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Ariel has a…
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‘childlike simplicity’ - 18th century
Analysis: This presents similarities in the presentation of Caliban and Ariel, both are infantilized within the play. This also presents Ariel as a victim of Prospero that he has taken advantage of.
Example: ‘Do you love me master?’-Ariel
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Caliban’s ‘Be not afeard speech’ presents him as…
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having ‘the simplicity of a child’ - 19th century
Analysis: Presents Caliban as a victim of Prospero that has taken advantage of.
Example: ‘Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not’-Caliban
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Miranda and ferdinand’s relationship is…
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‘the very purity of love’ - 19th century
Analysis: A less cynical reading of their relationship as a modern scholar (who would argue that Prospero dictates their relationship)
Example: ‘A contract of true love’-Iris
Example: ‘For your sake am I this patient log-man’-Ferdinand
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Caliban speaks in…
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‘eloquent poetry’ - 19th century
Analysis: This contrasts the reading below as we see that he talks like a noble, but may also be another example of him being colonialism.
Example: ‘The clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me’-Caliban
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Caliban is ‘a…
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resister of tyranny’ 19th century critic
Analysis: Presents caliban as a somewhat heroic character in his rebellion. While I don’t fully agree with this it does also make the argument that he is validated by Prospero’s actions towards him.
Example: ‘With a log batter his skull’-Caliban
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‘The play is…
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structurally tidy’ - 20th century
Analysis: This refers to the fact that at the end (almost) everything is resolved and Prospero gives up his magic for earthly power. The natural order and usurpation is restored. Disorder to Order. etc. etc.
Could argue against this as Antonio doesn’t show remorse at the end (not replying to Prospero’s forgiveness of him)
Example: ‘I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art’-Prospero
Example: ‘This rough magic I here abjure’-Prospero
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‘Metamorphosis within the…
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self is more deeply satisfying’ - 20th century
Analysis: Talking about Prospero and Alonso’s shift within the play. Such as magic to earthly power or revenge to forgiveness. For Alonso this would be usurper (assisting anyway) to restorer.
Example: ‘I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art’-Prospero
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‘Prospero needs Miranda as…
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sexual bait … It is Prospero’s needs … not Miranda’s, which are being served here’ - 20th century
Analysis: This refers to how involved Prospero is in their relationship, orchestrating it so that they fall in love and are married as a way to elevate his own social status (as father to a prince with Ferdinand marrying Miranda who is a princess).
Example: ‘Rich gift’-Prospero
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‘The Tempest is now…
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unfortunately reduced to an allegory of colonialism’ - 20th century
Analysis: I disagree with this sweeping statement. While it is an increasingly important aspect of the play it does not override the subtle complexities within the text.
Example: ‘This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak’st from me’-Caliban
Example: ‘You taught me language, and my profit on’t is I know how to curse’-Caliban
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The play is concerned with “political legitimacy and…
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the effects of usurpation” - 20th century
Analysis: In reference to the theme of disorder to order being centered around the great chain of being. At the start there is an inversion in political/social hierarchy (prospero being usurped) that is resolved at the end. The effects of usurpation are present without such as Antonio being unable to repent at the end (doesn’t reply when Prospero forgives him) or the fact that Miranda proposes to Ferdinand (creates an inversion of the gender roles).
Example: ‘Thy dukedom I resign and do entreat thou pardon me my wrongs’ - Alonso
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Refers to the Tempest as an “eternal…
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conflict between order and chaos” - 20th century
Analysis: This links well to the disorder to order theme, nothing else really. Evil (usurpers) vs good (usurped), inversion of the great chain of being etc. etc. (you get it). An example of this is the chaotic Harpy scene being followed by the betrothal masque…
Example: ‘You are three men of sin’- Ariel
Example:‘A contract of true love’-Iris !
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Prospero’s power is “capable of…
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great evil as well as great good” - 20th century
Analysis: Prospero uses his magical power in the play to both control Ariel/Caliban and also make Ferdinand and Miranda fall in love (I know doesn’t sound like a “great good” but is intended to be received like this)
Example: ‘Hell is empty and all the devils are here’-Ferdinand
Example: ‘This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak’st from me’-Caliban
Example: ‘A contract of true love’-Iris
Example: ‘I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer’-Caliban
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Stage directions were “designed to…
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make the calamity as convincing and tangible as possible” - 20th century
Analysis: Emphasises Shakespeare’s use of stage direction and dramatics to make The Tempest an immersive spectacle.
Example: A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning - stage direction
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‘Miranda is…
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passive and controlled’ - 21tst century
Analysis: I’d agree with this, notably the way Prsopero can easily manipulate her to go along with his plan to fall in love with ferdinand. Or the fact that she falls asleep at his will (not as convincing point as so do other characters like Alonso). This reflects the passive role of women in society at the time.
Example: Miranda falls asleep - stage direction
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‘The Tempest holds up…
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a mirror to empire’ - 21st century
Analysis: This praises the anti-colonialist aspects of the play such as Caliban’s treatment (Island stolen from him and treated badly by Prospero, the coloniser) Talk about this when considering a modern reading of the tempest on the topic of collonialisation. Another key example is the othering and animalising of the colonised as shown by how Mirranda talks to Caliban (shown below)
Example: ‘You taught me language, and my profit on’t is I know how to curse’-Caliban
Example: ‘Is there more toil?’ - Ariel
Example: ‘Thou dost gabble like a thing most brutish’-Miranda
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The play is ‘an…
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aborted revenge tragedy’ - 21tst century
Analysis: This refers to Prospero’s decision to forgive his usurpers at the end.
Example: ‘I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art’-Prospero
Example: ‘I have bedimmed the noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds’-Prospero
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The play is ‘a Christian…
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allegory of forgiveness’ - 21tst century
Analysis: This of course refers to the play and the fact that it praises the christian value of forgiveness. A key example of this is the rainbow that appears during the marriage masque in Act 4 Scene 1 (a religious symbol of hope). An example of forgiveness being a strong belief at the time is when James I writes in his book (The True Law of Free Monarchies) that “It is a princes part to pardon”
Example: ‘I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art’-Prospero
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The play is arguably about…
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‘Jacobean politics’ and/or ‘patriarchal ideology’ - 21tst century
Analysis: Definitely agreeing with this one. So many examples of this, the betrothal masque, christian forgiveness, punishment of the usurpers, magic as bad, Prospero as the most powerful, Miranda as submissive, the great chain of being etc. etc.
Example: ‘Mirandafallsasleep’-stage direction
Example: ‘What cares these roarers for the name of king?’-Boatswain
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The portrayal of Caliban in production over time ‘moved from a…
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subhuman animal to an unmistakably human figure’ - 21tst century
Analysis: Referring to the gradual change as audiences began to recognise caliban as a symbol of the oppression of empire. Originally to the audience would have been a point of ridicule and legitimised this othering.
Example: ‘Thou dost gabble like a thing most brutish’-Miranda
Example: ‘You taught me language, and my profit on’t is I know how to curse’-Caliban
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‘There are symmetries at…
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every level of the play’s narrative’ - 21tst century
Analysis: Refers to the symmetries between many characters such as the 3 comic men and the 3 men of sin, ariel and miranda and caliban as being victims of Prospero’s power.
Example: brothers, father/child, the comic scenes etc.
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In the betrothal masque “marriage is subtly glorified as the…
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foundation of society and a part of the natural order of things” - 21tst century
Analysis: I agree with this as the marriage of Ferdinand and Mirranda is a big part of the
Example: ‘Makesthisplaceparadise’-Ferdinand
Example: ‘A contract of true love’-Iris
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‘a male authored canonical text which
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seems to exclude women’ - 21tst century
Analysis: A modern interpretation of the play, Miranda as passive and Sycorax as a character that isn’t given a voice.
Example: ‘Miranda falls asleep’ - stage direction
Example “ - “ (no lines in Act 4 Scene 1 just stands on stage while Prospero and Ferdinand talk about her marriage)
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‘The masque in The Tempest is
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a materialisation of Prospero’s will and power’ - 21tst century
Analysis: Highlights prospero’s power and control over the island and Miranda/Ferdinand’s relationship.
Example: ‘A contract of true love’-Iris (using the masque to make them marry for his own gain)
