a tempest the tempest- prospero
TRANSCRIPT
Topic: The Tempest and A Tempest_ Prospero’s Character
Paper: 11Paper Name: The Postcolonial Literature
Prepared by: Drashti MehtaRoll No:7
PG Enrollment No:PG13101021Sem:3
Email id: [email protected] to: Smt. S.B. Gardi, Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinghji
Bhavnagar UniversityBhavnagar University
Bhavnagar(Gujarat-India)
Aime Cesaire
•"A Tempest” (1969) -is a play by Aime Cesaire
William Shakespeare •“The Tempest” is William Shakespeare's play, written around the year 1610
A Tempest by Aime Cesaire
Cesaire -a renowned poet, essayist and playwright.•A Tempest, translated -French to English, stunning masterpiece.•The author -insightful views on the psychology behind Prospero and Caliban’s action.
It follows the original version, but it has an African Twist.•Where Ariel, a mulatto, slave, attempts to win over his master and Caliban speaks outright and demands.•Cesaire's version: the themes of colonialism and Negritude
Prospero
Godlike figure:
Prospero functions as a god on the
island, manipulating everyone within his
reach.
He is Godlike in his control of those
around him and in his knowledge of all
that transpires.
Like a god he punishes the guilty
and demands repentance.
Treatment - Natives
• He is polite in The Tempest and Rude in A Tempest.
• He occupies the Land in both
Prospero V/s Caliban“ And now, Caliban, it’s you and
me!What I have to tell you will be
brief: Ten times, a hundred times,
I’ve tried to save you, above all from yourself.
But you have always answered me with wrath and venom,
Like the opossum that pulls itself up by it’s own tail
The better to bite the hand that tears it
From the darkness.Well, my boy, I shall set aside my
Indulgent natureAnd henceforth I will answerYour violence with violence!
“Well I hate you as well!
For it is you who have made me
doubt myself for the first time.
Prospero’s use of Magic:
He use his magic to make a storm, to frighten servants, to control enemies, and for marriage of his daughter etc.
White Magic
White magic of Nature
not black magic of
evil.
Uses white
magic to carry out
his designs.
Never injure his enemies.
Magic - pure
illusion.
Prospero’s Art
He planned well, creates
beautiful wedding masque
A Show A skillful director.
Role as a presenter is important
• In between he is supervising
and directing the performance of his spirits , he informs Ariel:
“ I must use you in such another trick.”
Bitter Old man
Earlier in the play, Prospero appears Callous and Cruel
He is defensively autocratic with Ariel.
His punishments of Caliban are petty and vindictive, his spirits
pinch Caliban - curses.
Ariel reminds his master his promise-Prospero bursts into fury- threatens him- imprisonment and
torment
Unpleasant- Ferdinand, leading him
to his daughter and then imprisoning and
enslaving him.
Power over the other characters and
his overwrought speeches - difficult
to like.
Beginning - puffed up and self-important,
superhuman power that is humanly
limited.
Use power first badly and then for good
purposes
He is a powerful magician
His possession and use of magical
knowledge renders him extremely
powerful
Power
“Prospero, you are the master of illusionLying is your trademark.
And you have lied so much to me(lied about the world, lied about me)
That you have engaged by imposing on me an image of myself.
Underdeveloped, you brand me, inferior,that’s the way you have forced me to see myself
I detest that image! What’s more it’s a lie!But now I know you, you old Cancer; and I know
myself as well.”
Caliban’s speech
Knowledge
• Really likes his books.• Mathematical mind
• He put theory into practice• Use magic• Dr. Faustus
His Roles
Role of a father and a role of a ruler
Ducal clothing –symbolic-
role of a governor and a father.
As a magician- governor
Involved in a human relationship
Miranda
His daughter,her only
duty in his eyes is to remain chaste.
Completely deprived of freedom by her father.
Miranda and Ferdinandmarriage
The less-prominent
women mentioned in the play
Completely internalised
the patriarchal order of things
Humanity
Prospero’s humanity is clearly seen, in his treatment of Antonio, whom he calls Traitor but whom he acclaims to treat as a traitor.
Prospero’s goodness appears when he stops Alonso from apologizing to Miranda, telling him that there is no need for more amends.
At the end he forgives his enemies
Time: Calculation
Close observation
of time,
He follows
the rhythm of time
Time Conscio
us
Limits his
power
Choiceto return to Milan,
Power corrupts
Remain human, abjure magic
Dr. FaustusHe knows much about
control and balance
He reveals guilty
In Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’, Prospero leaves at the end, but in Cesaire's ‘A Tempest’, Caliban and Prospero lives there, at the end Prospero grants Ariel his freedom, but retains control of that island and of Caliban.
