The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest
POTENTIAL
TRAGIC
ELEMENTS
IN THE TEMPEST
”I will set out the plot of this tragedy. What? Did you pull a face,
because I said it was going to be a tragedy? I am a God, so I’ll
change it, if you want. I shall make a comedy out of this tragedy,
with all the same verses. (…) I’ll make it mixed: a tragicomedy!
I don’t think it would be appropriate to make it a consistent
comedy, when there are kings and gods in it (…).”
- (Plautus 51-63) - the God Mercury addresses the audience in Amphitryon
Š Prospero= stands for the other possibility – perhaps his magic ensured this
could be a gift to
Š ! though he does control destinies- Caliban -lost trust , Ariel –is freed
eventually
•”(…) a sense of
renounced vengeance,
a turn toward
gentleness, solace, and
calm.” (Samuels 1)
The play’s paradoxical nature
Ý Prospero= to succeed, flourishing ? gives up his magical power
”Now my charms are all o’erthrown,
And what strength I have ’s mine own,
Which is most faint.”
Ý Epilougue – asking for liberation from the audience usually seen as a figure of authority
Ariel waiting for the desired freedom / Caliban – servant (constant threats + ultimation if they won’t oblige)
”Let me not,
(…) ,dwell
In this bare island by your spell.” /
”As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.”
The questions