http://www.enotes.com/tempest-text
This version has a "translation" next to the original
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/tempest/full.html
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We are a 12th grade AP English class from the Bronx, New York. Enjoy reading our musings and comments about the literature we're reading, and feel free to add a comment yourself!
Mr. Archer
tarcher@schools.nyc.gov
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Prospero is a very interesting character. Is he magical? What’s his deal with treating Caliban the slave like, well, a slave? Are the stories he is telling Miranda true or just a way to help her cope with their predicament on the island? I can’t really decide whether I like Prospero or not, and trying to comprehend Shakespearian language at an AP level just makes it that much more difficult. What do some of you think of Prospero? Miranda? Ariel even? I feel that the story is kind of dragging but certainly has some potential for a little giddy-up.
ReplyDelete-Josh Lowe
This text thoroughly confuses me. Did Prospero have to leave his position as the Duke because his own brother forced him to leave? I'm finding this story a little hard to follow.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is how does the boat sinking in the beginning play into anything.
Also something else that is confusing me is the discussion of magic. Prospero has a magic coat and Ariel said that she turned into fire. How is this story going to work magic into its plot?
Also, Ariel calls Prospero "my master". Is Ariel a servant of some kind? I am confused as to Prospero's current social "ranking". He was removed from the position of Duke, and yet he seems to have a servant.
I hope all of these questions are answered. Am I dumb because I don't seem to understand?
I find it very interesting that Prospero had ordered Ariel to cause this storm at sea, but yet made sure that no one was injured. He made sure that all but the crew had abandoned ship and would wash up throughout different locations on the island. He has purposely isolated specific individuals such as the kings son, which I believe indicates that there has definitely been some past tension between Prospero and this son. I also believe that it is clear that Prospero lacks any good intention in his plan for dealing with this kings son.
ReplyDeleteI was also struck by the dynamic between Prospero and Ariel. We learn that Ariel was once a prisoner and was doomed to remain one if Prospero had not come along and rescued him. But yet immediately upon Ariel's freedom, Prospero seizes that and makes him his servant. And in this scene Ariel brings up a promise that Prospero had made to him that if he obeyed to his commands, then he would take a year off of his servitude. However as soon as he brings this up Prospero becomes annoyed and Ariel's ungratefulness so to speak, and threatens him with more years if he does become more polite. And Ariel easily submits to Prosperos intimidation. This relationship between these two is a dynamic that I am sure will continue to develop as a interesting and important one throughout the play.
Although I must admit that I relied heavily on the modern-day translation, I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this scene. For whatever reason, I really got into the dialogue and I'm really thankful for that, because reading it actually didn't feel like a chore!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the humorous undertone in some of the dialogue. But (and this goes for every single time I have ever studied Shakespeare) I can only pick up on the subtle details, like insults or jokes, not the big picture. I understand what's going on now, but I really feel like I'm missing something. However, I could be totally wrong and maybe I do actually get it?
I found Caliban pretty funny (even if he is an attempted rapist...) and hopefully his character will return again later on. Prospero is kind of strange- I feel like he is always plotting and using Ariel to do his dirty work. Hopefully more of an actual plot will develop soon; the first two scenes don't really set up much of a story, they just introduced the characters and explained the setting.
While reading both versions I was still left a little confused about the text. I understood that Ariel and Caliban are spirits and Prosperos' slaves. I think that Ferdinand is Prosperos nephew and Miranda falls in love with him right away. I'm not too sure of everything but I definatly have a better understanding of what happened to Prospero and why he is in the situation he is in.
ReplyDeleteEven though the reader should feel some kind of sympathy for Prosperi I don't feel any. Even though his power was taken away from him by his own brother, does not give Prospero the right to enslave other people. I feel that Prospero is very mean towards Caliban and Ariel. I'm not too sure if Prospero is going to keep his word about letting Ariel free. Honestly I think that Miranda is going to take Ferdinads side and go against her father because she loves Ferdinand.
Thank you for putting up these links. The first one is actually one I liked very much because it gives us help on how to read Shakespeare to gain a better insight. The e-notes provide tips and help that the book does not have unless it is No Fear Shakespeare. The play so far seems interesting. We have already encountered themes such as betrayal, power and social hierarchy. The fact that the book is in Medias ves puts us right in the middle of a ship that is caught in a storm. I like the character of Prospero. He is a character who is betrayed and dethroned by his brother and so far appears to be the Christ-like figure. Unfortunately, he is not blessed with a child who understands what goes on around her. I just hope that Miran understands the circumstances her and her father are under so that she can better aid her father in getting revenge rather than be another obstacle.
ReplyDeleteAs our class began reading Act 1 scene 2 of Shakespeare's the tempest; i could already see the drama unfolding, As Prospero reassures his daughter Miranda that everything is going to be alright, but explains to her how she should stop worrying about others and focus more on herself, by "learning more about herself" only arose many questions within me, as to what was he really implying? is there something that she doesn't already know? that she should?.... I'm also very curious as to where Miranda's mother is,or what happened to her? I'm sure will defiantly find out soon enough, I can already tell this is going to be a great book, but then again, it is Shakespeare, when isn't it.
ReplyDeleteFrom Act I, Scene I, there was one line that caught my eye. "Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground—long heath, brown furze, anything. The wills above be done, but I would fain die a dry death." This line represents perhaps the fear that many people have of water. To say that one prefers to die "dry" than in water, means how much that person is in fear of water. However, in Scene II, I was very interested in the story that Prospero had to tell his daughter.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by the reaction of Miran who seemed to be very attentive and apologetic when she was probably too young to be conscious enough to have any effect. I first I thought that Prospero was going to be the "good" guy, whom was a victim of his brother Antonio. However, then I found his "magical" powers and his treatment for Ariel and his servants. This was a shock to know that he was an evil character. In addition, I was also very intrigued by the many curses that Shakespeare uses in his writing. I was definitely not expecting to be able to decipher such phrases in his play.
There is a lot of injustice in most of Prosperous' decisions, which might be a motif to the play.
From what I can comprehend of the play so far, Prospero appears to have purposely created the storm. As Miranda seems to be distressed about the the ship being sunken and the lives of the sailors being lost, her sorrow for the sailors shows that she is a sympathetic character. I knew that Prospero was up to know good when he seemed to be indifferent about the ship wreck. When he summons Ariel, we realize that he has been behind the entire storm all along. Then it is revealed,that all people aboard the ship were unharmed.
ReplyDeleteAriel seems like she is a fairy like character.Prospero seems to want control over everything, even peoples actions and what they are aware or unaware of. Prospero especially wants control over Ariel, knowing that she could be of use to him. He keeps her by his side out of guilt.To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this play, though I am a huge fan of Shakespeare. This play as just a tad-bit silly.In comparison to mid summer nights dream (a comedy that is more engaging as a work of literature), the tempest is best delivered as a theatrical piece. (for purpose of entertainment and comedy)