The Tempest Flashcards
Give context explanation to the relationship between Prospero and Miranda.
Shakespeare, a father of two girls himself, and nearing the end of his career, may have been using this relationship as a vicarious representation on his ideal self as a father. He had also lost a son, which could be reflected in Alonso’s grief in losing Ferdinand.
Give an explanation for the context of the play being Shakespeare’s last work.
As the last work of Shakespeare, the play is tinged with a sense of melancholy. If we take that Prospero is a vicarious representation of Shakespeare himself, it is given added poignancy when Prospero states that “this rough magic I here abjure”, “I’ll break my staff” and “I’ll drown my book”, as this can be equivocated to Shakespeare relinquishing his own ‘magic’ - his writing.
Give Shakespearean context on the difference of prose and blank verse.
Prose is written language, in Shakespearean context yet is the dialogue used by lowborn commoners. Blank verse is oh we of unrhymed iambic pentameter used by characters that possess nobility of mind, and are generally educated and intelligent. This is particularly significant as Caliban, a slave, uses blank verse despite his birth and deformities. This could be because of his education at the hands of Prospero and Miranda or as a sympathetic demonstration of his intelligent character. It is notable next to trinculo and stephano’s prose.
What are some of the insults used by characters towards caliban?
“Poisonous slave”
“Servant-monster”
“Man-monster”
“Moon-calf”
Give context on the tempest in concerning the discovery of America.
During the time the play was published (1611) was a time of exploration, and the exploration of America and its mysterious was a source of inspiration and imagination for Elizabethan and Jacobean audiences, as well as Shakespeare himself. This is evident in Miranda’s line of “how beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in’t!”
Why was the tempest a bold move for Shakespeare?
The play contains various anti-monarchist statements, and all of Shakespeare’s plays were performed in court, in front of the king. The tempest was performed 22 times. Gonzalo in his speech specifically states that “had [he] plantation of this isle” there would be “no sovereignty”. The speech is remarkably similar to the French writer Montaigne’s essay ‘on cannibals’ detailing a Brazilian tribe that has “no contracts, no successions”. Shakespeare very likely read this essay, published in 1580, and may have been his basis for an idea of utopia.
Discuss feminist literary theory of the tempest
Miranda is owned by her father until marriage. Patriarchal society of Jacobean period. “Maid or no?” Is evidence of businesslike reference to marriage.
Discuss a Marxist literary theory of the tempest
Communist manifesto by Karl Marx written in 1848. Analysis of class struggle and need for revolution to create equality and fair distribution is seen in caliban. “This isle’s mine” - but taken by the bourgeois, Prospero.
“The history of all hithero existing society is the history of class struggles”.
“The proletariats have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win” - Stephano, trinculo and specifically caliban and Ariel are evident of this. They literally have their world (the island) to gain, from Prospero the usurper.
“The theory of communists may be summed up in the single sentence: abolition of private property” - very similar to Montaigne’s ‘on cannibals’ and gonzalo’s speech “no name of magistrate or politic superiority” + “no name of magistrate” “no sovereignty”
Discuss the psychoanalytical literary theory of the tempest
Prospero is super ego, caliban representation of ‘id’ which Prospero learns to accept. “This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine”. Ariel represents the ego. “The rarer act is in virtue than in vengeance”. “With my nobler reason ‘gainst my fury do I take part”.
Discuss the post colonial literary theory of the tempest
Construed during 50s and 69s, when downfall of empire caused questions of morality. Supported by 2010 film, in which caliban is a black native man, speaking in distinctly African vernacular. “Every empire […] tells itself and the world […] that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate” - critic, Said, supported in Prospero and Miranda’s attempt to educate caliban, who despises that he can speak “the red plague rid you, For learning me your language.”
Tempest quotes on Miranda
“Thou wast that did preserve me” - Prospero
“Piteous heart” - Prospero
“Goddess” “wonder” - by Ferdinand
Quotes on Prospero from the tempest
“ rapt in secret studies”
“My library was dukedom large enough”
“I’ll break my staff”
“ I’ll drown my book” “this rough magic I here abjure”
“Every third thought shall be my grave”
Discuss caliban’s speech of the island
“Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not” sibilance, calibans love and humanity of the Island
“I cry to dream again”
