'On a ship at sea. A tempestuous noise of
thunder and lightning'
Dramatic opening:
creates disorder.
indicates that the
play will end in a
return to order.
Creates spectacle. It is
deliberately impressive to end
his play write career.
Use of spectacle suits new Blackfriars theatre. It is likely Shakespeare took this into
account.
Directly influenced by William Strachey's eye
witness account. The Tempest was written in a
period of travel and discovery.
The sea is a liminal space for Shakespeare to explore feared or
taboo concepts. (magic)
BS: "Work you then"
Imperative,
commanding the nobles
Inversion of the chain of being
Shows further disorder
'Enter mariners wet'
Shakespeare creating realism .
Links to 'Writer's tale': 'Exit pursued by bears
M: "If by your art, my dearest father"
'Art' is linked to skill and beauty (white magic). Perhaps to make Prospero a likable character as necromancy
was feared and illegal in Jacobean society
'dearest' is a superlative, suggesting M is respectful
and affectionate towards her father.
'Art' also implies intelligence, which
would have been admired by the
audience.
Immediately presents Prospero as in control
"... put the wild waters in the roar, allay
them"
'Wild waters' makes nature
seem uncontrollable, yet
Prospero causes the storm, thus
proving his dominance.
Links to Francis Bacon's 'Of Revenge', describing
revenge as a wild form of justice.
'Roar' = onomatopoeic, further
reinforcing violence and disorder
'Roar' also associates Prospero with a lion - a very dominant and feared aninal
'Allay them' is an
imperative, suggesting
Miranda is an active female.
Yet, Prospero doesn't listen
to her, therefore
undermining her influence.
"Without a parallel"
Intelligence would have been
admired.
Perhaps challenging religion by
suggesting he is superior to God.
Hubristic, like Faustus
"The government I cast upon my brother"
The subject is active and therefore
in part to blame for his overthrow
"Links to King James' True Law of Free Monarchies. He describes the relationship between king and people as a 'father to
his children'.
Being usurped is far worse than being a
bad ruler. James describes usurpers as
'monstrous and unnatural'
"My library was dukedom large enough"
Shows Prospero neglecting his
ruling duties, thus showing he is in
part to blame for overthrow
Less
sympathy
because
Prospero
chose
magic over
his duties
Library implies Prospero is a polymath,
and 'excelling' in all subjects. Link
Faustus.
'Miranda helps him to disrobe'
Arguably Miranda is relied upon
and therefore has responsibility and
is seen as active
Miranda respectful towards Prospero, reinforcing the
idea that he is the most superiour
Their respectful but patriarchal relationship is a display of order amongst the disorder.