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Did the storm described in the first scene suggest the title of the play?
Yes, undoubtedly. I. As an actual tempest ; actual , not in the sense of having really occurred, but of being conceived and portrayed as a real storm. II. As a metaphorical or allegorical tempest , representing the calamities and disasters of human life.
Is Shakespeare's description of this storm technically accurate?
Yes, undoubtedly. On Shakespeare's description of the management of the ship in the storm the second Lord Mulgrave, a distinguished naval officer, says: "The first scene of The Tempest is a very striking instance of the great accuracy of Shakespeare's knowledge in a professional science, the most difficult to attain without the help of experience. He must have acquired it by conversation with some of the most skilful seamen of that time." Lord Mulgrave then gives the following analysis of Shakespeare's description:
FIRST POSITION.
Fall to 't yarely, or we run ourselves aground.
Land discovered under the lee; the wind blowing too fresh to hawl upon a wind with the topsail set. Yare is an old sea term for briskly, in use at that time. This first command is therefore a notice to be ready to execute any orders quickly.
SECOND POSITION.
Yare, yare, take in the topsail, blow till thou burst thy wind, if room enough.
The topsail is taken in. Blow till thou burst thy wind, if room enough. The danger in a good sea boat is only from being too near the land; this is introduced here to account for the next order.
THIRD POSITION.
Down with the top-mast! Yare! lower, lower! bring her to try with the main-course.
The gale increasing, the topmast is struck, to take the weight from aloft, make the ship drift less to leeward, and bear the mainsail under which the ship is laid to.
FOURTH POSITION.
Lay her a hold, a hold; set her two courses, off to sea again, lay her off.
The ship, having driven near the shore, the main-sail is hawled up; the ship wore, and the two courses set on the other tack, to endeavor to clear the land that way.
FIFTH POSITION.
We split, we split.
The ship, not able to weather a point, is driven on shore.
Why does Shakespeare begin this play with the description of a storm?
In ancient times, and in Shakespeare's day as well, the elements were supposed to be in very close sympathy with human joy and sorrow. It was believed that Nature, both animate and inanimate, was profoundly disturbed by impending disaster.
Thou see'st the heavens, as troubled with man's act Threaten his bloody stage. Macbeth , II. 4. 5, 6.
The storm with which this play opens is intended to recall the foul play by which Prospero was robbed of his dukedom, and he and Miranda were heaved hence out of Milan, and to what was hoped by his enemies would be a cruel death. It is intended, also, to be a punishment upon the doers of that wicked deed.
What further dramatic function does the storm now have?
It gives Prospero an opportunity to relate to Miranda all the circumstances which have caused her and himself to be in this island. These circumstances are the causes of the action of this drama. It is necessary the spectators of the drama should be thoroughly informed
I here abjure, and, when I have required Some heavenly music, which even now I do, To work mine end upon their senses that This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet sound I'll drown my book.
What is the dramatic purpose of the quarrel between Prospero and Ariel?
I. To give Prospero an opportunity, when chiding Ariel, to inform the spectators of the drama of Ariel's history, which information it is absolutely necessary they should have in order to appreciate Ariel's part in the action of the drama. II. To give an opportunity for the revelation of the characters of Prospero and Ariel.
Who is Sycorax?
The witch Sycorax, whom Prospero refers to as "blue-eyed hag" is the mother of Caliban. She was born and banished from Argier (the older form of Algiers). She is mentioned in 1.2 and 5.1. Ariel was her servant but punished him for disobedience (Ariel was "too delicate/To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands"), trapping him in a cloven pine for a dozen years, during which time she died.
What has Shakespeare accomplished in Act I of The Tempest****?
I. He has introduced every important character in the drama, and given all necessary information about them. II. He has described in detail all the causes of the action of this drama. III. He has foreshadowed that action: a. Prospero's retribution (cf. I. 2. 177-184); b. The love affair of Ferdinand and Miranda.
Who is Claribel? What dramatic purpose is attained by the references to Claribel?
Claribel is the daughter of the King of Naples. Her marriage was the indirect cause of the disasters which have happened to Alonso and his friends (cf. II. 1. 102-130). To give the spectators this information,
which is so necessary to an intelligent appreciation of the plot, is the reason of this reference to her.
In what way does Caliban manifest his mental and moral degradation?
I. By ingratitude toward Prospero. II. By his choice of the degraded and drunken Stephano as master, in preference to Prospero. His mind sympathizes with his ugly body. Cf. lines 190, 191; V. 1. 290.
Why was Caliban so much shrewder than Stephano and Trinculo?
His knowledge of Prospero was much more accurate; his fear of him much greater.
Why does Shakespeare introduce here the game of chess?
At the time this play was written chess was very popular in Naples, of which place Ferdinand was a prince. With this fact Shakespeare was doubtless familiar. It probably suggested to him the use of the game in this play.
Of what is he the personification?
Primarily, wisdom. Secondarily, of the Power that can execute justice; rewarding the Right, punishing and circumventing the Wrong; and in so doing can use as his ministers supernatural beings and Nature.
What is the nature and function of Ariel? Why is he invisible to everyone in the play except Prospero?
Fire. He is moody. Prospero calls him malignant thing. His function in the drama is to represent the intellectual, the spiritual, and to execute Prospero's commands. He is the link between earth and the higher and better world.
He is invisible because he is the executant of Prospero's orders. If he were visible, it might interfere with that work.
In The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare portrays man in connection with the supernatural. What is the principal difference between the plays so far as they relate to this
