The Tempest Flashcards
Colonialism
Paragraph 1:
Prospero and Caliban
- prospero not only colonises the land but he colonises the land. He exerts control over caliban by teaching him language. ‘You taught me language and my profit on’t is how i curse. The red plague rid you from learning my language’ perhaps language is a metaphor that Shakespeare uses to comment on the colonial themes and how it brings a lack of autonomy but also because caliban was usurped, which paralleled Antonio and prospero, highlights the… the dictation of red plague…
-‘this island mine by sycorax my mother’ caliban asserts himself as the rightful owner of the island this outlasts sadly its prosperos view of the island, it seems as if prospero views he island as comodity..
It also highlights his deep resentment who he feels usurped his rightful place. It underscores the power dynamics and the sense of injustice when colonised. In the early 17th century the play was written 1610-1611 a time when European powers were actively exploring and colonising new islands specifically England and Spain perhaps these interactions between prospero and caliban can be seen as reflecting the relationships between European coloniser and indigenous people. It highlights the struggles that comes with colonisation. This may be the reason for prosperos need to be in control.
- Critic: Acton ‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’
-Critic: Grindlay ‘prosperos unseen presence on the stage is a visual reminder of his control over all the characters in the play, as a master magician and stage director’
-in many productions prospero is always present on stage and is most likely higher than the rest of the characters showing his predetermined sense of authority which condones his colonisation
Paragraph 2:
Gonzalos utopian vision, he establishes his idea of the perfect civilisation if he could acquire a territory of his own represents the opportunities and fears created by colonization.
- Gonzalos musings reflect the renaissance ideal of a harmonious society, but they also highlight the contrast between his naive optimism and the harsh realities of colonial exploitation.
-his vision serves as a critique of the colonial mindset, suggesting that true utopia cannot be achieved through domination and control
-‘I the commonwealth would be contraries/ execute all things…’ this reveals Gonzalos idealistic and somewhat naive vision of a society free from trade, government, social hierarchies and personal property. He imagines a utopian commonwealth. -His vision, while unrealistic serves as a counter point to the more cynical and authoritarian perspectives of other characters particularly prospero.
-perhaps this parallel of Gonzalos utopian idea contrasts to prosperos dystopian and capitalist view, this seems to show…
-‘o brave new world’ - Miranda. Alike to Gonzalo.
Justice
Thesis:
The illusion of justice
Prospero’s quest to reestablish justice after being usurped. The usurpation of prospero by his brother directly juxtaposes his previous inability to protect his dukedom.
The idea of justice is highly subjective, this represents the view that prospero controls the fate of all the other characters.
Paragraph 1:
prosperos’s idea of justice is somewhat hypocritical and one sided, he has no problem taking power and enslaving Ariel and Caliban in order to achieve power when his power was usurped by antonion.
‘A devil a born devil, on whose Nature/nurture can never stick… will plague them all.’ Act 4 scene 1
‘The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance’ —> marks a turning point where prospero chooses forgiveness over revenge, suggesting that true justice is tempered with mercy, contrasting with his earlier more vindictive actions. Shakespeare may be commenting on…
Prospero then reconciles and forgives at the end of the play, the establishment of prosperos idea on justice may be less of a commentary on justice in life than on the nature of morality. Shakespeare may be using prospero as a mouthpiece to convey his ideas about justice and the consequences that may come from ma lack of autonomy.
-critic: Tillyard ‘prospero’s brand of justice is fraught with personal bias, making it hard to distinguish his role as a just ruler from that of a vengeful magician’ this points out the complexity and ambiguity of prosperos actions, suggesting that his pursuit of justice is intertwined with personal revenge.making his motives questionable. In the divine right of kings prospero is usurped perhaps stating that he is an unfit ruler. Prospero character may mirror aspects of King James I, who believed in the monarchs divine authority and saw himself as a protector and ruler by divine will.
-the play explores the responsibilities that come with authority. Prospero’s renunciation of his magical powers at the end of the play symbolises his acceptance of human limitations and the need for fair and just governance.
Paragraph 2:
Prospero’s aggressive rule and various types of subjugation, the island undergoes is likely a byproduct of his previous failure to hold his power. It could be argued that his insecure sense of justice stems from his recent usurpation.
-caliban; who is the rightful ruler to the island by his mother sycorax, prospero constantly refers to caliban as a ‘slave’, the colonial injustice of caliban raises questions about the fairness of his rule
-perhaps Shakespeare is commenting on the idea of the old world vs new world and how caliban, the native inhabitant, is enslaved and dehumanised…
-‘this islands mine by sycorax my mother ‘ —> caliban belief that he is the rightful owner highlights the injustice he feels and…
relationships
thesis:
prospero uses his position of power as a tool of exploitation through the characters of miranda, ariel and caliban. these somewhat master servant relationships uplifts prosperos power and hierachy. not only does he use each individual relationship with is servants to gain power but he ultimately manipulates them. the play also examines prosperos authoritative nature while also indicating a chance of redemption and reconciliation.
paragraph 1:
prospero and caliban- master servant relationship
-prospero firstly refers to caliban as a “poisonous slave, got by the devil himself”, this examines the previous harsh and abusive dynamic between them. Prospero views Caliban as inherently base and subhuman, which reflects the dehumanizing attitudes of colonizers towards indigenous peoples during Shakespeare’s time. (colonial discourse). Caliban is depicted as a reluctant servant who obeys Prospero out of fear rather than loyalty. Prospero threatens him with physical torment, such as making him feel “cramps” and “side stitches that shall pen thy breath up.” These threats demonstrate how Prospero uses fear and pain to maintain dominance, creating a relationship based on oppression.
From a modern perspective, Caliban can be interpreted as a symbol of the colonized subject, oppressed and exploited by the colonizer (Prospero). Prospero’s justification for his control—Caliban’s alleged savagery and attempted assault on Miranda—is controversial. Some argue this reflects the dehumanization of colonized individuals, as their actions are often misrepresented or exaggerated to justify domination.
-Prospero’s domination over Caliban is rooted in his ability to control him through language and knowledge. Prospero claims, “I endowed thy purposes with words that made them known.” This reflects the colonial practice of imposing language on indigenous people as a means of asserting authority. Yet, Caliban resents this, saying, “You taught me language, and my profit on’t is I know how to curse.” This underscores his rebellious spirit and highlights the complexity of their relationship; although Caliban resists Prospero’s control, he remains bound by the tools Prospero has given him.
-miller states that Caliban is ‘demoralised, detribalised and dispossessed’
-the view that prospero has on caliban seems too reflect other inhabitants of the island view him.
paragraph 2:
prospero and miranda- parental relationship but seems to echo a master servant relationship making it complex
-Prospero wields significant control over Miranda, shaping her environment and withholding knowledge. For example, he dictates her understanding of their past by choosing when and how to reveal their history: “Canst thou remember / A time before we came unto this cell?”. This paternalistic control mirrors his dominance over Caliban and Ariel, where he determines what they know and how they act. he seems to have a portective nature towards miranda and perhaps feels as if he needs to conceal her from the world
- it could be argued that miranda is ‘detribalised’ as she grows up on the island with a lack of awareness of societal norms and she is shaped entirely through the masculine lens and moral framework of her father prospero
-Unlike Caliban, Miranda’s lack of a “tribal” connection is not portrayed as a loss or subjugation. Instead, she is idealised as pure, virtuous, and untouched by societal corruption. This aligns with the trope of the “noble savage” often used in colonial literature, but in Miranda’s case, she is not seen as savage but rather as an innocent blank slate. prospero, in this case, his paternal mindset leads to a somewhat manipulation to restrict her autonomy. the patriarchal oppression she faces perhaps highlights their complex relationship and the fine line between paternal qualities and controlling qualities
-when miranda encounters other humans she exclaims ‘o brave new world’ The phrase underscores one of the play’s broader themes: the encounter with the “unknown” world, a motif often tied to colonialism. While Miranda views the strangers as a “new world,” Prospero sees them as an extension of the old world of treachery and politics he left behind. This duality raises questions about the idealization of utopias and the corrupting nature of power. while miranda has an optimistic perspective although she has been raised by Prospero a somewhat pessimistic character allows for a sense of autonomy that miranda has and perhaps suggests that her feminity allows her to be more comppasionate and open. the complexity of the relationship, here, may show a distance between prospero and miranda that he is unable to fulfill with an power he has.
How it links with the complex relationship of p and c
Paragraph 3:
Prospero and Ariel- master servant relationship
-exlpores authority, loyalty and freedom. Prospero relies heavily on a riel and Daniel serves him faithful as he yearns for liberty and repeatedly reminds Prospero.of the promise to set him free, he states ‘remember I have done thee worthy service: told thee no lies, made no mistaking, served without grudge or grumblings’ this assertion of his sycophantic. Sassy emphasises to prospero the need for his freedom, perhaps there is an element of irony with ‘no grudge or grumblings’ as he brings up a lot about prosperous promise and how it hold be fulfilled. Ariels desire for freedom and lack of autonomy is a driving forced in his relationship with prospero, his servitude and prosperous manipulation created the master servant relationship that they have. Ariels ‘worthy service’ and anticipation of freedom is why Ariel keeps fulfilling prosperous commands.
- it could be argued that prospero is aware of his shallow promises and uses it as a hinge to Ariel as without Ariel prospero would have little power and little knowledge of the island.
Their relationship is almost ‘’’’double sided’’’’ and dependant on each other as Ariel grapes onto the idea of his freedom while prospero doesn’t free him because of the power he upholds.
