The Tempest: Act 1 Scene 1

The Tempest: Act 1 Scene 1

1. '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)

2. BS: "Work you then"

   • Imperative, commanding the nobles
     • Inversion of the chain of being
   • Shows further disorder

3. 'Enter mariners wet'

   • Shakespeare creating realism .
   • Links to 'Writer's tale': 'Exit pursued by bears

4. 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

5. "... 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.

6. "Without a parallel"

   • Intelligence would have been admired.
   • Perhaps challenging religion by suggesting he is superior to God.
   • Hubristic, like Faustus

7. "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'

8. "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.

9. '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.