalo- The boatswain has “no drowning mark upon him.”
Physiognomy and the presentation of Gonzalo as the peacekeeper.
Antonio- “ We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art”
Childish, the battle to assert male power on board the ship, references to the chain of being out of order and the fragility of power. Power is a man made concept that nature doesn’t oblige to.
Stage directions
The constant flow of characters in and out of the scene creates a fast paced environment, once again demonstrating the master servant dynamic as the ratio to servants working and the clueless masters is not proportional.
Aeneid- Virgil
The Tempest inhabits the same geographical realm as Virgil’s work; Alonso’s ship before the shipwreck was following the same route Aeneas took from Carthage to Naples.
The Aeneid raises issues about royal authority and political legitimacy that are present in Shakespeare’s work.
