In The Tempest, we
see Shakespeare grappling with a number of things, including ideas of the new
world and the potential end of his own career as a playwright.
To cover the plot, briefly, Prospero has been stranded on an
island with his teenage daughter Miranda after a coup by Prospero’s brother
Antonio. After landing on this island, Prospero took power from Sycorax and
forced her son, Caliban, into his service. Prsopero has magical ability, and
relies on the work of spirits to work his magic, but uses Caliban for physical
tasks such as cutting wood.
The beginning of the play, however, starts with a huge storm,
the tempest, that shipwrecks Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, and others.
Prospero does this, seemingly to find a husband for his daughter because he’s afraid
of her virginity being soiled by Caliban (who has already attempted to “people
the land with Calibans” with her). Prospero sends Ariel, the main spirit who
works for him, out to do his bidding, charming one group and getting another
group drunk.
Once Prospero learns from Ferdinand that he’s the prince of
Naples and that his fellow travelers include Prospero’s brother, Prospero goes a
bit mad and plans his revenge, all while still putting Ferdinand and Miranda
together in the hopes that they’ll fall in love.
Caliban meets up with Trinculo and Stephano, a jester and
butler and thus, servants themselves, and Caliban convinces them that he’ll
serve them if they’ll kill Prospero. They agree, but get very drunk on the way
to Prospero’s cell.
Prospero puts on a huge show and banquet for the others and,
nearly simultaneously puts on a marriage show for Ferdinand with other spirits.
Finally the truth comes out, Ferdinand and Miranda agree to
marry one another, Prospero reveals himself to be the true duke of Milan, and
everything is rightly restored.
This ending doesn’t really deal with Caliban though, as a “restoration”
for him is not possible. His youth and life can never be restored, nor will the
island remain his. Since he heads off with Stephano and Trinculo to return the
luggage they found, it seems as though his service to Prospero continues, even
though Prospero has buried his staff and burned his book.
Some of the issues in this play that I’d like to explore
further are around the issues of natural vs. unnatural. Caliban is always a “monster”
and Miranda is always the most beautiful creature. Others in the play are various
types of animals, asses, dogs, etc. What can we make of the natural/unnatural
dichotomy, especially when we think of the play in a New World lens? How about
if we think about it ecocritically? Is there something about Prospero’s power
that seems colonizing beyond his actual assumption of the island and taking
Caliban’s island knowledge for himself?
What about issues of plagues, poxes, and other forms of
poison and sickness?
What role does the human have in this play of monsters and
creatures and magic?
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