The Tempest AO2 Flashcards
The government I cast upon my brother’
gave his responsibilities to his brother, the verb cast suggests that he doesn’t care about his responsibilities
‘rapt in secret studies’
sibilance implies his neglect for his Dukedom as he took more interest in his books than his dukedom. Knowledge also gives him power
‘a confidence sans bound’
he had complete unlimited trust in his brother. Deeply naive and unintelligent move as it allowed Antonio to overthrow
‘This island’s mine by Sycorax…which tho tak’st from me
flattered Caliban into teaching him about the island then betrayed and enslaved him. Cruel, exploitative
‘I will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails’
Prospero uses his rescue of Ariel to exercise physical and intellectual control over him by threatening further punishment. Again shows how he is a cruel leader
‘My Ariel, chick…be free’
use of endearment shows a friendly and loving side of Prospero in contrast to his cruel self earlier. Setting him free shows that he is no longer cruel
‘To have my pardon, trim it handsomely’
doesn’t release Caliban as he tells him to behave. However, ‘seek for grace’ reveals that Caliban appears to accept Prospero’s rule. Despite this, there is doubt whether he is expressing his real feelings because he has been enslaved by Prospero previously which means he might not be fully forgiving.
Context: magic
During the 1600s there was a debate about whether magic was good (magia) or bad (goetia). Through his rule on the island Prospero can be seen as both a magia (releases Ariel, gives up his magic) or bad (enslaves both Ariel and Caliban, causes the tempest which led to Alonso thinking his son was dead).
Context: Divine right of kings
belief that the right to rule was given by God. Prospero ignoring his dukedom would be seen as going against God’s will as he gave the responsibilities to his brother who was not selected by God
Context: Rudolf II
Rudolf II also usurped by his brother
Context: James I rule
Neglected his rule in order to study
AO5: about Prospero’s rule
’Prospero rules the place with an iron grip, enslaving and torturing Caliban and forcing the spirit Ariel to do his bidding’
AO5: Prospero’s downfall
‘contributed to his own downfall’
‘Not honoured with a human shape
dehumanising Caliban, in the age of exploration european colonists saw native people as inhuman and uncivilised
‘Thou strok’st me and made much of me’-
developed a relationship that is close to familial. ‘Lodged thee in mine own cell’ supports this-treated him like his own child
‘Whiles you do keep me from the rest o’the’island
removed from king as he is the rightful ruler, now he is enslaved to Prospero
‘Thou didst seek to violate the honour of my child’
attempted to rape Miranda which would’ve given him heirs to the island. Raises the question of whether Caliban was innately evil or is genuinely good and attempted as an act of revenge. Was Prospero ever sincere or was his ambitions always to exploit Caliban?
‘Savage’ ‘brutish’ ‘thy vile race’
colonial language used for racism? Sees him as inferior and uncivillised. Oppressive
Context: Age of exploration
the play was written during the Age of Exploration when Europe was sailing out to discover the rest of the world.
During this time many countries were colonised which appears to be what’s happened here. Prospero has come to the island from Italy and assumed rule, enslaving Caliban who appears to be the rightful ruler of the island
AO5: Pulitano
‘Prospero enacts the role of omnipotent Western patriarch and Caliban that of the ‘native’’
‘I have done thee worthy service
pleads for his liberty after Prospero says his service isn’t up. Demonstrates the control Prospero has over ariel and his inferiority by challenging his authority
‘I must once in a month recount what thou hast been’
treats Ariel like a pet and a pupil. To ensure his fickle nature does not cause him to be disloyal he forces him to remember what Sycorax did to him and how he saved him-owes Prospero because of it.
‘I thank thee, master’
Prospero controls how he thinks about his life to make it difficult for them to imagine that challenging his authority is a good thing
‘After two days I will discharge thee’
slight softening of his original harshness when Ariel asks for his liberty. Shows that he is not as cruel as he may appear because he is willing to let Ariel go after doing one final task
Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou performed, my Ariel’
endearing, full of praise for Ariel. A change from Prospero’s treatment earlier on
‘Dearly, my delicate Ariel’
another endearing term. First display of affection and love towards Ariel
‘My dainty Ariel, I shall miss thee’
the use of endearment again shows a deep relationship between the two. Despite this he says ‘thou shalt have freedom’ which shows that he is being fair to Ariel by finally letting him go
Context: spirits
Spirits like Ariel were seen during the Elizabethan/Jacobean period as either the agents of the devil or of God.
AO5: McLeish and Unwin 1998
‘despotically threatening Ariel…he is a tyrant’
‘I might call him a thing divine’
sense of amazement conveyed through heavenly, courtly language. Demonstrates Miranda’s innocence-never seen another boy
‘O you wonder-if you be maid, or no?’
courtly, elevated language. Fascinated by her.
Feeds into AO3
‘I’ll make you the Queen of Naples
already fallen in love, immediate vow to marry.
‘These sweet thoughts’
dreaming about Miranda, innocence and purity of his love displayed here
‘You, so perfect and so peerless, are created of every creature’s best’
declares his love for her, there is no one else like her. She is all the best parts of every women he’s loved put together
‘Fair encounter of two most rare affections’
Prospero’s aside here reminds us that because of him they have fallen in love perhaps with the intent to create a dynasty. However ‘rare’ suggests that it is true love
‘I am your wife, if you will marry me’
Miranda’s earlier naivety and innocence contrasted here by her being forward and proposing to him demonstrating a confidence we hadn’t seen yet. Jacobean audience would find this unusual as marriages were arranged for women and would never propose due to strict gender roles, making her behaviour transgressive for the time. However a modern audience wouldn’t find this unusual as gender roles have become less strict and it is less unusual for women to propose to men nowadays
I ratify this my rich gift
formal consent, transactional language. Civillised approach. Treating Miranda like an object
‘Thou dost break her virgin-knot’
Warning not to have sex before marriage, huge emphasis on chastity.
‘How beauteous mankind is!’
reminder of her innocence as she has only ever seen three men before. We can question whether her love for Ferdinand is real because she is so naive and appears fascinated by the other men.
Context: marriage
arranged marriages were common during the Jacobean era-Miranda and Ferdinand could be said to be one because Prospero caused them to meet for the first time and fall in love.
Context: chastity
Requirement for women to be chaste before marriage to preserve womb for children in a patriarchal society. If women were not chaste they were seen as impure and their children tainted.
AO5: Thompson
‘attributes enormous power to female chastity and fertility’
