The Aquila Theatre Company performed The Tempest by William Shakespeare at Harding University on February 23rd, 2015. The Tempest is about a man named Prospero who twelve years ago escaped to an island with his baby daughter after his brother, Antonio, usurped his position as Duke of Milan. However, according to Prospero, fortune sent the opportunity to seek revenge when a boat with his brother on board wrecked near the island. Throughout the story, many different events unfold among the various characters, but at the end, Prospero forgives his brother and all of those who try to stop him from the plans he devised at the beginning. I believe Shakespeare, as the playwright of The Tempest, utilizes different symbolism and magical features to exemplify the diverse human emotions of revenge, ambition, humor, love and forgiveness; the purpose of the Aquila Theatre’s creative team was trying to illustrate these same emotions but on stage. With the different light, sound, makeup and stage effects, the Aquila Theatre provides their audience with an unprecedented, but interesting adaptation of the play. At beginning of the production, I had a difficult time keeping up with the character’s diction – they spoke too fast. Consequently, I …show more content…
Not because of the performance of the artist or the production of the company, but because of language barriers. As an international student from Honduras, I found myself struggling to understand what the artists were saying. At the beginning, when Prospero opened the play, he was speaking so fast that I even thought it was another language. Throughout the whole production, I felt uncomfortable and stressed out because I was not able to understand the majority of it. It also made me feel out-of-place when the audience laughed, and I just sat there wondering what the actor said that was so funny. I am really sad to say this, but I was desperate for it to
Joseph Gereige Mr. Miguel English Period 2(H) 13 February 2023 In the play, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, pathos is the most effective device at persuading Sebastian to murder Alonso because it allows Sebastian to imagine what he could have and it entices Sebastian to dislike his brother for being a bad king. The first reason pathos is the most effective rhetorical device for persuading Sebastian to murder Alonso is that it allows Sebastian to imagine what he could have. After all of the characters fall asleep, Antonio tries convincing Sebastian to kill Alonso to become king and tells him, ¨Methinks I can see it in thy face¨, trying to entice Sebastian into becoming King of Naples, and Antonio´s ¨strong imagination sees a crown dropping
Most didn’t sit and watch in silence like today.” (The Globe Theater, Robson). The Audience presented their emotions towards the show if they felt like it. If they did not like the play they would throw things and booed to the actors, on the other hand if they did like the play that was showing they would cheer on and encourage the things that were happening on stage. People in this time acted and knew differently than people do
Prospero’s Magic, the Age of Death and the 1610 Anthropocene When Prospero -- the hero in William Shakespeare’s last play The Tempest -- buries his magical books near a cliff of an uninhabited island, he sings out the first song of the “Anthropocene” at the edge of the great globe. As the Duke of Milan, he and his daughter are exiled to the isolated island for 12 years, during which process he uses his magic to enslave the natives on the island, including “ a savage and deformed slave” -- Caliban (Shakespeare 3). One may argue that the master-slave relationship shows Shakespeare’s postcolonial reflection while others may think that this viewpoint takes too far from Shakespeare’s original intention. Steve Mentz, in his essay “Enter Anthropocene, c.1610,” interprets The Tempest through lenses of the 1610
Why was the tempest popular? The tempest was one of the last plays written by William Shakespeare, and is unique in its entirely original plot. Its descriptions of wild storms, foreign and unknown islands, and ethereal spirits has fascinated audiences since its first performance at the Jacobean Court in 1611. Shakespeare's focus on English colonialism drew audiences who wanted to hear about faraway lands full of foreign creatures, but another attraction was that it allowed an exciting look into Shakespeare's view of the monarchy, which was portrayed subtly through the interactions between the characters (though this would of course never be admitted). Through a combination of thinly disguised controversial views, descriptions of foreign countries
Vengeance vs. Virtue The play The Tempest, by Shakespeare, explores the values of vengeance and forgiveness through the story of Prospero. The main conflict of the story is Prospero's lack of forgiveness for his brother Antonio, who stole his throne. This causes him to seek vengeance on Antonio and all his allies. Through the events of the story, it is evident that there is more value in virtue compared to vengeance.
The common aim of playwrights of any time or location is to capture and hold the attention of their audience; this is what Shakespeare has clearly done. The tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, is one of Shakespeare 's most renowned plays. Through construction of intriguing characters, exploration of universal themes, use of comic relief and a well-written script featuring a compelling plot, Shakespeare ensured the tragedy of Othello would hold the interest of the audience; despite being over four centuries old. It possesses so many conditions that can be accentuated to hit nerves with both a Shakespearean and modern audience. The entire plot of Othello is very much like the attitudes and methods of our modern day society.
Through The Tempest, the author tells the story of Prospero’s revenge on the men who took his dukedom away and left him and his daughter to die. Throughout the book Prospero tortures and manipulates them until he has complete control over them. In Act 5, Prospero’s chooses to forgive them and in the meantime abandons his art which can be a sign of change in character. However, through triumph, not change, the author uses Prospero’s choices to reveal that his desires are for power and superiority.
The Tempest can be seen as a play about reconciliation, forgiveness, and mercy. However, while it is clear that the theme of forgiveness is at the heart of the drama, it is unclear to what extent mercy is given. An examination of Caliban and Ariel and their representations of Prospero’s struggle illustrates that there is little, if any, true forgiveness and reconciliation in The Tempest. Prospero’s actions from the beginning of the play seem to contradict his ultimate aim to forgive those of have wronged him. Prospero seizes the opportunity for revenge with the help of his magic and good fortune.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare is projected to be written in 1610-1611 and is first performed in November 1611 and it is also believed to be the last play that Shakespeare has written alone. The play is largely engaged on the theme of power whether it be bad or good. Power is demonstrated in various ways in The Tempest, it can be seen as the characters desire power amongst each other, the power over slaves and men, the power of love and lastly the supernatural power of magic. These forms of power is witnessed through governance and possession in the play as well. Shakespeare depicts this power predominantly through Prospero who seems to have the greatest extent of power in the play.
The Tempest is a play where a man named, Prospero, was a former duke of a land. He was exiled to an island because his brother, Antonio, usurped his dukedom. Prospero lives on the island with his daughter, Miranda attempting to reattain his title of duke. There are many causes of social issues, and it is important to view these issues on how they affect others.
As a result, the experience of Shakespeare’s plays in the theater took a populist turn” (Octane 1). This shows that Shakespeare brought many new elements to playwriting, which seemingly improved plays because “Audience members engaged with the events taking place on stage, becoming vocal and often raucous” (Octane 1). This suggests that the new elements in Shakespeare’s writing sparked emotion in audience members as if the events were real. If an author can spark emotion in so many audience members, it shows that their writing style is extremely effective. Additionally, “Shakespeare is also credited as having invented genres that mixed both tragedy and comedy.
Unlike Shakespeare’s other main characters, he is much more enigmatic. In they play Prospero is portrayed as the rogue who seeks revenge on his brother Antonio for his treachery. In this Shakespearean comedy it becomes clear that Prospero is the heart of power on the island. Evidently Prospero has been wronged by his brother’s usurping which he could not control and now uses his magic as a tool for controlling the events that occur on island throughout the play. The theme of power in this play is hugely significant as it clear that the violence interrogated in this play is in relation to power and the abuse of that power by the protagonist.
The Tempest is a romantic comedy play by William Shakespeare theorized to be his last play. Ariel is a slave in The Tempest who is owned Prospero, a magician. Ariel takes part in most of the play and he is a reason many big events happened. In the play, Ariel’s personality impacts the play by being obedient and surreptitious. First and foremost, Ariel is obedient to Prospero’s commands throughout the play and they make a big impact on the play.
As the play begins, it seems as if the massive tempest is simply a random occurrence, catching the mariners and nobility by chance. However, as the act continues, Shakespeare reveals that the tempest was actually the work of Prospero and his ghostly servant Ariel, who stirred up the seas and set fire to the masts (1.2, 193-194). This establishes Prospero as the executor of a mess of ‘coincidences’ ranging from Ferdinand stumbling upon his daughter Miranda to King Alonso and his party walking directly into the former duke’s cell. Though Prospero may have the same control over the English language as the other characters, Caliban points to his specific source of power. He says, “… for without [his books] /
Shakespeare’s The Tempest is often considered fiction and finds content in expressing characteristics of both the main character, Prospero and differences in the power dynamics affecting his characters. Shakespeare often uses groups of characters to emphasize the complexity of their surroundings and effects on their behavior. The overall repetition of complications faced or caused in relation to Prospero and play an enormous role in the plot, helping to develop both the his feelings and the emotional ties of others regarding him. Shakespeare also varies the diction to place emphasis on the power dynamic and relationships observed between thespians.