Themes Flashcards
How is the theme of injustice presented through Prospero and his actions throughout the play?
Though Prospero presents himself as a victim of injustice, his view of justice and injustice seem almost hypocritical. However, through his use of magic and tricks that echo the special effects and spectacles of the theater, Prospero gradually persuades the characters as well as the audience of the rightness of his case. As he does so, the ambiguities surrounding his methods slowly resolve themselves, so that at the end of the play he is simply an old man responsible for the pleasure of the audience.
At many moments throughout the play, Prospero’s sense of justice seems extremely one sided. Moreover because the play offers no notion of higher order, the play is morally ambiguous. As the play progresses, it becomes more involved with the idea of creativity and art and Prospero’s role begins to mirror that of an author. Due to this, Prospero’s sense of justice seems sympathetic.
How is social hierarchy and colonization presented through the difference in power between Prospero and Caliban?
Miranda and Prospero both have contradictory views of Caliban’s Humanity as they believe that their teachings has lifted him from his formerly brutish status ; on the other hand they seem to see him as inherently brutish. Caliban claims that he was kind to Prospero who repaid him with imprisonment but Prospero also suggests that his current attitude toward Caliban is due to the fact that Caliban attempted to rape his dearly beloved daughter. Which character the audience decides to believe depends on whether it views Caliban as inherently brutish, or as made brutish by oppression.
How is the theme of colonisation presented through Caliban in Act 1 of The Tempest?
Caliban is represented as Prospero’s “poisonous slave”. Caliban is represented as a monster through both his appearance and the way Prospero refers to him. Additionally, he is said to have attempted to rape Miranda which further reinforced this image of Caliban being a savage and a monster. Prospero enslaves Caliban and uses the negative image of Caliban as an excuse for his actions.
“You taught me language, and profit on’t Is, I know how to course.” - Caliban
This quote shows that Prospero and Miranda taught Caliban to speak and considered it a gift. However, Caliban does not care. This shows that Prospero does not consider what Caliban wants and rather teaches him what he thinks would be good. This suggests the idea that Caliban has been colonised by Prospero and that Prospero is making him do what he wants.
How is the theme of natural solemnity of good and bad contradicted by Prosperos perspective of Caliban?
Two major views of nature are explored in The Tempest. the first is that when left alone, nature grows to perfection and is inherently good. the second is that nature is inherently bad and therefore must be controlled and educated in order to become good.
The simple contrast between nature and nurture is questioned by Prospero when he says that Caliban is someone ‘on whose nature/Nurture can never stick’ . In this case he suggests that it is not a question of whether nature is inherently good or bad, but whether or not nurture can have an influence on it.
What are some examples of the use of power in the Tempest?
An example of power is when Antonio exploits the power that was given to him to banish Prospero from the island.
Another important example is the use of Prospero’s magic to control the events of the play and shape the events to his image.
How does Shakespeare present the theme of Treason through characters like Antonio or Sebastian
Shakespeare weaves the theme of treason throughout The Tempest. The first instance of treason occurred in the play’s prehistory, when Antonio conspired with King Alonso to assassinate Prospero and succeed him as the new Duke of Milan. The attempt to kill Prospero was both political treason and brotherly betrayal. The theme of treason returns in the form of twin assassination plots that arise during the play. While Caliban and Stephano plot to kill Prospero and take control of the island, Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso and take control of Naples. Both of these plots get interrupted, so despite these men’s treasonous intentions, they ultimately do no real harm.
How obedience and disobedience shown through difference of power of islanders and people from Naples
The themes of obedience and disobedience underscore the island’s hierarchy of power. Prospero stands at the top of this hierarchy. As both the former Duke of Milan and a gifted student of magic, Prospero is the most powerful figure on the island. He therefore demands obedience from all of his subjects, including his servants and his daughter. At some point, however, each of these subjects disobeys him. Caliban swears his allegiance to Stephano, trading one master for another in an attempt to topple the island’s hierarchy altogether. Other examples of disobedience in the play are more nuanced. Miranda, for instance, believes she disobeys her father by pursuing romance with Ferdinand. But her actions are actually in line with her father’s wishes, since Prospero’s harsh treatment of Ferdinand is designed to make Miranda take pity on him and fall in love with him. The situation is again different in Ariel’s case. Ariel has proven himself a faithful servant, yet Prospero considers him disobedient when he asks for his freedom. These complexities ultimately suggest that the island’s hierarchy of power is less stable than it appears.
