symbols Flashcards
taking off the cloak
He deliberately takes off his cloak at two points in the play: once when he tells Miranda of their history, and again at the end of the play when he gives up his magic.
He takes off his cloak, saying, “Lie there my art”
books
Without the books, Prospero would not have had the power to summon the tempest and restore order to Milan and Naples.
Caliban advises Stephano to seize Prospero’s books when they make plans to murder Prospero and take control of the island.
end of magic
When Prospero relinquishes his magic at the end of the play, he says, “I’ll drown my book”
represents literature
If, as many critics suggest, Prospero is the voice of Shakespeare as he retires from the theater, the books might also represent the power of words and ideas
“Let your indulgence set me free”
break my staff
“I’ll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth”
power of his magic
“graves at my command have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ‘em forth”
the tempest
represents the political upheaval in the play
balance of power
When the courtiers and their ship are tossed by the storm, nature and the sailors suddenly have more power than the courtiers.
disorder caused by the tempest
the state of disorder continues throughout the play until the injustice done to Prospero is righted at the end.
sea
After Prospero has regained his dukedom, he promises his guests “calm seas” and favorable winds for their journey home.
“What cares these roarers for the name of king?”
the ship
“Dashed all to pieces”
the island
could be interpreted as a critique of court life
for example, S+T’s obsession with the gaudy clothes distracts from their goal
