Monday, December 17, 2012
Reflections on Act 3 Scene 3 of the Tempest
Here are Ariel, Sebastian, Antonio, Alonso, and Gonzalo in Act 3 Scene 3
This scene provides the climax of Prospero's plan. Alonso has lost his hope to find his son Ferdinand. This is the moment of revenge that Prospero has awaited for a long time. Everybody gives up and are powerless over Prospero's magic. I feel like Ariel in this scene was enthusiastic and eager. He carries out Prospero's wishes effficently and effectively really impressing Prospero. Ariel is eager to be free! He has been promised to be free in 2 days after this mission. Prospero freed Ariel from Sycorax. Ariel accuses Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio about driving Prospero from Milan and leaving him and his child abandoned at sea. Ariel tells them the powers of nature are upon them! Prospero has took revenge on Alonso by taking Ferdinand.
Ariel is a very minor character in this scene. She has helped Prospero reporting the plot to murder him by Sebastian and Antonio. Ariel's obedience symbolizes Prospero's humanity.
We see this scene illustrates what is real and what is not real. The music and the harp are not real. All we see that is real is madness that is confronted within 3 characters.
"You are three men of sin, whom destiny, That hath to instrument his lower world And what it in't, the never- surfeited sea". says Ariel. Ariel emphasizes that Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio are sinners because they attempting to draw their swords and kill Prospero. I think this is a very important line in Ariel's part in Act 3. Ariel's appearance represents the climax of Prospero's revenge. Ariel is taught by Prospero and does this so Prospero can give him freedom. The confusion syntax is perhaps affecting Ariel's and Prospero's agitation.
I do realize that Ariel is right to the point in this scene! He does what Prospero wants her to do. He stresses how all 3 characters are sinners. She emphasizes Prospero's good and how he is the King of Milan. "Him and his innocent child; for which foul deed, the powers delaying" says Ariel. It was the anger of the powers of Prospero that made him take it out all on Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio and Gonzalo. Prospero knows his charms work. He is happy Ariel is at his service.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Trinculo and Stephano in The Tempest: Act 2
Caliban enters with a load of wood and the noise of thunder strikes him. He says "[let] marshes infect Prospero, inch by inch, until he's nothing but a walking disease!" He suggests Prospero needs to curse himself away. He reassures he won't let Prospero step on him, damage, or even pinch him.
That is when he spots Trinculo and covers himself with his cloak.
Trinculo compares Caliban to "an old salted fish" and crawls under Caliban's cloak.
Trinculo and Stephano act as comic foils to the main action in Act 2. They do little but very entertaining things. Furthermore, Stephano is drunk and singing. He gives Caliban a drink for him to soothe away the "fever" in this case, his anxiousness. Caliban soon worships Stephano because he is not like other Gods; Caliban enjoys the liquor and begs to worship Stephano.
Both Stephano and Trinculo discuss how they arrived safely to shore and dance around.
There role is present comically. They seem very live, and energetic. They are having a hard time finding friendship with Caliban.
I think these two minor characters are significant to the play because they introduce comic effect to the play. It's quite natural to see a drunk man dancing around and singing, obviously. But in terms of the serious issues in the play, this scene is none of that circumstance rather humorous.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Reflections on the Tempest Act UNO
Act 1, Scene 1, shows the "tempest" of the play's title. Really, every character takes the "tempest" or the storm very differently. Poor Boatswain, he is trying to take it as professionally as he can and get everyone safe to shore. "Good boatswain, have care. Where's the master? Play the men!" King Alonso directly says to put those men to work! He wants those those Mariners to act with spirit and keep moving. Gonzalo takes the "tempest" with patience. He is calm and tries to comfort the other characters in the play. Sebastian on the other hand, is very coward and aggressive like his brother Alonso. You can quickly grasp Antonio's foolishness.
In addition to these unique characters, there are huge roles Prospero is doing behind the scenes. Here this is the play's protagonist. Prospero was the duke of of Milan. He forces Antonio to flee with King Alonso and his daughter.
In all of Act 1 there is reflection on the role of power and authority. Power means to have the ability to change someone's beliefs or actions through influencing others. Like Prospero, he has personal power. He has magical powers that he uses on other peoploe in order to do stuff for him. Prospero has the power with the commanding of Ariel. We also have power introduced within Gonzalo and Boatswain. "Good, yet remember who thou hast abroad." Boatswain does say if the King of Naples has so much power why doesn't he use it to control the ship. Authority and power are different. Authority is the right given to a manager to achieve his objectives of the situation like Mr. Boatswain, he has the right to stir the ship and he is the one to make decisions within the ship as well as give orders. This demonstrates people's arrogance and yet still take conflict about class, power, and authority.
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