Thematic Discussion

Connecting themes

The Lord of the FliesThe defects of society back to the

defects of human nature.

Human nature is inherently savage/evil.

Connecting themes - The Tempest

Human nature is savage/evil. The savage side of man is represented by the body

and

Human nature is also good. The good side of man is represented by the soul

Thematic Discussion

What is a Tempest?

A violent storm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/paintingtheweather/csv/painting/tempest.shtml

Why a Tempest?

The tempest represents the violent side of nature.

The tempest has the power to destroy.

• Prospero uses his art or magic to create the tempest.

– The tempest represents Prospero’s power.– The tempest is a destructive power.– However, Prospero controls the tempest so that

there is no destruction.

• Since the tempest did not cause destruction, what does this say about Prospero’s use of his power?

         Yin and Yang is an attempt to explain and understand why nature operated in such opposing way. The idea of Yin and Yang is represented as a circle of two curved and equal parts. The Yang section is the warm, positive, masculine, and sunny side, often colored red. The Yin side is black and is described as feminine, mysterious, dark, and negative.

The ancient Chinese philosophers believed that all things in the universe contained elements of both Yin and Yang. Within each element of Yin and Yang was the seed of the other, and when Yin and Yang worked in harmony together all was good in the world. However, when one was stronger than the other, the balance of the harmony and power changed and life was unpredictable.

The Tempest as a Romance

Shakespearian romance frequently includes:

• the separation and disruption of families followed by their eventual reunion and reconciliation

•scenes of apparent resurrection

•the love of a virtuous young hero and heroin

•the recovery of lost, royal children.

Stanley Wells, ‘Shakespeare and Romance’, in Later Shakespeare: Stratford-upon-Avon Studies 8 (London, 1966), pp. 49-80, p. 50  

Character Introduction

• Images

• Selections from the text

The Tempest - Main Characters

• Prospero

• Caliban

• Miranda

• Ariel

• Alonso

• Antonio

• Ferdinand

• Gonzalo

Prospero

The main character of this play, Prospero used to be the legitimate Duke of

Milan. Unfortunately his treacherous brother Antonio stole his title and

banished Prospero to a Mediterranean island with his daughter Miranda. A

great lover of the arts and in particular books, Prospero has harnessed the

powers of magic whilst in exile.

www.edinburghguide.com/.../images/ tempest_trplymouth.jpg

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/pictures/tempest.htm

ACT IV. SCENE I.PROSPERO'S CELL.

PROSPERO, FERDINAND, MIRANDA; A MASK EXHIBITING, IRIS, CERES, JUNO, NYMPHS;

CALIBAN, TRINCULO, AND STEPHANO, AT A DISTANCE.

Painted by Joseph Wright of Derby. Engraved by Robert Thew.

Prospero. YOU do look, my son, in a mov'd sortAs if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir:Our revels now are ended: these our actors,As I foretold you, were all spirits, and

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,Leave not a rack behind: We are such stuffAs dreams are made of, and our little lifeIs rounded with a sleep.

Are melted into air, into thin air:And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Miranda

Prospero's daughter. Attractive and young at the tender age of fifteen years, Miranda has lived with her

father in exile for twelve years. Aside from her father, she has seen few

men in her life, and quickly enchants the shipwrecked Ferdinand.

Miranda shows all that is good about nature.

http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/waterhou/p-waterhouse44.htmMiranda

Ferdinand

The much-loved son of the King of Naples. Shipwrecked, but alive, Ferdinand falls instantly in love with Miranda, when he

first sees her on Prospero's island.

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/pictures/tempest.htm

ACT V. SCENE I.PROSPERO'S CELL.

THE ENTRANCE OF THE CELL OPENS, AND DISCOVERS FERDINAND AND MIRANDA

PLAYING AT CHESS.

Painted by Francis Wheatley, R. A. Engraved by Caroline Watson.

Miranda. SWEET lord, you play me false.Fer. No, my dearest love,I would not for the world.Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play.

Ariel

An airy spirit, Ariel serves his master Prospero well in his many tasks of magic on Prospero's island. Once enslaved by a witch, Ariel wants his freedom now from Prospero. At the conclusion of this play

Ariel is made free.

Brian G. Kurlander as Ariel, Utah

Shakespearean Festival, 1995 (Dixie

College, Photo Gallery)

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/pictures/tempest.htm

ACT I. SCENE I.THE ENCHANTED ISLAND: BEFORE

THE CELL OF PROSPERO.PROSPERO AND MIRANDA. ENTER

ARIEL

Painted by George Romney. Engraved by Benjamin Smith.

Ariel. NOT a soulBut felt a fever of the mad, and play'd Some tricks of desperation: All, but mariners, Plung'd in the foaming brine, and quit the vessel,

Then all a-fire, with me : the king's son, Ferdinand, With hair up-staring (then like reeds, not hair,) Was the first man that leap'd; cried, " Hell is empty, And all the devils are here."

Caliban

A giant misformed beast, Shakespeare describes Caliban as "a savage and deformed slave." Hating his master

Prospero, Caliban works for him out of fear of Prospero's magic.

Caliban represents the savage state of nature – the physical.

Caliban (summoned by Prospero) I must eat my dinner.

This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother, Which thou tak’st from me . . .

For I am all the subjects that you have, Which first was mine own king, and her you sty

me In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me

The rest o’th’island.

Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 330-2 &340-4  

Protest against and defiance of the coloniser

Caliban You taught me language, and my profit on’t

Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you For learning me your language!

Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 362-4  

Learning to Curse: Language and post-colonialism

Caliban Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not, Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices, That if I then had waked after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again, and then in dreaming The clouds methought would open and show riches

Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked I cried to dream again.

Act 3 Scene 133-41  

This island is mine…

Antonio

The brother of Prospero, he took Prospero's title from him when Prospero trusted him to manage his affairs. Having replaced his brother, he now encourages Sebastian to do the same to his brother,

Alonso.

James Rice as Antonio in

Shakespeare & Company's production of

"The Tempest".

Alonso

The King of Naples. When Prospero's brother Antonio, usurped (took) Prospero's dukedom, it was Alonso who recognized Prospero's brother, sealing Prospero's fate of living in exile.

Kevin Sprague8/14/01

An honest old counsellor. When Prospero was to have starved to

death when exiled by boat, it was Gonzalo who provided food,

clothing and books to comfort Prospero and the then three year

old Miranda.

Gonzalo

Venn Diagrams –Characters and Themes

Ralph and Prospero

Balance of good and

evil

Jack and Antonio

Bad Side of Human Nature: Evil and

Unrepentant

Simon and Gonzalo

Human goodness

Caliban and “The Beast”

Human Nature