The Tempest is a unique play in the Shakespeare canon for throughout it embodies the element of magic. Prospero has long studied the magical arts and seems to be well learned. He is a very interesting character for it is hard for one to say whether his intentions are good or not. Yes, he was wrongfully exiled from his Dukedom, but at times he seems to abuse his power. As he recounts the story of their journeys to Miranda, it seems that he forcefully puts her to sleep so that he may conduct his business with Ariel, one of his magical servants, without her knowledge.
Ariel is also a very interesting figure in this play. He is in the service of Prospero for he is the one who relieved him of his previous containment, but at times one gets the feeling that Prospero is a little over bearing. "Dost thou forget / from what a torment I did free thee?" 1.2 299-300, he asks him in a conversation which he seems to be letting Ariel to not forget what he owes Prospero.
The treatment of Caliban is also very intriguing. While the treatment he receives is justified, for at one time he attempted to rape Miranda, Caliban represents more than what is seen at the surface. As Oscar Wilde famously coined, "The nineteenth- century dislike of realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass. The nineteenth- century dislike of romanticism is the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass." Caliban can come to represent, in many ways, a lower or middle class of population; people who are not necessarily affluent or rich. The hard working people of a society who don't receive the proper respect, in comparison to the upper class, being Ariel. The struggle between these two, while at the same time in opposition to Prospero, but still abiding by his rule, sets up a very interesting scenario not given its proper due in this play.
Noting that this play takes place in the span of one day, unlike most other of Shakespeare's plays, combined with the players we have met and what they represent, this play is showing itself to be one of the more intriguing ones to come from the pen of William and I know for a fact that it does not disappoint.
New Paltz Students Blogging about Shakespeare
3 comments:
Your insight here about Caliban's class affinities are great, Robert. Picking up from our discussion in last class, I wonder what it says about Prospero and Miranda that they don't believe Caliban learned language properly. Thinking about this in class terms certainly helps to clarify this issue, as people of lower classes (think back to Midsummer) are regularly represented as being incapable of proper education.
I like the Oscar Wilde quote you put here, Robert. It makes a very interesting point for Caliban's character. Though as an audience member you may want to dislike Caliban upon hearing his attempt to rape Miranda, later on in the play it is made clear that he is at a disadvantage and should perhaps be pitied. He is uneducated and has no power or property on the island, and is forced to be a slave to Prospero.
Your comments about Prospero's magic made me think of the way in which he held/holds power previously in Milan, and then on the island. It seems to me that the man never really has as much power as he thinks he does. In Milan, although he was rightful Duke, he never used it well and was undetermined by his brother to the point that he no longer held any of that power. On the island, he has finally been able to use the magic in his books to obtain some power, but it is fleeting because it all depends on his books. Without them, he is nothing but another shipwrecked islander. If Caliban's plan works, that is what he will again become. It will be interesting to see as the play continues whether Prospero is able to maintain his magical abilities, or if he is simply not cut out for a position of power.
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