Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Tempest
The Tempest is an ideal name for this play in more ways than one. There are two main definitions of the word tempest. The first definition is a severe commotion or disturbance, especially an emotional upheaval. The second definition is a severe storm with very high winds and often rain, hail, or snow (both definitions were provided by Microsoft Word). Both of these definitions are clearly displayed in The Tempest. All of the main characters experienced some type of emotional upheaval. Alonso (the king of Naples) is over-come with a great deal of grief when he believes that Ferdinand (his son) is dead. When Alonso finds Ferdinand alive and well he feels an over-whelming amount of happiness. Ferdinand’s strongest emotion is the love and devotion he feels toward Miranda (Prospero’s daughter). Prospero’s (the rightful duke of Milan) emotional upheaval occurs when he is overthrown by Antonio (his brother). Emotions also flair as Sebastian (the brother of the king of Naples), and Antonio, plot the murder of the king, and when Caliban (Prospero’s deformed slave), Trinculo (a jester), and Stephano (a drunken butler plot to murder Prospero and rule the island. The second definition comes into play at the very beginning of the novel during the great storm that leaves the crew ship wrecked on the island. In The Tempest, Prospero’s role among the fates of the other characters, reminds me of a puppet master. He uses Ariel (an airy spirit) and the other spirits on the island to do his bidding much like the strings connecting the puppet master to the puppets. He influences almost every move made on the island, all of them accumulating in his return to dukedom in Milan, and Miranda marrying Ferdinand becoming queen of Naples. Shakespeare uses many literary devices including flashbacks, and word play to highlight his play. Shakespeare also uses his characters magic to provide suspense and mystery.
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Allison, this play sounds very intresting to me because all of the main chgaracters have diffrent emotions running through them during this play. I would like to read this on my own time because Prospero sounds like a very intresting character because he can minupulate the characters.
ReplyDeleteThe Tempest sounds to me like a very peculiar play that is creative because, as you have pointed out, the title has two different meaning that both become greatly influenced in the play. The fact that the storm was the very reason they were put on the island is, in a way, quite normal to many movies today. But when the storm has not LEFT the island (meaning the first definition of the chaotic occurrences that would begin to happen) it shows that Shakespeare did not only think about the play, but also the title of the play to give a deeper meaning. It seems like this would be a great play to read and I would definitely like to read it at some point.
ReplyDeleteThe emotions and the connections between all the characters is very simialr to the actions of the characters in 'King Lear.' They entangle every character in some way, but in the end leaves no one untouched. The storm is also similar to the dramatic storm in 'King Lear.' The storm symbolizes Lear's maddness and confusion and the disaray that all the actions have caused.
ReplyDeleteThat's great how the double meaning of the title plays into the play. I agree with DJ about Shakespears thought.
I was thinking the same thing you were thinking Maryssa. The trap among the characters does seem familiar to King Lear. I relate the character entanglement to playing chess, you have to think of your own defense before you plot your move. In these cases the characters strategic was too ahead. Their long term plans blind-sighted their next move.
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ReplyDeleteI love how shakespeare can be so symbolic and thematic with such simple stories. The whole idea of the storm bringing them to the island and keeping them there is really fascinating to me. I also agree with Holly and Maryssa with their points about the characters and the double meaning of the title. I would like to read this in my spare time because i could gather my own personal thoughts about the characters and how they relate to my own world.
ReplyDeleteI like the way Shakespeare uses the environments in his plays to reflect the actions of the characters. The storm portraying the anger and commotion present on the island and the island portraying the sense of isolation seems cleverly put together. Shakespeare may have also used the island to emphasize Prospero's ability to manipulate those around him and prevent them from having an "escape route". I think the The Tempest sounds quite interesting and I wouldn't mind reading it in the future. It's cool trying to interpret the hidden meanings and messages Shakespeare uses to prove a point to the reader.
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