THE%20TEMPEST

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THE TEMPEST

• William Shakespeare

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Act 1 Scene 2

• The island a microcosm of society
• A place where lives are played out without
  distractions from the outside world
• Lord of the Flies
• Island romance, mystery, a tropical paradise

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Act 1 Scene 2

• It is 2007
• You and your father live alone in a country
  mansion cut off from the rest of society
• Your father controls every aspect of your life
• Imagine how you would feel (remember you dont
  know any different)

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Act 1 Scene 2

• Theme of a younger brother wanting to replace an
  older brother is found in many folk tale
  traditions
• The use and harnessing of magical powers was a
  subject that the Shakespearean audience were
  concerned with
• Dr John Dee was a mathematician who believed he
  could call up spirits and control their actions.
  An inspiration for Shakespeares Prospero?

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Act 1 Scene 2

• Does Prospero control people by force rather than
  persuasion?
• Attitude towards Caliban, Ariel and even his own
  daughter

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Act 1 Scene 2

• Biblical references
• 30. Jesus tells his followers that God loves them
  so much that the very hairs of your head are
  numbered

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Act 1 Scene 2

• Gown a symbol of Prosperos magic powers.
• Lay there my art
• He admits he was rapt in secret studies (magic
  studies)

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Other themes

• Astrology Prosperos study of the occult
• most auspicious star (182) lives and fortunes
  are governed by the stars and by fate
• New discoveries still vexd Bermoothes led to
  circulation of strange and mysterious stories

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Language and Caliban

• The foul witch Sycorax witches were feared in
  Shakespeares day and would be killed
• Saved because she is pregnant
• litter reduces Caliban to an animal
• whelp and dam inferiority
• got by the devil could actually have
  intercourse with a male demon for which there was
  no forgiveness

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Subjects for research

• Colonialism
• Treatment of witches
• Magic in Shakespeares time
• Dr John Dee