Free Essays on The Tempest

Conspiracies and Treason is The Tempest Prospero’s power and magic are dominant throughout the play yet he really has no power. The Tempest consists of a series of rebellion, treacheries, mutinies and conspiracies against Prospero but the overall view of the dramatic action is much more complex. Many other aspects and themes such as illusion and magic also play a very important role in shaping the plot against Prospero. Power struggles are evident from the beginning, when Prospero’s brother, Antonio, seized his status as Duke of Milan and banished him to a bleak place and left him for dead. Sebastian remarks, â€Å"I remember/You did supplant your brother Prospero.† And Antonio replies, â€Å"True;/ And look how well my garment sit upon me,† (2.1.257-59). Antonio betrayed Prospero, and yet he feels no remorse for his treacherous act. His conscience is not bothered by what he did to Prospero. Another sibling conspiracy that would ultimately cause a down fall of Prospero came in Act II, in this scene Sebastian is encouraged by Antonio to kill his brother, Alonso, which would put him next in line for the throne. They first attempted to kill Gonzalo, Alonso’s faithful advisor. â€Å"Draw together,/and when I rear my hand do you the like/TO fall it on Gonzalo† (2.1.281-83). Their evil plot is interrupted and plans ruined as Ariel wakes the sleeping party (Alonso and Gonzalo). Perhaps the most famous resistance against authority comes from Caliban, the slave of Prospero, who feels that the island is rightfully his, â€Å"The Island’s mine by Sycorax my mother,†. He goes on to state that Prospero â€Å"tak’st from me† (3.2.46-49). In order to gain or regain his rulership, Caliban plots with Trinculo and Stephano to kill Prospero and take over the island. â€Å"Why, as I told thee, ‘tis a custom with him I’ th’ af ternoon to sleep. There thou mayst brain him having first seized his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch ... Free Essays on The Tempest Free Essays on The Tempest Freedom, people fight wars for it, some would rather die than live without it, and others claim freedom does not need obtaining because we always had it. Shakespeare, aware of man’s desire for freedom includes this theme in the play, The Tempest. Seeing how hard the characters work to obtain freedom suggests its importance. This theme of freedom frequently shows itself throughout the play. Freedom, one of the bigger themes in the play, due to its easy identification and numerous references. Prospero and Miranda’s imprisonment, the first example of confinement, something one must have in order for the need of freedom. Prospero’s brother exiled Prospero and Miranda to that island 12 years ago in order that he may obtain Prospero’s position. â€Å"In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, bore us some leagues to sea† (I.ii.172-173). Upon this island Prospero makes plans on how to get revenge and free themselves from the island. Prospero conjures up a fake storm and goes through elaborate plans just for freedom. â€Å"If by your art, my dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar† (I.ii.1-2). Prospero also faces his imprisonment to the black arts. These controlled him so much; he gave up his dukedom for it. â€Å"Knowing I loved my books, he furnished me from my own library with volumes that I prize above my own dukedom† (I.ii.198-200). Prospero eventually realizes that his magic imprisoned him and in result gives it up to obtain freedom. â€Å"Now my charms are all o’erthrown, and what strength I have ‘s mine own.† (epilogue.1-2). Unfortunately, while imprisoned on the island, Prospero does not learn anything and proceeds to imprison others. Prospero enslaves Caliban, the former owner of the island, upon arriving on the island. â€Å"We’ll visit Caliban, my slave† (I.ii.368). Caliban performs tasks for Prospero, and grows angrier and angrier at Prospero. He decides to join Stephano and Trinculo to obt... Free Essays on The Tempest Conspiracies and Treason is The Tempest Prospero’s power and magic are dominant throughout the play yet he really has no power. The Tempest consists of a series of rebellion, treacheries, mutinies and conspiracies against Prospero but the overall view of the dramatic action is much more complex. Many other aspects and themes such as illusion and magic also play a very important role in shaping the plot against Prospero. Power struggles are evident from the beginning, when Prospero’s brother, Antonio, seized his status as Duke of Milan and banished him to a bleak place and left him for dead. Sebastian remarks, â€Å"I remember/You did supplant your brother Prospero.† And Antonio replies, â€Å"True;/ And look how well my garment sit upon me,† (2.1.257-59). Antonio betrayed Prospero, and yet he feels no remorse for his treacherous act. His conscience is not bothered by what he did to Prospero. Another sibling conspiracy that would ultimately cause a down fall of Prospero came in Act II, in this scene Sebastian is encouraged by Antonio to kill his brother, Alonso, which would put him next in line for the throne. They first attempted to kill Gonzalo, Alonso’s faithful advisor. â€Å"Draw together,/and when I rear my hand do you the like/TO fall it on Gonzalo† (2.1.281-83). Their evil plot is interrupted and plans ruined as Ariel wakes the sleeping party (Alonso and Gonzalo). Perhaps the most famous resistance against authority comes from Caliban, the slave of Prospero, who feels that the island is rightfully his, â€Å"The Island’s mine by Sycorax my mother,†. He goes on to state that Prospero â€Å"tak’st from me† (3.2.46-49). In order to gain or regain his rulership, Caliban plots with Trinculo and Stephano to kill Prospero and take over the island. â€Å"Why, as I told thee, ‘tis a custom with him I’ th’ af ternoon to sleep. There thou mayst brain him having first seized his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch ... Free Essays on The Tempest William Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, reveals several characteristics that define the humanist movement in English literature. It is during the humanist movement that a tendency to emphasize man- his status, importance, powers, achievements and authority-gave rise to man as a center of interest rather than God. This shift from God to man encouraged the study of science, knowledge, and the universe in conjunction with government, religion, individuality, and language. As Shakespeare wrote The Tempest in the backdrop of such intense social change he illuminated these humanistic ideas into his piece. The Tempest is a celebration of human life. It celebrates man’s spiritual and emotional depth, diversity, and ability to possess knowledge and purity. Yet Shakespeare also reveals the dark side of mankind as all characters are flawed. Prospero is in every way the most intricate character as he plays many roles in The Tempest. Prospero is a ruler, scientist, victim, sorcerer, father, master, politician, and slave throughout the play. His complexity is the core of humanism’s appreciation for man. In the final Act of the play Miranda, Prospero’s daughter explains spellbound, â€Å"O! Wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has such people in’t.† Miranda speaks as an innocent girl who has not lived to see the true wickedness man is capable of. She sees mankind for its potential-human nature without fault. Shakespeare revealed earlier to readers the cruelty and foolishness of Alonso, Tri nculo, and Stefano. They are far from being good yet, that no longer seems to matter. Shakespeare seems to celebrate what man has the potential to be- not what it sometimes is. This celebration is an element of humanism. Knowledge, learning, and individual development are other aspects of humanism that mold The Tempest. Knowledge is symbolized through Prospero’s use of magic, ...