The Tempest Essays

The Tempest Essays The Tempest Essay The Tempest Essay Essay Topic: The Tempest Magic was a notion firmly embedded in the Elizabethan culture. It explained many things. Discuss the importance of magic in the play The Tempest. The Isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet ones, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments will hum about mine ears: and sometimes voices states Caliban (Act III, pg 109) Within Shakespeares text, The Tempest, set in Elizabethan times, magic is indeed of great importance. Shakespeare gives Prospero the ability to perform magic which allows him to carry out alterations to the world around him. His magic will eventually lead to the restoration of order following the disruption caused, or symbolized, by the tempest; the most obvious and important magical achievement in the play. From the start of the play, Shakespeare uses magic to captivate his Elizabethan audience and move his characters from one scene to another, for example, we are introduced to our first characters during the tempest itself, and it is through this created event that they are transferred to the safety of the island. Magic is frequently used by the main character Prospero, sometimes for compassionate reasons to prevent the suffering of his daughter, but often to make others remorseful and change their ways. Initially, one must examine the importance of magic, which was firmly embedded in the Elizabethan culture. Written in 1611, magic within The Tempest would have presented itself to the Elizabethan culture as a most controversial topic. It had been the persecutions of those believed to perform black magic, Witches were still persecuted and witch-hunts did not actually stop until the end of the seventeenth century. 1 Therefore, Shakespeares use of magic was controversial, bound by the fact that Prospero was presented in mainly a good light, a move probably made to make a bold statement; that magic can be used for good not just the stereotypical evil. Magic may have influenced King James that good magic was indeed possible. This may have lead to a wider knowledge of magic within the Elizabethan culture and perhaps more widely accepted. Obviously, magic could also grab audiences of Shakespeares time perhaps being used as a controversial marketing tool. Magic still continues to seize audiences even today, who also delve further into the importance of magic within The Tempest, which certainly do es explain many aspects of the play. Magic plays an important part in The Tempest for Prospero to bring back Ariel, whom he releases from the imprisonment of foul witch Sycorax under his control. However, the authority that Prospero possesses over Ariel is liable to abuse as there would be a very human temptation for him to use Ariel as his puppet to take his revenge on the shipwrecked characters that are effectively at his mercy. This is due to a feeling of resentment, anger and revenge due to the injustice towards him of banishing him to the island. This allows the important theme of magic to be portrayed through Prospero as a ruler, displaying the advantages he takes in his treatment of Ariel. Initially, there are characteristics of Prosperos control over his anger when, as Ariel asks for his freedom. Prospero replies with a harsh if thou more murmurst, I will rend an oak, and peg thee in his knotty entrails, till thou has howld away twelve winters. Thus, magic is an important factor in developing the main character Prospero and his individuality, and also used to gain an understanding of the magical scenes of the play. Solemn and strange music mark the significant magical beginning of the banquet scene. Exhaustion has dulled the spirits and they are thirsty, hungry and in need of nourishment after hours of searching for Ferdinand. It is predictable that they cannot believe the feast set before them. Shakespeare conceivably used magic as a tool of importance to develop other characters of the play. The reactions of the various characters to this spectacle reveal their basic nature. For instance, Sebastians response to the food is purely materialistic2. On the other hand, Gonzalo, being the eternal optimist, looks for a rational and reasonable harmony within this spectacle3 these are people of the island their manners are more gentle, kind, than of our human generation you shall find. Moreover, he demonstrates his common sense by arguing against fear and superstition and recognises the necessity of food and drink. Alonso, being a king, also recognises the necessity of the situation. Again, magic wi thin the text is demonstrated as an important tool in the character construction of Alonso, Gonzalo, and Sebastian. The masque is another illusion that Prospero creates with his magic, portraying the vital theme of love and blessings from goddesses. Chastity, which is supported by the masque, is used as a function of control by Prospero. Prospero uses his magic to restrain Ferdinand and Miranda from physical passion, this would imply that one would be preserving the social order, showing devotion to ones spouse and a dedication to the marriage union4. Hence, Prospero warns the couple that if they are unable to control their passions, barren hate, sour-eyd disdain and discord shall bestrew the union of bed with weeds so loathly that shall hate it both and this is emphasized by Juno with, whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid till Hymens torch be lighted. Mirandas virginity is further emphasized as being an essential part of the disciplined control over passions, which is indeed necessary for the marriage. Ferdinand lives up to the task required of him, giving a polite reply, making clear that he desires quiet days, fair issue and long life. In return to that, Juno later blesses them saying Honour, riches, marriage-bless ing, long continuance, and increasing hourly joys be still upon you. Without the magical scene of the masque, Goddesses, blessings and the portrayal of Ferdinand and Mirandas union would be quite different. The magic allows one to understand how immense their undeniable love is. Once more, we must not forget that the masque is essentially a celebration of the Ferdinand-Miranda love plot. Prospero is certainly vulnerable at this time, revealing his true character more clearly to the audience, being considerate to Ferdinand and even affectionate to Ariel, calling him my delicate Ariel, my bird and my Ariel. The language used by Goddess Iris, inspires images of youth, vigour, a temperate nature, chastity, all appropriate to celebrate a contract of true love, a union of two noble households5. Through the wonderful workings of Prosperos magic, one can see how important it is to an Elizabethan audience to keep them visually entertained. The colourful costumes, dancing and singing of the Reapers and the Nymphs are traditional elements for the masque spectacle, which is essentially an elaborate form of entertainment, meant to excite the visual, auditory and tactile senses of the Elizabethan audience. The dance that takes place between the Nymphs and Reapers suggests harmony in elemental nature; the dance also serves as an image and symbol of the continuance of society, of marriage and stability.6 One can understand how important magic would have been to excite and entertain the audience, as well as accentuating the significance of the masque of which portrays love and power within the play. Through the important use of illusion elements like the banquet and the masque, the themes of regeneration and reconciliation are successfully portrayed and one can be sure that Ferdinand and Miranda are the hope for the future of the island. However, it must be taken into account that at the end of the play, Prospero gives up his magic and will bury it fathoms deep. His books also provide a chief power and source of his magic. These he buries deeper than did over plummet sound. Magic had set Prospero above the human hierarchy, making him a ruler. Although this power had given Prospero great power to lead the others on the island, it has been in the nature of a god that he has led7. Magic used by Prospero throughout The Tempest, indeed played in important part of explaining many themes such as the setting and context of the play; the atmosphere, the masque and the banquet and of course love and power. Shakespeare may have also used magic to make the play visually interesting and even controversial to an Elizabethan audience. Thus, without a doubt magic plays a vast role in The Tempest of explaining many ideas and issues. Gonzalo states: We are people of our own minds and no one elses, Indeed, Gonzalo is saying that no one can control what someone sees or does. This is true unless one is of course, using magic.