Shakespeare's Craft

Prospero's character is hard to sympathize with as the reader in that, here is a man that has been exiled and has all these magical powers that he seeks revenge by wrecking the ship and the lives of the characters, some that weren't even involved with hiss exile. In the end it all comes together as he seems to be more likable when he feels that he made his point to the King that what happened to him was unfair and although he made him think that Ferdinand was dead he merely allowed him to court is daughter while he sorted matters of the past out. I believe that this was a very cunning way for Shakespeare to say goodbye to his audience asking to set him free by clapping. It was crafty and made people think it wasn't blunt. The Tempest isn't as concrete as other poems but is enjoyable. Surprisingly the play ended with a marriage without any real deaths. This can be surprising to readers who are used to death being a driving theme but it shows how well Shakespeare could weave his writings as he went on with his life and can only be respected for what he did and his accomplishments.

Hamlet's Undying Love

Oh Father, I don't know what to do, you want me to focus so much on revenging your death and to leave my mother out of it but, I can't ,I love her so much and cannot believe that she would marry so quickly after your death. She didn't need Claudius, I was man enough to take care of her for the rest of her life. I just need to talk to her or do something. My plan of acting mad is working, but sometimes I think I forget that I am acting and become lost in my thoughts that I am almost going crazy... I love my mother as much or even as more than I do Ophelia. I know what I shall do I shall ask mother to not sleep with Claudius tell her all that has happened about your death and how her poured the poison into your ear during your slumber. She just has to believe me. Better yet maybe if I ask her...for your sake at least to go a nunnery... maybe she will listen to me. I am of her flesh...yes I will arrange to meet her in private.

"Let your indulgence set me free."

Much like when I disguised myself as an instructor to woo Bianca and create a chance to show her my true self, Shakespeare adopted the guise of Prospero to show his audience the nature of his craft. As the play progressed, we watched Prospero deftly maneuver behind the scenes, guiding all of the characters on the mystical island through myriad paths to converge and bring fruition to his plans. This display is a crafty representation of the master playwright at work. In his final address the the audience, the old wizard becomes more Shakespeare than Prospero. He beseeches the onlookers, "release me from my bands/With the help of your good hands." It is, of course, not Prospero who seeks the audience's approval to leave the stage. Shakespeare has worked long and hard, crafting colorful characters like myself and my contemporaries in "The Taming of the Shrew," and all the memorable people of "Macbeth," "Titus Andronicus," "The Merchant of Venice," and the supernatural denizens of the island in "The Tempest." Prospero acts as Shakespeare's representative on the stage, bowing out in his place, and accepting the applause for a lifetime of entertainment.

Prospero's (Shakespeare's) Farwell...

Prospero as a character is not nessisarily well liked until the last few scenes of the play. Prospero shows his compassion by forgiving his enemies and demonstrating his love for his daughter Miranda. With Prospero's farewell to magic, we can see signs of Shakespeare's farewell to playwriting. Especially in such lines where Prospero says, "Gentle breath of yours my sails, Must fill, or else my project fails, Which was to please." This can be taken literally as the magic of Prospero was to please, and would therefor be useless if it did not give some pleasure. However, this can also mean Shakespeare's playwriting and aim to please his audience with his work. The youtube clip of the final lines of The Tempest shows sad images, as well as the voice seems to invoke a sad ending to the magic Prospero practices, or even Shakespeare's playwriting. I felt the lines in the Epilogue would be a bit more upbeat than that, more of a bittersweet way of thinking. However, assuming these lines are meant to reflect Shakespeare's end as a playwright, it definitely would feel more sad on a personal level.

Farwell Master Shakespeare

As the writer of great plays and sonnets, Shakespeare leaves the stage with one final adieu. Prospero as his voice, the epilogue of The Tempest is in fact the epilogue to Master Shakespeare's career. "Mercy itself and frees all faults. As you from crimes would pardon'd be,Let your indulgence set me free." This line is acknowledging Shakespeare's audience and asks them to set him free from his writing. He also asks to be free form any wrongs he had made during the productions of his works. Although it is Prospero speaking in rearguards to giving up his magical powers and his books, in so many instance does this apply to Master Shakespeare leaving the stage and giving up his quills. It is important to be able to recognize that with every good story there is always a sympathetic ending and in this case I sympathize towards only Shakespeare.

Prospero was a Great Man. Reminds me of Myself.

Ahhh Prospero, a man after mine own heart. In a sense anyways. He would do anything for his daughter as I my wife. Like me he took what he desired and wanted and used it to his advantage. That was the one thing I did not possess, magic. If I had magic I could have kept my wife from dying and we could have ruled as King and Queen for forever. Prospero was a genius and great man. He only did what he did so he and his daughter could have a perfect life.

Sympathizing with a selfish manipulator

Prospero is a very dynamic character. Throughout the play he comes off as being very selfish and manipulative. He uses his magic to get what he wants from everyone he comes in contact with. Prospero forces Ariel to do his bidding, and bribes him by telling him he will free him earlier if he does his tasks well. That is how the ship wreck came about. He also aids in leading Stefano, Trinculo, and Caliban around the island in their drunken hazes, and gives them the opportunity to steal some fine cloths. He keeps the rest of the crew, including his brother, thoroughly confused and misinformed about the island and its inhabitants. The thing that upsets me the most about Prospero is how he forced Miranda's love, Ferdinand, to be a servant to him! He acted just like my father. They both tried to get in the way of true love because they think they know best. But, they don't! I ended up leaving my father forever. Prospero is lucky that Miranda forgave him for butting in. Although I'm not a huge fan of Prospero, I do still sympathize with him a little bit. It must have been awful for him when his own brother betrayed him. That makes it hard to completely hate him for the awful things he has done.

Sympathy for Prospero

At first glance Prospero looks like a unlikeable individual. He keeps everyone on the island under his power, carrying out all of his deeds. He even keeps a controlling hand in all of his daughter's affairs. He denies his "servants" their freedom upon their requests, and at times is demeaning to them. It would be tough to develop any kind of sympathy for Prospero. It isn't until later in the Tempest we see Prospero is a character we can feel sympathy for. Not only does he release Alonso and his followers from the spell which he has placed, forgives Antonio, and we see how much he cares for his daughter as he claims he has lost her when he comes to terms with Ferndinad and Miranda's marriage. Prospero's last kind act is creating calming seas for Ariel to return. When all of this is done he gives up his magic. Prospero being able to give up everything in his life is what makes us able to sympathizes with him. We see him give up everything that used to be apart of him, and he did it all willingly. I think his turn around in the last parts of the Tempest makes it possible for us to sympathize for him.

A Sticky Sweet Love Story

OK, is it just me or is the storyline between Miranda and Ferdinand just a lil too sticky sweet? I have to say, I prefer the relationship I have with Bassanio! Miranda reminds me a little too much of Bianca from The Taming of The Shrew, only more innocent and niave (if that is possible). I understand that living on an island with few people would not make anyone real expierenced, but I also dont think that she would be acting like a love sick little girl! Honestly, I think that the conversations that take place between Miranda and Ferdinand are just a little too sugary for my taste. If Bassanio tried to speak to me that way, I think I would have to brain him!

Prospero

After reading act 4 and 5 of The Tempest, I agree with my fellow characters that Prospero is not such a bad guy. His brother stole his Duke-ship if Milan, he and his daughter were exiled, etc., so it is only understandable that he want revenge. But during the last two acts of the play, a different side of Prospero is seen, the protectiveness of his daughter and his agreement to let the King and his company go free.

To me, it seems like his speech at the end of act five is almost an apology or explaination for his actions throughout the play - As you from crimes would pardoned be,/ Let your indulgence set me free. This last speech basically summarizes the whole play in a nice, neat little package.

The Character of Prospero

Through out the play it has been very hard for me to sympathize with Prospero. It seemed as if the spells he was casting and the speeches he was making were not be justifiable. However, after reading acts four and five my views of him have changed. The love and protection he shows for his daughter has humanized him to an extent. He wants nothing but love and happiness for her, he shows this in acts four and five when the topic of marriage comes up. Also, now we can see that his judgements through out the play are justifiable. At the end he forgives everyone, which must of been a hard thing for him to do, considering the circumstances-his dukedom had been taken away, he had been forced to leave his home and family, and was put on an island with just his daughter. All this was done to him by someone that was supposed to be family, someone that should of had a special bond with Prospero-his brother. The fact that he has now relinquished his magic and has given up his powers shows that Prospero really is someone that can be considered "human." Prospero has allowed us as the audience to see all the characters cleary and accurately, including himself.

The 'Character' of Prospero

(What kind of a character is Prospero? Do you sympathize with him?)

Upon first meeting the character of Prospero one might assume that he is extremely self-centered and egotistical through the means of his long-winded story telling and constant preaching to his daughter Miranda. One might also consider Prospero to be vindictive by nature as is portrayed in the deceitful tempest he delivers unto the ship carrying his brother Antonio and his followers and crew. Finally, one might argue that Prospero is cruel as is shown in his treatment of Caliban and Ariel. However; I do not feel these descriptions of Prospero are necessarily the case keeping in mind the situation that put him in the position he is in now in the first place. With these thoughts in mind, Prospero is most certainly a character that an audience is able to sympathize with. He has been removed from his title, his home, and his family by his own brother Antonio. With these deceits carried out by his brother, it should most importantly be noted that Prospero's ability to trust has been stolen as well. Antonio not only usurped Prospero's position of the throne but also ordered Prospero to be killed. It is with this knowledge that Prospero's trickery should be forgiven as he portrays his forgiving self in the final epilogue of The Tempest. "Unless I be relieved by prayer, / Which pierces so, that it assaults / Mercy itself, and frees all faults. / As you from crimes would pardoned be, / Let your indulgence set me free." Prospero has forgiven the wrongs that were done unto him and begs for the forgiveness of those that he has wronged himself.
Niki-

A Missed Oppurtunity

It is obvious that Prospero owns just about everyone on the island. It appears that he has saved Ariel from slavery of the witch Sycorax, but the act loses it nobility when he keeps Ariel for his own service. He keeps Ariel as an assistant for any of spirit or any other mystical work that he needs help with. Ariel performs practically every task or deed that Prospero needs to be done. Upon numerous requests Prospero denies Ariel his/her requests for freedom. When Prospero denies Ariel his freedom he is missing the opportunity to show that he does not run the island based on slavery. Instead of granting Ariel's wishes he continues to keep him for his services, and keeps him under his command. If Prospero had let a slave go he could have sent a message throughout the island. He could have showed everyone that not everyone on the island is a slave. If he did this he might have been able to calm some of the disgruntled voices that are arising on the island. Instead he sets himself up for the turmoil that will come. That is why this is a missed opportunity for Prospero. When someone ask to be released of their services you should release them...

One island......with much activity!

Within the areas of this simple island there is an array of activity that is occurring. On one end there is the shipwrecked Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio and Gonzalo who are searching for Alonso's son, Prince Ferdinand. Already I am not very fond of Sebastian and Antonio because of their plot to kill Alonso so that Sebastian may become King of Naples. On the other side of the island the love of Miranda and Prince Ferdinand grows from his enslavement by Prospero, Miranda's father. It seems very hard to acknowledge their childish love when they barley know one another. However, I feel this is apart of a "magical" plan that Prospero has for his daughter. Lastly, on yet another part of the island there is Caliban, Trinculo, and Stefano. A rather odd threesomes with the commonality of always being drunk. Caliban, also know as the "servant monster" seems to be treated more fairly than Trinculo from Stefano. Why is that I wonder? Yet the three of them have a plot to destroy Prospero and have Stefano become "King" of the island as well as be wed to Miranda. By the manipulation of the "fairy" Ariel, Prospero learns of this plot. Although, I feel this is apart of Prospero plan to "control" the island and what is occurring by keeping an eye in on whats going on and using his sources to implement trouble where it may arise. By Prospero manipulating the island by his magically powers, he can truly further succeed in creating a relationship between Ferdinand and Miranda.

Blog assignment for Friday, May 9th

Dr. Mueller has asked me to post the following assignment (how could I refuse?):

In a blog entry or comment on the Epilogue to the Tempest, respond to any of the following questions or any questions your fellow bloggers pose:
1. What kind of a character is Prospero? Do you sympathize with him?
2. Some read these lines as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage. Do you agree?
3. Watch the following YouTube clip. How is the epilogue represented here?

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's Guilt

In the final act of the play we see that Lady Macbeth is in poor health. She has been sleepwalking around the castle, and during the first scene we see her trying to was the blood from her hands. Through her insanity we see that she is clearly feeling guilty, and aware of what she has done is wrong. The guilt is so overwhelming it leads her to her death. When Macbeth learns about this news he from his servant, he speaks with very little emotion towards the news. He only says that he wishes that her death could have come in a more peaceful time. Macbeth lack of emotion tells the reader more about how he feels about his part of the death of King Duncan, then the death of his wife. We see how Lady Macbeth's part in the death of Duncan drives her to insanity, and death. She was truly regretting how she was apart of Duncan's death. Macbeth's lack of emotion towards her death show he doesn't have the same feelings of regret that she had. We see Macbeth's thought are elsewhere because he references more peaceful times. We see that he is concerned with the attack of the British army that Malcolm is leading. We can see that throughout the entire play that Macbeth has little to regret about killing Duncan.