the tempest - power Flashcards
‘You taught me language and my profit on’t/ Is I know how to curse’ - Caliban
reflects the theme of power through the interplay of language and colonialism. Prospero’s teaching of language to Caliban symbolizes control and cultural dominance, yet Caliban subverts this power by using the language to curse, showcasing resistance. The irony in “profit” highlights Caliban’s resentment as language becomes both a tool of oppression and his only means of defiance. the quote encapsulates the tension between imposed authority and individual rebellion.
‘I’ th’ commonwealth I would by contraries/ Execute all things, for no kind of traffic/ Would I admit; no name of magistrate;/ Letters should not be known; riches poverty/ And use of service, none; contract, succession,/ Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard - none;/ No use of metal, corn, or wine or oil; … All things in common nature should produce / Without sweat or endeavor; treason, felony, / Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine / Would I not have; but nature should bring forth / Of its own kind all foison, all abundance, To feed my innocent people.’ - Gonzalo
outlines his vision of a utopia where traditional power structures are abolished. He imagines a society without governance, wealth, or violence, relying instead on nature’s abundance. The rejection of authority and ownership reflects his desire for equality, but his idealism may come across as naïve or paternalistic. Through his language of absence and innocence, Gonzalo critiques power while subtly asserting his own vision of leadership.
‘she that from whom / We were all sea-swallowed, though some cast again, / And by that destiny to perform an act / Whereof what’s past is prologue, what to come / In yours and my discharge!’ - Antonio
manipulates the theme of power by blending fate and agency. uses language like “destiny” and “what’s past is prologue” to frame their survival as preordained, justifying his ambition. Phrases like “yours and my discharge” create shared responsibility, encouraging Sebastian to join him in seizing power. Through persuasive rhetoric, Antonio masks his personal ambition, portraying the coup as both inevitable and necessary.
‘Twenty consciences / That stand ‘twixt me and Milan, candied be they / And melt ere they molest!’ - Antonio
reveals his ruthless ambition and dismissal of morality in his pursuit of power. metaphorically treats “consciences” as obstacles, wishing them to “candied be” and “melt” to eliminate any ethical resistance. This showcases how power corrupts, as Antonio rejects morality entirely to justify his actions and maintain control.
‘Give me thy hand. I am sorry I beat thee, but / while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head’ - Stephano
showcases the abuse of power, with his commands and threats toward Caliban reflecting dominance through violence and control over language. superficial apology highlights the normalization of coercion, while his fragile authority underscores the corrupting influence of power and its inherent instability.
‘But this rough magic / I here abjure; … I’ll break my staff, / Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, / And deeper than did ever plummet sound / I’ll drown my book.’ - Prospero
marks his renunciation of magical power, symbolizing his shift from supernatural authority to human reconciliation. By breaking his staff and drowning his book, he decisively abandons the tools of dominance and control. This act reflects his moral choice to relinquish power, emphasizing the transient nature of authority and his pursuit of redemption.
‘this thing of darkness I / Acknowledge mine.’ - Prospero
Prospero acknowledges Caliban as “his,” symbolizing the duality of power. It reflects his control and dominance as a colonizer but also his growing moral responsibility for Caliban’s condition. This moment underscores Prospero’s shift from wielding power to accepting accountability, marking a key step in his journey toward reconciliation and self-awareness
‘Now my charms are all o’erthrown, / And what strength I have’s mine own, / Which is most faint. Now, ‘tis true / I must be here confined by you, / Or sent to Naples. Let me not, / Since I have my dukedom got / And pardoned the deciever, dwell / In this bare island by your spell; / But release me from my bands / With the help of your good hands. / Gentle breath of yours my sails / Must fill, or else my project fails, / Which was to please . Now I want / Spirits to enforce, art to enchant; / And my ending is despair, / Unless I be relieved by prayer, / Which pierces so that it assaults / Mercy itself, and frees all faults. / As you from crimes would pardoned be, / Let your indulgence set me free.’ - Prospero
Prospero reflects on the transience of his magical power, now relinquished, leaving him reliant on his human strength. He appeals to the audience for forgiveness and release, emphasizing the collaborative nature of power and its dependence on mercy. This moment highlights Prospero’s shift from dominance to humility, underscoring themes of reconciliation and the moral strength found in forgiveness.
