The Tempest Flashcards
A devil, a born devil, on whose nature, nurture can never stick
Prospero about Caliban in 4.1
Implying that no matter how much Prospero tries to change Caliban, he’ll never succeed because Caliban was born evil and no amount of teaching will change his natural instincts.
All hail great master! Grave sir, hail! I come.
Ariel to Prospero in 1.2
Ariel is Prospero’s most loyal servant. He is very submissive to Prospero in comparison to Caliban
To name the bigger light, and how the less, that burn by day or night
Caliban in 1.2
Here he is referencing the Bible, which is a reference to the new King James Bible that was published the same time as the tempest was performed.
Caliban is also questioning why Prosper taught him language and nobility but he is still treated as a slave
O, if a virgin… I’ll make you Queen of Naples
Ferdinand in 1.2
He is telling Miranda that if she is a virgin then he will marry her which was a big requirement during Jacobean times as purity was a thing to be valued and required of women in order to marry.
Bravely my diligence. Thou shalt be free
Prospero to Ariel in 5.1
Here, Prospero is setting Ariel free, providing a happy ending for Ariel as he finally gets his freedom similar to Caliban
Worthily purchased, take my daughter
Prospero in 4.1
The language used implies that Miranda is something that can be bought and that her marriage to Ferdinand is just some business deal for Prospero to get back into power.
Common at the time
I have given you here a third of mine own life
Prospero in 4.1
Prospero is giving away his daughter to another man, there is some element of emotion and sadness here as he is losing a part of himself
All three of them are desperate. Their great guilt
Gonzalo in 3.3
Three of the couturiers have been affected by Ariel’s taunts to them, Alonso is the only one who is accepting of his guilt, whereas Antonio and Sebastian aren’t affected the same.
Thou art inclined to sleep
Prospero to Miranda in 1.2
‘Art’ is another term for his magic and here he is using his magic to force his daughter to sleep whilst he discusses something with Ariel. Shows he has power over his daughter, typical of a father daughter relationship at the time.
But for your conscience?
Sebastian to Antonio in 2.1
He is questioning his conscience and guilt especially regarding his part in Prospero’s exile. Sebastian needs to be convinced to kill his brother, which shows he’s not as ruthless as Antonio
My strong imagination sees a crown dropping upon thy head
Antonio is tempting Sebastian in 2.1, it shows their desire and passion for power
What do we have here, a man or a fish? Dead or alive?
Trinculo in 2.2
Here he is talking about Caliban being a sort of monster, very degrading and dehumanising, stripping away any personality.
Typical of colonialism and the view of natives
I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble
Miranda to Ferdinand in 1.2
She falls in love with him the minute she sees him which can show her naivety
This I will tell my master
The subplots will always fail because Prospero will have the upperhand always because of Ariel. Ariel taunts the Italians
I loved my books… volumes that I prize above my Dukedom
Prospero in 1.2
He values his magic power over his political power, however this changes when he has the ability to gain his Dukedom back
