Shakespeare starts off the Tempest differently than the previous plays we have read this semester. We learn right off the bat that social status means nothing during a shipwreck when the boatswain speaks to Gonzalo. He merely states that Gonzalo is no better than anyone else on the boat during the fierce storm and unless he plans on helping than he needs to take his place back to his cabin. I find this a bit odd only due to the fact that the storm along with the shipwreck took place because Prospero lost his high social status and decided to fight for it. It's as if Shakespeare is toying with the idea that social status isn't always permanent.
Shakespeare also has Prospero using magic which is what got him into the mess he is in in the first place. He was forced out of his kingdom along with his daughter, Miranda, by ship which is what brought him to the island where he now resides. The funny thing is that it was his studying of magic that made his brother take control and become the duke. However, it is interesting to see that it may just be the magic that will gain Prospero back his title. It's almost as if Shakespeare is guiding us to see how Prospero's revenge is somewhat ironic. The people that follow Antonio all happened to be on the ship and are now segrated among the island that Prospero occupys.
It will be interesting to see if Prospero's plan will follow through or if his little sidekick, Ariel will make a mistake. It all comes down to who wants the power and control more. Antonio was sneaky enough to steal the title of Duke from his brother, but it seems that Prospero refuses to let it go, no matter the expense. He's determined to win even if it means using his naive daughter to get what he wants. We'll find out who's the sneakier of the two. I think at this point Prospero may have the upper hand.
2 comments:
I think that Shakespeare is toying with the idea that social status isn’t always permanent. I also think he might be addressing the issues that a ship is like its own community, they have their own hierarchy in a way and that the people of the ship (those that work on it) don’t really care for the social status of outsiders because the ship in a sense is their own kingdom. I also didn’t think about the fact that magic is what caused Prospero to lose his title and power in the first place yet he is now trying to use it to gain that power and title back. While at the same time everyone on the island is devising plans on how to gain power and control. I too am curious is Prospero’s plan will follow through or if Ariel will make a mistake.
I like the point you made about status. Status has been a popular theme through most, if not all of Shakespeare's plays. This particular play is definitely mixing up our view of social status. For Prospero his status is worth defending but for the characters on the ship fighting for their lives is more important than status.
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