Questions About The Tempest

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Answered Questions (7)

Am I the only person who didn't believe that Prospero actually reformed?

Edward I don't see any reason to think that he didn't reform, given that he broke his wizard's staff, freed Ariel, and threw his book of spells into the ocea…moreI don't see any reason to think that he didn't reform, given that he broke his wizard's staff, freed Ariel, and threw his book of spells into the ocean.

I suppose you could re-imagine the argument of the play to suppose that his dependence on these implements, along with Ariel as a servant, somehow failed to remove his ability to practice magic, but that's certainly not what Shakespeare implied, and it wouldn't be consistent with prevailing ideas of his time about how a magus would have operated.

Prospero probably was modeled on John Dee, a real person, who was basically Elizabeth I's "court wizard." He was a colorful personage who kept an extensive library of occult texts and paraphernalia for use in ritual magic and alchemy.

John Dee's death in 1608 or 1609 preceded the first performance of Tempest by a couple of years. Since Shakespeare's career included a long stint in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which basically meant that his theatrical troupe was officially sponsored by the man in charge of putting on entertainments at the court of Elizabeth I, it's entirely probable that Shakespeare had met Dee a few times.

I think that's pretty good evidence that Shakespeare was acquainted with the idea of wizards through Dee, and thus, that he thought of Prospero's magic as being rooted in the execution of rituals dependent on the aforementioned staff and book, along with Ariel as a familiar.

Since Prospero explicitly sets Ariel free (Ariel doesn't even wait around to say goodbye), there's no reason to think he's lying about having broken his staff and thrown his book into the ocean. So there's no actual evidence to support your interpretation.

That doesn't mean you can't imagine things otherwise if you want; it's not like there's some kind of literary police that will drag you out of your house in the middle of the night and beat you with a rubber hose until you recant.

But there's no evidence to support your theory, and quite a bit of circumstantial evidence to poke holes in it.(less)

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who WAS ARIEL?how did he serve prospero?

Zara Boss Ariel is a spirit of the island, trapped in an oak tree by Sycorax, Caliban's mother. Ariel was freed by Prospero, and then served him until set free.…moreAriel is a spirit of the island, trapped in an oak tree by Sycorax, Caliban's mother. Ariel was freed by Prospero, and then served him until set free.(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Ayesha (Seokjin's Version) ☾ If you are looking for something dark, tragic with beautiful writing, go for Hamlet and if you are looking for a mildly entertaining and slightly absu…moreIf you are looking for something dark, tragic with beautiful writing, go for Hamlet and if you are looking for a mildly entertaining and slightly absurd story with spirits and magicians, go for The Tempest.
IMO, Hamlet is better.(less)

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Was Ariel trapped on the island in the oak tree, or did Prospero save him and bring him with him to the island?

Sanvi Ariel was trapped in the island by sycorax caliban's mother {in an oak tree
}. when prospero entered the island he saw this and saved ariel . he also w…moreAriel was trapped in the island by sycorax caliban's mother {in an oak tree
}. when prospero entered the island he saw this and saved ariel . he also went on to destroy sycorax. ariel then promised to serve him until he frees him.(less)

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can i find something about colonial and postcolonial in this book?