Prospero as blasphemous tyrant? Flashcards
“my library
Prospero’s magic seems to enhance Prospero’s arrogance through his stating, “My library was dukedom enough”: Prospero is so proud of his magic that he feels it was more important than fulfilling his public responsibility as Duke of Milan. It was through this neglecting of his responsibilities that Antonio felt him “of temporal royalties…incapable.”
However does he still think this now? “what strength i have’s mine own”
Thou shalt be pinch’d
- Tyrannical practice of torture: “thou shalt be pinch’d… each pinch more stinging than bees”. the effect of the repetitive and onomatopeic use of “pinch” makes the audience hear through the words the extensive pain which Caliban will receive.
- In the Tempest production directed by Julie Taymore, Prospera (Helen Mirren) presents this line in an embittered and threatening tone, which suggests tyrannical attributes.
- However, it may be argued that through his power over Caliban, Prospero’s magic leads him to understand his faults and “seek for grace”. making him more godlike in his lessons than tyrannical
Critic on prospero’s magic being benevolent
Frank Kermode writes that Prospero’s magic arts are “not only a beneficent magic in contrast to an evil one; it is… the control of appetite…”
- In light of this comment, it may be argued that his magic does not ‘control’ the appetite, but in fact imposes an appetite for power within Prospero. “in these fits”
quote about “fits”
“and these, mine enemies… they are now in my power; and in these fits I leave them”.
Through the term “fits” his magical control of “mine enemies” becomes Tyrannical as Prospero may be suggesting they are in pain (depending on how the line is presented to the audience)
“i am subject to a tyrant…
Prospero’s control of the spirits and natives of the island through magic may make him a tyrannical character also due to his usurping of the island. Caliban states “ I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island”. Antonio, being a tyrannical character, usurped Prospero’s Dukedom in a similar way as Prospero did.
Richard the 2nd becoming tyrannical through magic
- Richard unsuccessfully uses magic to invoke “spiders, that suck up thy venom, And heavy-gaited toads” to terrorize Bolingbroke’s army.
- A ruler’s use of magic in becoming Tyrannical is also demonstrated in Shakespeare’s play Richard 2nd,
- Prospero uses similar weapons (snakes… that hiss [Caliban] into madness), and so must rid of his magic so as to no longer be tyrannical.
Graves at my
Prospero as Blasphemous due to his use of demonic magic, which in 17th Century England was highly forbidden due to it being seen by the church as the work of the devil. Prospero states that “graves at my command have wak’d their sleepers”, demonstrating that he has performed inhuman magic and interfered with Gods charge of the dead
P assuming kingly rights to the island… Blasphemous
“by province divine”, suggesting his divine superiority. The contemporary audience, particularly King James, would have criticized this as blasphemous as only kings have any divine right: King James 1st stated in his Works 1609 “the state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth; for kings are not only Gods lieutenants upon earth… but even by god himself are called Gods.” – being neither King nor God, Prospero is being blasphemous by claiming divine authority over the island.
CRITIC prosperos “only hope of salvation
Antony Harris writes in 1980 that Prospero’s “only hope of salvation lies in their (his art) renunciation and a return to a life of prayer and faith in the forgiveness and mercy of God”. In light of this, it would appear that Prospero’s “rough” magic makes him blasphemous, yet through his ridding of it will he redeem himself.
I must obey…
- tyrannical attributes through the presentation of his magic due to the power it gives him over others: “I must obey. His art is of such power”.
- Yet ultimately it is by giving Prospero unhuman powers that he holds these characteristics, and only when Ariel states “ I were, where I human” does Prospero recognize the extent to which his Art has corrupted his character.
- By ridding of his magic, Prospero’s tyrannical authority will be gone (“now my charms are all ‘enthron, and what strength I have’s mine own”).
mine would, sir
mine would sir, were i human: P magic has corrupted his human nature
now my charms
“now my charms are all ‘enthron, and what strength I have’s mine own”
- this is also ridding of his tyrannical authority, which he held due to his destructive magical power.
“with such provision in mine art”.
“with such provision in mine art”.
- Arrogant about his magical abilities, as caused storm
- Shakespeare unmasks this arrogance to reveal paranoia “dost thou attend me?” - possibly due to power only through magic
