‘‘The Tempest’The Tempest’

Theme: The Illusion of Theme: The Illusion of JusticeJustice

ProsperoProspero

Prospero himself was usurped by Prospero himself was usurped by his brother, and he is furious with his brother, and he is furious with him for taking his power. He him for taking his power. He thinks that it is unfair and thinks that it is unfair and represents himself as a victim of represents himself as a victim of injusticeinjustice so, he wants revenge. so, he wants revenge.

On the island, he makes Caliban On the island, he makes Caliban and Ariel his slaves. He has no and Ariel his slaves. He has no qualms about this in order to qualms about this in order to achieve his ends. achieve his ends.

The idea of justice seems highly The idea of justice seems highly subjective since Prospero controls subjective since Prospero controls the fate of all the other the fate of all the other characters.characters.

Uses of MagicUses of Magic

Prospero was the only one who uses magic Prospero was the only one who uses magic most of the time. He uses magic to perform most of the time. He uses magic to perform injustice actsinjustice acts such as giving Caliban aches such as giving Caliban aches and cramps and night. and cramps and night.

Prospero also uses his magic to perform his Prospero also uses his magic to perform his revenge – The play becomes more and revenge – The play becomes more and more involved with the idea of creativity more involved with the idea of creativity and art.and art.

Magic plays an important role in presenting Magic plays an important role in presenting the idea of justice as it effects the structure the idea of justice as it effects the structure of the play which depends almost entirely of the play which depends almost entirely on the use of supernatural powers.on the use of supernatural powers.

SlaverySlavery

Caliban and Ariel represents slavery in Caliban and Ariel represents slavery in this play. Prospero’s sense of justice this play. Prospero’s sense of justice seems extremely one-sided and mainly seems extremely one-sided and mainly involves what is good for Prospero. involves what is good for Prospero.

Caliban thinks that it is unfair because his Caliban thinks that it is unfair because his island is taken from him, he really hates island is taken from him, he really hates Prospero for treating him as a slave. He Prospero for treating him as a slave. He even plans to kill Prospero when Stephano even plans to kill Prospero when Stephano and Trinculo became his new masters.and Trinculo became his new masters.

Caliban’s quoteCaliban’s quote ““The island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, The island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother,

Which thou tak’st from me.”Which thou tak’st from me.” ““Why, as I told thee, ‘tis a custom with him Why, as I told thee, ‘tis a custom with him

I’ th’ afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst I’ th’ afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him, Having first seiz’d his books”brain him, Having first seiz’d his books”

““The isle is full of noises, sounds and The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.”sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.”

Does Caliban deserve to get sympathyDoes Caliban deserve to get sympathy

or disgust? or disgust?

Slavery pt IISlavery pt II

Prospero releases Ariel from a Prospero releases Ariel from a tree by using his magic. He tree by using his magic. He actually needs Ariel to do his actually needs Ariel to do his revenge and he promises to revenge and he promises to free him after he achieves free him after he achieves what he wants. what he wants.

Ariel is obedient to Prospero Ariel is obedient to Prospero and although he longs for his and although he longs for his freedom, he seems to take freedom, he seems to take pleasure in his work.pleasure in his work. “All hail, great master!

Grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure”

-Ariel

Happy EndingHappy Ending By using magic and tricks, Prospero By using magic and tricks, Prospero

gradually persuades the other characters gradually persuades the other characters and the audience of the rightness of his and the audience of the rightness of his deed. As he does so, the ambiguities deed. As he does so, the ambiguities surrounding his methods slowly resolve surrounding his methods slowly resolve themselves. themselves.

Prospero forgives his enemies, releases his Prospero forgives his enemies, releases his slaves, and relinquishes his magic power so slaves, and relinquishes his magic power so that at the end of the play, he is the only that at the end of the play, he is the only person who works toward the happy person who works toward the happy ending. ending.

Shakespeare seems to say that happy Shakespeare seems to say that happy endings are possible because the creativity endings are possible because the creativity of artists can create them, even if the of artists can create them, even if the moral values that establishes the happy moral values that establishes the happy ending originate form nowhere but the ending originate form nowhere but the imagination of the artist. imagination of the artist.

Justice and Shakespeare?Justice and Shakespeare?

Prospero’s role begins to mirror Prospero’s role begins to mirror more explicitly the role of an more explicitly the role of an author creating a story around author creating a story around him. him.

Prospero as a surrogate for Prospero as a surrogate for Shakespeare himself? Shakespeare himself?

Shakespeare is in the play, and Shakespeare is in the play, and the fact that he establishes his the fact that he establishes his idea of justice and creates a idea of justice and creates a happy ending for all the happy ending for all the characters becomes a cause of characters becomes a cause of celebration, not criticism. celebration, not criticism.

ConclusionConclusion

Hmmm…The Tempest Hmmm…The Tempest represents the idea of justice represents the idea of justice by presenting Prospero as the by presenting Prospero as the only character whose work only character whose work has been responsible for all has been responsible for all the audience's pleasure. the audience's pleasure.

The establishment of The establishment of Prospero’s idea of justice Prospero’s idea of justice becomes less commentary on becomes less commentary on justice in life than on the justice in life than on the nature of morality in artnature of morality in art. .

Something for youSomething for you

In The Tempest, has magic ever used In The Tempest, has magic ever used benignly? (Think about Sycorax’s benignly? (Think about Sycorax’s imprisonment of Ariel and Prospero’s imprisonment of Ariel and Prospero’s enslavement of Caliban and enslavement of Caliban and insistence on service from Ariel.)insistence on service from Ariel.)

The end of our The end of our presentation presentation

“But release me from my bands,

With the help of your good hands..”

-Prospero