The Tempest
Contrast, Chaos and
Confusion
Themes we will cover
Power
Man, the natural world and the
supernatural world
Reality
Forgiveness and redemption
Language
The Tempest - title
Storms have symbolic significance
In religions including Christianity
Shakespeare uses storms to show
emotional turmoil, often leading to
transformation or change
E.g. in King Lear the title character rants
wildly during the storm but comes to see the
error he has made
The turmoil of the play followed by calm
mirrors the storm
Opposites and Contradictions
Good father (Prospero) and bad mother
(Sycorax)
Noble child, monstrous child
White magic; black
Ariel; Caliban
Ariel and Caliban
Describe what these characters are like. Quote
and refer to how they are treated by Prospero
and how they react to him.
Caliban
Ariel
1.2.285-373
1.2.187-304
Confusion and disorder
The play is concerned with questions of power:
Prospero has been deposed from his rightful
position as Duke of Milan by his brother Antonio
Ferdinand believes his father, Alonso, has
drowned and he is King of Naples
Sebastian and Antonio plot to kill the King of
Naples, Alonso
In the first scene the storm has upset the order
of rank
The Boatswain orders Gonzalo “if you can
command these elements…use your authority”
(22-24)
Act 1 Scene 1
Extremely effective dramatically
On stage there is noise and frenzied activity
The language is full of short shouts and
orders
And interrupted by “a confused noise”
The Boatswain is ordering his superiors
BOATSWAIN
What cares these roarers for the name of
king? When the sea is. Hence! To cabin!
silence!
trouble us not. (1.1.16-18)
Act 1 Scene 2
There is a huge contrast from the busy,
realistic storm scene to a calm scene on
the magical island
Miranda mentions her father, Prospero’s
“art” or magical power in the first line
Prospero is in control, exerting his power
Ariel and Caliban
Ariel- creature of the air
Able “to fly, to swim, to
dive into the fire, to ride
on the curl’d clouds”
(1.2.190-192)
Mischievous
But kind: “if you now
beheld them, your
affections would
become tender…Mine
would, sir, were I
human” (5.1.18-20)
Caliban – name derived
from ‘cannibal’
Vengeful – “As wicked
dew…Drop on you both”
(1.2.321-323)
Spiteful (1.2.347-350)
Foolish and submissive
(2.2.116)
But also eloquent and
sensitive: “the isle is full
of noises, sounds and
sweet airs, that give
delight” (3.2.131-139)
Prospero
A bundle of contradictions
Cruel to Caliban: “Thou poisonous slave...”
(1.2.319)
and Ferdinand: “I’ll manacle thy neck and
feet together.” (1.2.462)
Kind to Ariel: “My brave spirit!” (1.2.206)
and loving to Miranda: “I have done nothing
but in care of thee” (1.2.16)