DISCOVERY THE TEMPEST

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

THE TEMPEST The Hook

To hook students into the story before you begin reading the play view the beginning of Shakespeare uncovered (Shakespeare Uncovered Episode 4 Trevor Nunn)

After the viewing students are to answer the following question: You have been surviving on a deserted island for 12 year and the men who conspired to put you there are ship wrecked and are at your mercy. What would you do?

Focus on Discovery This presentation will have a number of focus ideas that need to be considered with the following: Discovery within the text Discovery for the responder

Remember process of discovery can vary according to cultural, historical and social contexts and values.

Conceptual Understanding The Tempest explores: Control Power Anger Deceit Revenge Paternal love Sacrifice Forgiveness

Context

What does this play tell us about Shakespeare himself? More ambitious, radical, imaginative idealistic – experimental play.

It was his last play, sets himself a

challenge – flying spirits, tempest etc. – difficult to stage

Shakespeare and Family

Life experience of Shakespeare Autobiographical – play leading role

himself – did he play Prospero? Prospero fears close to Shakespeare's

own fears - Judith (daughter) involved in unreliable relationship.

paternal anxieties - testing husband to

see if suitable – played out in The Tempest.

His daughter Judith?

What does it mean to be human? Audience questions themselves: Can anyone be trusted with power? How do we become the people we are? What happens for the first time when we

fall in love? Are we capable of forgiveness? Plus more

Prospero is the driving force in the play. Is he driven by anger?

Story one man and choice Prospero -

betrayed, cast away, magician commands spirits and elements

Prospero controls tension Prospero stuck with himself

metaphorically and literally - I was treated badly

Is Prospero trustworthy?

Revenge or Forgiveness

Prospero wants revenge to be extreme – angry bitter enraged person. Burning rage.

Will Prospero be capable of forgiveness – reassuring father amongst the anger ?

How is power and control represented in the play? Prospero controls most elements of the play. Prospero – stage managing but terrified

control elements / destinies – needs to be feared

Is he trustworthy- bought enemies to same island

Play hinges on the question what will he decide to do with them?

THE REPRESENTATION OF CALIBAN

Colonisation - Oppression Postmodernist understanding (will this be the perspective students favour?) Caliban usurped by Prospero Prospero takes control of Ariel Sympathy is with original inhabitants of the island.

Enslaved against will - colonial structure taken against will.

Slavery as opposed to freedom. Is it too narrow to view Prospero as white imperialist

that subjugates native islander Problem with colonial representation - white

colonialized taken over the country – not Prospero’s story?

Prospero’s relationship with Caliban and Ariel

Originally Prospero treated Caliban well –

betrayed Caliban trying to rape Miranda. Caliban enslaved bitter relationship for both. Prospero releases Ariel from a tree belongs to

the elements – spirit sacred / magical Ariel another slave. Relationship Ariel / Prospero

complex. When am I going to be free. Intimacy and love for capture.

Ariel’s compassion brings about Prospero’s forgiveness

ARIEL

Human nature and deceit Overthrowing Authority - Prospero usurped by brother – lost Dukedom Boatswain challenges authority to royalty in the midst of the tempest Antonio / Sebastian plot to kill Alonso Caliban plots to kill Prospero No connection to civilisation – nature or nurture - nature in the

conspirators deceit starts up again.

Duplicity of conspirators commit to murder for wealth and power

Darker human instincts will always emerge

YEARNING FOR POWER AND CONTROL

Imprisonment / freedom All characters suffer some kind of confinement Caliban enslaved by Prospero and then by

Stephano Ariel imprisoned by Sycorax and then Prospero Ferdinand carries logs for Prospero Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio driven to madness Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban tormented by

Prospero’s spirits

Representation of Miranda Feminist / postmodernist perspective (will this also be popular with students?) Paradoxical role - minor dependent character but

essential to the power dynamics.

Crucial to the action but devoid of power, freedom or thought.

Presented as being caring, naïve, inexperienced,

virtuous, chaste

Only female besides 3 other mentioned females

Prospero & Miranda’s Relationship

Prospero’s relationship with Miranda – Paternal love or Oppression

Relationship patriarchal oppression with Prospero

maintaining power and control throughout the play - instructs her about the world – caring nurturing / teacher

Prospero devoted to daughter – protective saved his life in the boat. Worth living for Virtuousness (Caliban tried to rape her) Selection of husband Third of mine own life

Nurturing father or controlling manipulator? Prospero brings Miranda and Ferdinand

together Prospero secure old score and secure a

new future for his daughter Ferdinand and Miranda together – can’t

make them fall in love. Anxious not to have physical attraction

but meeting of minds. How to describe the love – not love at

first sight but rather a sexual intrigue.

FALLING IN LOVE

Prospero begins to soften Prospero overhearing / spying ‘poor worm art

infected’ - protective. Ferdinand needs to be tested. Miranda ready to assert herself moment of

disobedience – telling name secretly seeing Ferdinand. Fire in her.

Rare affections watching Prospero is beginning to let go - ready to approve marriage.

Can’t quite let go warns not to break her virgin knot. Magical display celestial goddess to celebrate –

exuberant joy nuptial mask and stops before it is finished

Revenge

Prospero undertakes his revenge by using his magical powers.

Magic has a delicate balance – handled the wrong way it can become ungodly

Ariel dispenses numerous horrors on the shipwrecked groups on the island through music, allusions etc.

Prospero is content with this treatment

Forgiveness and Reconciliation Ariel’s compassion to the groups suffering

brings Prospero’s vengeance to forgiveness. ‘the rarer action is in virtue, than in

vengeance’ Prospero struggles to forgive but knows it is

the rarer virtue – sacrifices his magical powers

Remembers his accomplishments but also acknowledges everyone is entitled to freedom

Prospero forgives his enemies

Conflict to Harmony

Modernist perspective – restorative narrative, belief in human spirit Power of human kind to regenerate itself

on a human level Restores our faith in humanity – What

does it mean to be human?

Prospero becomes human

Is The Tempest Autobiographical?

The most telling play

Bibliography William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Cambridge

University Press, 1995 Trevor Nunn, Shakespeare Uncovered, Episode 4,

Global Entertainment 2012. DVD Sofia Munoz Valdivieso, Double Erasure in The

Tempest: Miranda in Postmodern Critical Discourse, Sourced from internet 7/7/14

Elizabeth Osborne, Teaching William Shakespeare’s The Tempest from Multiple Critical perspectives, Prestwick House, Inc Sourced from internet 6/7/14