In this complex play written by William Shakespeare, The Tempest is about Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, lives on an island with his daughter, Miranda. Prospero’s brother, Antonio took over his throne and set Prospero and Miranda adrift, and they eventually found themselves washed ashore on the island. Prospero summons a storm to wreck a ship bearing his old enemies near the island, and punishes Antonio and Alonso in multiple ways. Finally, Prospero confronts his brother and Alonso, and he demands that Antonio restore his throne. High school students should still learn The Tempest, because there are themes that are relevant today, characters represent ourselves, how influential language can be.
Despite The Tempest is …show more content…
A major character that represents our humanity and naive side is Miranda. Miranda, one of the major characters in The Tempest, the daughter of Prospero, who was exiled to the island when she was very young so she does not remember the orthodox civilization. This has allowed her to become pure and innocent as she has no interaction with other humans apart from all she has learnt from her father. She is very sympathetic, during the storm she tries to convince Prospero not to hurt the men “O, I have suffered/ With those I saw suffer” (1.2.5-6). This morality in the character of Miranda used by Shakespeare to show that all humans are inherently good, and that it is only society which corrupts. Her naivety is shown through her love at first sight feelings for Ferdinand. “…the first/ That e’er I sighed for. Pity move my father” (1.2.535-536). Miranda is considered foolish as her feelings they may be seen as unreasonable because she may not know what love is as she has never met another man besides her father and Caliban. Another character we can relate ourselves to be Ariel, a source of mystery and servitude throughout The Tempest. The audience is never quite sure about what the spirit is as he/she is presented through a variety of forms in the play. “I flamed amazement. Sometimes I’d divide/ And burn in many places” (1.2.234-235). The …show more content…
The role of language in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest is very important. To Miranda and Prospero the use of language is a sense of identity; Caliban does not see language in the same light. Prospero taught Caliban to speak, but instead of creating the feeling of liberation from language, Caliban reacts in a totally different way. “… my profit on ‘t/ Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you/ For learning me your language” (1.2.437439). Language reminds him of the time he was not a slave, he holds a grudge against Prospero for “Civilizing” him, because in doing so he took away his freedom. Another use of language is Shakespeare’s portrayal of literary devices. One example is the term “Fair play” (5.1.204). Shakespeare’s two word intricate statements of how the world ought to work, and how it often doesn’t. These two words hold different meanings on which he creates subtle puns on humans’ capacity to celebrate both foolish virtue and clever trickery. “…a score of kingdoms you should wrangle/ And I would call it fair play” (5.1. 203-204). The phrase is used to wrap up the plotlines flawlessly between nobles by having Ferdinand and Miranda’s marriage a “fair” resolution. The use of the language in The Tempest shows students the importance of language and the types of effects it
Despite The Tempest is …show more content…
A major character that represents our humanity and naive side is Miranda. Miranda, one of the major characters in The Tempest, the daughter of Prospero, who was exiled to the island when she was very young so she does not remember the orthodox civilization. This has allowed her to become pure and innocent as she has no interaction with other humans apart from all she has learnt from her father. She is very sympathetic, during the storm she tries to convince Prospero not to hurt the men “O, I have suffered/ With those I saw suffer” (1.2.5-6). This morality in the character of Miranda used by Shakespeare to show that all humans are inherently good, and that it is only society which corrupts. Her naivety is shown through her love at first sight feelings for Ferdinand. “…the first/ That e’er I sighed for. Pity move my father” (1.2.535-536). Miranda is considered foolish as her feelings they may be seen as unreasonable because she may not know what love is as she has never met another man besides her father and Caliban. Another character we can relate ourselves to be Ariel, a source of mystery and servitude throughout The Tempest. The audience is never quite sure about what the spirit is as he/she is presented through a variety of forms in the play. “I flamed amazement. Sometimes I’d divide/ And burn in many places” (1.2.234-235). The …show more content…
The role of language in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest is very important. To Miranda and Prospero the use of language is a sense of identity; Caliban does not see language in the same light. Prospero taught Caliban to speak, but instead of creating the feeling of liberation from language, Caliban reacts in a totally different way. “… my profit on ‘t/ Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you/ For learning me your language” (1.2.437439). Language reminds him of the time he was not a slave, he holds a grudge against Prospero for “Civilizing” him, because in doing so he took away his freedom. Another use of language is Shakespeare’s portrayal of literary devices. One example is the term “Fair play” (5.1.204). Shakespeare’s two word intricate statements of how the world ought to work, and how it often doesn’t. These two words hold different meanings on which he creates subtle puns on humans’ capacity to celebrate both foolish virtue and clever trickery. “…a score of kingdoms you should wrangle/ And I would call it fair play” (5.1. 203-204). The phrase is used to wrap up the plotlines flawlessly between nobles by having Ferdinand and Miranda’s marriage a “fair” resolution. The use of the language in The Tempest shows students the importance of language and the types of effects it