The Tempest by William Shakespeare - Analysis

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THEMES/INTERESTING THINGS

Evoking Fate
-          " Stand fast, good Fate, to his
hanging: make the rope of his destiny our cable"

-          " By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore; "

Usurpation of rulers and the seizing of power:
-          Usurpation of Prospero by Antonio and Alonso
-          Plan to usurp Alonso by Antonio and Sebastian
Revenge
-          "By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore; "

Noble birth doesn’t necessitate gentility:
-          " To think but nobly of my grandmother:
Good wombs have borne bad sons"

Education as more valuable than nobility
-          "Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom."
-          " Me, poor man, my library
Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties
He thinks me now incapable;"
Girls are worthy of being educated
-          "Here in this island we arrived; and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
Than other princesses can that have more time
For vainer hours and tutors not so careful"
Slavery is legitimate and slaves are inferior

Slaves are unchangeably foul:
-          "But thy [Caliban's] vile race,
Though thou didst learn, had that in't which
good natures
Could not abide to be with"
Movement towards the baroque- surprise and technology onstage
-          " Re-enter ARIEL like a water-nymph

William Shakespeare. Illustration source

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