Select one of the following quotes from The Tempest.
Explain the quote and connect the passage to the other events of the play:
"I’ the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate…"
"I have bedimmed
The noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds,
And twixt the green sea and azured vault
Set roaring war."
"Graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ‘em forth
By my so potent art."
"O, brave new world
That has such people in ‘t!"
"These to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well!"
"My library / Was dukedom large enough."
One of the most famous quotes out of “The Tempest” is one that is said by Miranda. She says, "O, brave new world, That has such people in ‘t!". This quote appropriately connects to the rest of the story because at the beginning of the book, Miranda had only known and seen two people for her entire life, which was her father, Prospero, and the indigenous beast from the island, Caliban. As the book goes on, and Prospero’s plan comes into play, she meets her soon to be future husband, Ferdinand, prince of Naples. It is like love at first sight and they quickly fall for each other. Later, the book speaks about Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano’s side of the story, and their plot to murder Prospero for power of the island. Then it switches to the story of Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo, and the plot of Sebastian and Antonio to kill Gonzalo and Alonso for the same reasoning as Stephano, which was power. With the help of Ariel, Prospero’s assistant whom he freed from imprisonment, Prospero leads Antonio, Gonzalo, Sebastian, and Alonso closer and closer as the story goes on. The story starts to end when Prospero forgives everyone for all of their crimes that they have committed towards him, and grants everyone freedom, a different freedom for certain characters. Prospero shows Alonso his lost son, presumed to be dead, and they are reunited. While finding Ferdinand with Miranda, Miranda says her famous quote as she sees four more humans, Gonzalo, Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio, then following Trinculo, Stephano, the Boatswain, and the Sailor. She says this specific quote because prior to her father’s plan of leading all of the others to the island, she only knew of her father and Caliban, and lived on an isolated island with no one else. So at the moment she saw all of these new faces, it was appropriate for he to react the way that she did. Seeing so many people at that time, was very rare and alien to her. She was very ignorant of the bigger world that she lived in and of the millions of people living in it. She also says, “new world” which is inferred to be a reference to America, at the time that the play was written.
ReplyDeleteThe quote "I have bedimmed/The noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds,/And twixt the green sea and azured vault/Set roaring war." was said by Prospero during Act 5, Scene 1, Line 43. Prospero is directing this to Ariel. Prospero is basically saying that he would not have been able to go through with his plan without the help of Ariel. Ariel was the person to call upon the strong winds, to create the chaotic green sea, and the treacherous storm. Here in these lines, Prospero is simply showing appreciation to Ariel. I think that this quote also shows that Prospero is not a selfish egoistic person because it shows that he is not taking all the credit for this marvelous plan that has succeeded. He is admitting to everyone that if it was not for Ariel's help, the plan would not have initiated. This quote connects to other scenes of the play because the reader gets to see more of this relationship that Prospero and Ariel have. Although Ariel is under Prospero's control, Prospero treats Ariel with more respect and favor than as he would with Caliban. Throughout the whole play, the relationship that these two characters had was not really known but through this you can see that Prospero really appreciates Ariel's exemplary work and diligent attitude. This was also the first sign to show that Prospero and Ariel have a relationship just as a father and a son would. Later in the play Prospero admits that he will truly miss Ariel but it is better for him to receive his freedom.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 2 Scene 1, the King and his men are wandering around the isle and discussing what they would do if they were in control of the isle. "I’ the commonwealth I would by contraries/Execute all things; for no kind of traffic/Would I admit; no name of magistrate…" (2.1.123). Spoken by Gonzalo, he explains that if he had power on the island, he would have no trades, no officials, and further elaborates with "Letters should not be known. /Riches, poverty,/And use of service—none. Contract, succession,/Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard—none./No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil./No occupation. All men idle, all./And women too, but innocent and pure./No sovereignty—". Gonzalo would not give the people on the island education. There would be no unit of money, poverty or servants. There would be no farms where men have to toil. Men and women will have nothing to do, if Gonzalo had power. Gonzalo explains his idea of his utopia, where there is no poverty yet there is no workforce to harvest the food, and where there is no power yet Gonzalo would be king on the isle.
ReplyDeleteThis quote touches upon the theme of power. Gonzalo muses over what he would do with the isle if he had power. This is similar to Miranda, when she felt empathy for the people on the ship during the storm. "Had I been any god of power, I would/Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere/It should the good ship so have swallowed and/The fraughting souls within her." (1.2.10). Here, she expresses the desire for the power to achieve her goal, just like Gonzalo.
"I’ the commonwealth I would by contraries execute all things; for no kind of traffic would I admit; no name of magistrate…" This was the quote by Gonzalo when he was talking about how he would rule his land if he were king. In a nutshell, what he means is that if he were king, he would have no trading or government. He continues to say that everyone in his kingdom would be equal. No one would be in a higher position than another. He says that there would be no form of money. He says that all of the people in his kingdom would be honest and innocent. In other words, there would be no bad people who commit crimes in his kingdom. He also says that he would have no education. So no one would be educated. Adding to the fact that no one would be greater than another. This is Gonzalo's idea of a Utopia. However, there are many flaws in his idea of a Utopia. If no one had jobs then they people wouldn't have everyday necessities such as soap, food, clothing, ect. Without these things, the people would not be clean and have no clothing. They would all be subject to disease, and would probably end up dies from epidemics. Not having food... well that is pretty self explanatory. Without food, people would die. Another major flaw in his Utopia is that he said there would be no form of government, and that no one would have a higher position than another. But he would rule over everybody. He would be king, which is a higher position than a regular person in his Utopia. He should rethink his Utopia.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the play, when the cell door is opened and Miranda sees a multitude of people for the first time, she exclaims "O, brave new world/That has such people in ‘t!" This is a condensed mirror of the entire story, which depicts stranded souls on a lost island discovering each other and who they really are. The island is a brave new world, a tiny microcosm in which old power is meaningless and every man fends for himself. Because of this, the party stranded on the island form alliances, find other people, and engage in a power struggle that's completely new to them. They become a different breed of people when faced with each other in the brave new world.
ReplyDeleteIn act five scene one, Prospero speaks to his brother and all those who overthrew them and says "Graves at my command Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ‘em forth
ReplyDeleteBy my so potent art". This quote means that with his power of magic, he can raise people from their graves and have them walk out of their coffins. If the line were to continue, it would basically talk about how even with all that power, Prospero is getting old and that he will now stop all his magic and return to Naples to be the Duke again. This quote can relate to the rest of the book in many ways. In The Tempest, there is always a constant stuggle for power between the characters to see who will get more power. In addition, this book has its settings on a magical island where spirits come and go and the elements can be controlled. This quote does however connect with the beggining of the book were Prospero tells Miranda on how he was overthrown by his brother and Alonso. Due to his interest in magic and uninterest in politics, he was easily chased out of his Dukedom position. Now, it is different because with all his power, he is the leader of this island where the very people that overthrew him are stranded. In addition, I think that Prospero was also trying to tell them that his power has brought him so far and kicking him out because of it was not a very wise choice. Still, in the end he forgives all those who wrong him and returns to his Dukedom to marry his beloved daughter.
When Miranda sees humans other than Prospero, Caliban, and Ferdinand she says "O brave new world! That has such people in 't!". This is because she had no idea about who or what occurred outside of the tiny island which she knew as the world. She was delighted and shocked to see a glimpse of another world. This is also ironic because what she thinks is glorious and amazing is really just drunken sailors.
ReplyDelete"O, brave new world That has such people in ‘t!" This quote is after Miranda plays chess with Ferdinand and she sees Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo with her father, Prospero. In this quote, Miranda exclaims that she hasn’t seen so many people, since she has only seen her father, Caliban, and Ferdinand so far. In the quote, when Miranda says, “brave new world” this could also be interpreted as America. The new world in Shakespeare’s time was America. This quote is saying that America is the new world and has people different people in it. To Miranda, she has not seen many men in her life, which can relate to many citizens living in America. This quote can relate to how people came to the island and they are unbeknownst of the island’s surroundings and the people who live there.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting quote from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” is “I’ the commonwealth I would by contraries, Execute all things; for no kind of traffic, Would I admit; no name of magistrate…" said by the old Gonzalo. Gonzalo is an old, kind, and optimistic man who, while the king and his men wander around the island, expresses how the island would be if he were in charge. Gonzalo says that there would be no officials or rulers. Also, there would be no education, learning, and literature. Furthermore, there would be no class system and no one would be allowed to work or have an occupation. Everyone would be idle and there would be no trading or any form of money. Gonzalo explained how everything would be provided by nature and they would not need weapons or technology. Gonzalo elaborating on how he would make the island if he were in charge relates to the theme of power that is present throughout the book. Almost every character in the book desires power. The characters that have little or no power wish to have greater power, and the people who have a lot of power crave even more power.
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ReplyDeleteOne important line from The Tempest states, "Graves at my command/Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ‘em forth/By my so potent art" (5.1.57-59). This line practically sums up the storyline. Through Prospero'a magic art, ghosts of the past come to life again as Fortune brings his enemies to the shore of his island home. Rather than leaving the past alone, Prospero calls up a tempest that causes a violent stir. His enemies are literally thrust upon his mercy when they are tossed on shore. From there, Prospero set into motion his plans for revenge, whose main goal was to tease and trick his enemies until they felt penitent. The 'Three Sinful Men' who were the main object of Prospero's schemes were Alonso - King of Naples, Sebastian - Alonso's brother, and Atonio - Prospero's brother, who had all plotted together to overthrow Prospero and take over control of his dukedom in Milan. Through the course of the few short hours they spend on the island, these three almost succumb to despair, believing themselves to have lost their prince (Alonso's son Ferdinand), their ship, their crew, and any chance of survival. They reach their breaking point when, invisible, Prospero's servant Ariel delivers a delectable banquet right in front of their eyes, then takes it back, declaring "you three/From Milan did supplant good Prospero... For which foul deed,/The powers... have/incensed the seas and shores... against your peace" (3.3.87-88, 90-91, 92). In this way, Prospero calls up and sets upon his enemies the ghosts of their past wrongdoings. The men crack, and because of their penitence Prospero sets them free and gives them his forgiveness. The ghosts of the past first released when Prospero churned up the tempest are set to rest once and for all, the wakened sleepers sent back to the grave.
ReplyDeletePROSPERO Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them, who to advance and who To trash for over-topping, new created The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em, Or else new form'd 'em; having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was The ivy which had hid my princely trunk, And suck'd my verdure out on't. (1.2.11)
ReplyDeleteProspero values the brotherly bond more than Antonio; Prospero assumed his brother would be loyal to him. Instead, Antonio learned all the tricks of political treachery while serving in the place of Prospero, and used them to betray his brother. Prospero suggests that Antonio's taste of power awakened in him an even bigger desire for power. Prospero's loyalty to his brother was so great, and his trust so complete, that he really didn't see this coming. That, of course, allowed Antonio to take it farther. The whole story is about a power struggle there are plots to take over between Antonio/Alonso taking over Prospero, Antonio/Sebastian taking over Alonso, Prospero taking over Caliban/Ariel and Caliban/Stephano taking over Prospero.
"My library / Was dukedom large enough" (1.2.109-110)is a line that Prospero states to Miranda when recounting the story of his exile from Milan. In this, he has a wistful tone, and shows how he came to realize, through the hard way, the value of power, which is the occurring motif throughout the play. Also, we see the foundations in which Prospero achieves his power, as he acquired his magic from spellbooks and wands. And although Prospero sought revenge against the "Three Sinful Men", (Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian), he forgives them readily because he realizes that because of his laxness in governing Milan, it was indirectly his fault that he was usurped.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “O brave new world! That has such people in ‘t!” is said by Miranda. She says this when she sees Alonso, Antonia, Sebastian, and Gonzalo. The only people that she had seen on the island until she saw these men were Ferdinand, Caliban, and her father, Prospero. She had said this line because she was shocked to see more men on the island that she has never seen before. This relates to the whole story because they are on an island that really doesn't consist of other people on it and nothing really surrounding it.
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ReplyDeleteStated in Act 5, lines 378 and 379 Prospero says to Ariel, "These to the elements Be free, and fare thou well!" This is Prospero's last parting words with Ariel setting him free along with the elements, where he belongs, from his ownership by relinquishing all of his powers. This quote appropriately fits with the an over-riding theme in the play which is power. Prospero had the ability to control not only Ariel but also Calliban as a result of his powerful elements. A number of other characters, namely Antonio, Sebastian, and Trinculo also wanted some power, authority and status, In the end of Act 5, Prospero who was the first to have power, breaks that theme down by setting Ariel free and ridding all his powers by drowning his book and breaking apart his magical staff. At the end of the play, Prospero also gives forgiveness to the other men for their wrongdoings and accepts their penitence. In a different perspective, Shakespeare declares his leave-taking speech through this line. Because "The Tempest" is his last play, his journey is ending, this is his last good-bye, and he gives thanks to the audience for watching and wishes them the best.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 4, Prospero is talking to Ferdinand and he explains what just happened. Iris the goddess of the rainbow, Ceres the goddess of the Earth, Juno the Queen of everything (especially fertility), and the Reapers were dancing around and having a great time but all of a sudden, they vanish into thin air. Both Ferdinand and Miranda are confused and Prospero begins one of his monologues. He says, “Our revels now are ended. These our actors, as I foretold you, were all spirits and are melted into air, into thin air; and like the baseless fabric of this vision, the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself, yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, and, like this insubstantial pageant faded, leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed. Bear with my weakness. My old brain is troubled. Be not disturbed with my infirmity. If you pleased, retire to my cell and there repose. A turn or two I’ll walk to still my beating mind.” (4.1.165-180). The events surrounding Prospero’s monologue, are being paralleled to what is happening in Shakespeare’s life. Prospero is saying the party/revel is over, the actors/spirits will disappear, and the towers and palaces/different sets will come down. Shakespeare is indirectly saying “The Tempest” is his last play. When the play is over, the actors will go back to being regular people and the palaces and temples will just be props. This same idea comes up again when Prospero says he will break his staff and drown his spell book. In the play, it means Prospero is giving up his magic, but in reality the staff is a metaphor for a pen and Prospero’s spell book is where Shakespeare writes all his works. Shakespeare is, again, telling the audience that he is retiring. Lastly, Prospero’s epilogue reinforces that this is the end of Shakespeare’s career. When Prospero says, “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” Shakespeare is telling his audience that his plays are like dreams, they have to end. Once dreams end, people wake up and carry on with their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe quote “O, brave new world That has such people in’t!” , is said by Miranda when she sees Antonio, Gonzalo, Sebastian and Alonsa following Ferdinand and her chess game. This quote connects to the rest of the story because in the beginning of the play Miranda only saw two people, Prospero and Caliban. Throughout the play she meets her love, Ferdinand, and exclaims how beautiful he is. When she meets all these new humans she sees the outside and world or the new world that she hasn’t seen before. This island is a small scale example of the world and the power struggle between peoples.
ReplyDeleteThis also connects to Shakespeare and how the new world is America. How people are colonizing in the new land learning about the natives and the land, just like how these people are on the island.
From the book "The Tempest" the quote: "O brave new world! That has such people in 't!" portrays connections between the passage and the book. This occurs in act 5 scene 1, where Prospero meets up with Gonzalo, Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian for the first time since his exile. When Miranda sees these men, she is full with amazement and astonishment. For the first time in her life has she seen so many other people excluding Ferdinand, Caliban and Prospero. This line shows that Miranda represents innocence. She has no been exposed to the outside world, and has never seen others like her other then her father and Caliban.
ReplyDelete"Graves at my command have waked their sleepers, oped, and let them forth by my so potent art." Was a line spoken in Act V, Scene I in which Prospero acknowledges his brother and the rest of the court from Italy. In the line itself he speaks of his powers to raise the dead and wake them from their coffins, but it also pays homage to another overlaying theme of the entire play: forgiveness. With such heartless and tragic circumstances befalling Prospero and his innocent daughter, much less by the hands of his own brother, should've long ago killed any feelings of absolution or pardon in him. Despite the cruel things that his brother did to him though, Prospero finds it in his heart to resurrect those feelings of forgiveness and finally absolve his brother for all the things he had done to him.
ReplyDeleteIn William Shakespeare’s work of “The Tempest,” there is a quote said by Miranda: “"O brave new world! That has such people in 't!" This occurs when Prospero, Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo walk in on Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess. Ferdinand is reunited with his father, while Miranda encounters many men at once. Previously in the play, Miranda had only been exposed to Prospero, Caliban, and Ferdinand. Due to her lack of contact with such people, Miranda is in bewilderment and amaze when she sees these men. She believes this world that they come from is amazing and full of wonder if it has such people in it. Her entire life, Prospero’s daughter had been living in isolation on an island; when she comes into contact with these outsiders, she responds in excitement at the new encounter.
ReplyDeleteIn Shakespeare's The Tempest, Miranda, daughter of main character Prospero, says, "O brave new world! That has such people in 't!" She is saying this after seeing all the other people on the island that she has never seen before. Previous to this, the only humans Miranda has seen were Prospero, Caliban, and Ferdinand. This experience of seeing other humans leaves her overwhelmed and excited. After this Miranda is exciting and anxious to see the other humans of the world and to get to interact with other people off the island. This event leaves her with a lot of hope of new discoveries and meeting new people.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 5 Scene 1, Miranda states, “O brave new world that has such people in ‘t!”, after being exposed to four new men, Gonzalo, Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian. For most of her life, Miranda grew up on an isolated island, and the only people she ever knew were her father and Caliban. So, when she sees other people for the first time, nothing but excitement overcomes her. Through these new beings Miranda encounters with, she receives a glimpse of the new world of which she has not seen yet. Her experience with new people portrays her as naive and childlike because she takes delight in learning about ideas that are easy and simple.
ReplyDelete"O, brave new world/that has such people in 't" is a famous quote that came from Miranda in Line 217-218 in Act 5 Scene I. Miranda says this upon the arrival of Alonso, Gonzalo, Sebastian, Antonio, Adrian and Francisco while she is playing chess with Ferdinand. She says this line, being the innocent gal that she is, because she has never seen any other human being besides Prospero, Caliban, and now Ferdinand. She has an innocent mind for she does not know much about the world around her since she has been on that island pretty much her whole life. She does not know that there are other people in the world because when she first saw Ferdinand, she assumed that he was a spirit ("What is 't? A spirit?/Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir,/it carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit"-I.ii.488-490) Her little knowledge about the world around her is like how the people in reality were just finding out and exploring the lands around them. They thought they knew the world around them when they really didn't. There was so much more things they had never seen and people they hadn't met. This famous quote ("O, brave new world/that has such people in 't") can also describe the people in the world today to an extent. We know about the different cultures and people in this world, but we may not have much knowledge about them.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 5 Scene 1, Miranda says, “O brave new world that has such people in ‘t!”,after encountering more men of her own species. The men were Gonzalo, Antonio, Alonso and Sebastian. Miranda was only exposed to two men in her life, Prospero and Caliban because she lived on a isolated island. Due to the isolation Miranda had her own life she was amazed at what beauties that she has never encountered before. This is the beginning of a new life and world for her. This experience portrays what seems to be an naive innocence of her character because she is so fascinated and excited about new ideas and tasks.
ReplyDeleteDue to the isolation Miranda had her WHOLE life she was amazed at what beauties she has never encountered before.
DeleteIn Scene 5, Prospero waits for Ariel to bring the group of stranded nobles to him. He reflects on his power and what he has done with it then says “I have bedimm'd the noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds, and 'twixt the green sea and azur'd vault set roaring war”. This basically means that he has done great things with his power such as creating a tempest and other natural phenomena.
ReplyDeleteAs we have seen in this novel, the main reason Prospero used his powers was to test his royal acquaintances and see if they were worthy of his forgiveness. He also used it to keep Caliban under his control, and to protect his daughter. Now he has completed his tasks and will get off the island. Reflecting on this, he knows that he no longer needs this great power and will dispose of it. He does so by breaking his staff, drowning his book, and releasing his loyal servant, Ariel.
"O, brave new world
ReplyDeleteThat has such people in ‘t!"
This quote is spoken by Miranda in Act 5 Scene 1. This quote pertains to the moment where she laid her eyes upon Alonso, Antonio, Gonzalo, and Sebastian. Before meeting Francisco, she has only been exposed to two other males, Prospero and Caliban. She is fascinated upon the meeting of these other male figures due to the fact that she has only had a couple of other males in her life. Miranda is in complete shock and amazement after seeing other people whom she has never encountered before. She was clueless and did not realize that there were other people living in the world other than just Prospero and Caliban since she has only lived on the island with them.
As Gonzalo imagines what he would do if he was ruler of the island, he states, "I’ the commonwealth I would by contraries, execute all things; for no kind of traffic, would I admit; no name of magistrate…" (2.1.161). Gonzalo says this as he explains his ideal utopia of no occupations or currency. He would oppose what is contrary to his people and instead, trading will take place. Citizens will not have the right to own land and recieve and education. In addition, Gonzalo states that there will be social equality and no sovereighty. In reply to this, Sebastion states, "yet he would be king on't." Gonzalo also says that nature will take care of everyone and technology (sword, pike, knife, gun, or any need of engine) 2.1.177 is not necessary in life. He justifies his views on power and if he had power, what he would do. This quote brings upon the common theme of power in this work of writing. Inwardly, Gonzalo desires power, just as Sebastion and Stephano do. Those who already have power, such as Prospero and Antonio, crave more power. After the storm, everyone who once had power, is stripped from it as they are all put on an island where their titles no longer matter.
ReplyDeleteWhen Miranda is introduced to the rest of Prospero's "guests," she exclaims "O, brave new world/ That has such people in ‘t!" (V.i.217-218). Her reaction seems to make her look innocent because she is so amazed. This is due to her growing up in an isolated island, with only Prospero and Caliban as its only other inhabitants. Ferdinand was "the third man that e'er I[she] saw" (I.ii.535) and upon their first meeting she thought "'tis[he] a spirit" (I.ii.490) She described Prospero's "guests" as "goodly creatures" (V.i.216) and "beauteous mankind" (V.i.217). Therefore, overall, Miranda's lines represent her sheltered and isolated life which has prevented her from seeing any other humans besides those who are on the island.
ReplyDeleteAs Prospero waits for his servant Ariel to return with King Alonso and his men, he gives a monologue stating that "graves at my command have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth by my so potent art" (5.1.57-59.) In this quote, he is announcing that his magic, referred to as his art, enables him to be powerful enough to raise the dead from their sleep. This power can be seen through the many acts that Prospero has performed, such as the tempest that brought all of the characters together. Earlier, he mentioned that his last task regarding to magic would be to receive the repentance of those who have hurt him. Once he realizes that Alonso is indeed guilty, he says, "The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance. They being penitent, the sole drift of my purpose doth extend not a frown further" (5.1.36-38.) Prospero has learned that to be forgiving is a stronger act than seeking for revenge. He has forgiven them even before they ask for his forgiveness. In a sense, he is 'raising the dead from their sleep' as Alonso has been dead to Prospero for many years but is brought to life again through his absolution. He then chooses to renounce his magical powers, finding a new art that is much stronger than these.
ReplyDelete"O, brave new world
ReplyDeleteThat has such people in ‘t!"
When Miranda exclaims this quote, she is referring to the fact that she has never seen any people before except for her father, who is old, Caliban, who is hardly a human, and Ferdinand, whom she’s infatuated with for the same reasons. She is introduced to a “brave new world” as her world before was just her father and Caliban.
This also reflects on the entire story as the very island itself is a “brave new world” as well. It is now populated with so many new faces to Miranda; it’s a huge shock to her. This also introduces her to new concepts such as love, greed (power struggles) and power in the form of Kings and Queens/monarchs.
When Prospero was explaining to Miranda about how they arrived on the island, he mentions to her that “[his] library / [w]as dukedom large enough” (1.2.130-131). Through this, he explains to Miranda that his library was of much more importance to him than power. He would rather sit in his library and learn new things than exercise his power. He values learning and intellectual stuff over power and ruling over a kingdom. His books and library were enough to satisfy him. This contrasts with Antonio’s, his brother, personality. As opposed to Prospero, Antonio is power hungry. He is filled with greed and is enlightened by the idea of ruling over a kingdom. This quote connects to other events in the play because this is what had started the whole thing. Since Prospero was too indulgent in his books and library, he neglected the duty of ruling over his dukedom. This provoked Antonio into ousting Prospero from the throne because he wanted to become Duke of Milan and didn’t think that Prospero was in the position to rule. After this, Prospero lands on the island where he is currently living and seeks revenge against the king and his brother (thus, the whole reason for the play). This quote also connects to other events in the play because Prospero constantly uses his books and magic to control the spirits and conjure up the storm, which caused the king and his men to become shipwrecked on the island. Without his books from his former library, he is powerless. His magic comes from these books, and so, he would just be an ordinary man without it. Caliban acknowledges this when he pleads with Stephano and Trinculo to kill Prospero. He demands that they get his books first because that is where all of his power comes from. He explains that taking away his books will be the only way to kill him.
ReplyDelete"These to the elements Be free, and fare thou well!" was said during Act 5 Scene 1 by Prospero. He is saying it to Ariel and the rest of the sprits that he controls. The theme was power and Prospero in the beginning had all the power at his fingers. He brought all the powerful people of Naples and a few others to the island to test them. He also took over the island that once belonged to Caliban. In the end he gives up his power and asks the others if they can forgive them.
ReplyDeleteThe Tempest was Shakespeare’s last play and Shakespeare through Prospero could be saying that he wants to set the audience free because his time of making magic (his plays) is done. He want them to put their hand together to pray (clap) so that he can go in peace knowing that the people enjoyed his works and that he did a good job.
During Act 2, Scene 1, line 123, Gonzalo says “I’ the commonwealth I would by contraries execute all things; for no kind of traffic would I admit; no name of magistrate…” Gonzalo desires to have power and rule the island with no traffic (trade), no education, no ranking/status, and liberal. If Gonzalo had the ability to rule the island, everyone has an equal status and no one is intellectually smarter or higher than any another. In Gonzalo’s kingdom, he would be the king of the island. Everyone on the island would be unable to understand letters. Therefore, the people would be unable to have their own voice and think of ideas or ideas to contradict their king, Gonzalo. This is the way Gonzalo wishes to rule the island. Most of the characters in “The Tempest” longs for power. From 12 years ago, Antonio took over Prospero’s position as Duke of Milan and shipped Prospero and his daughter to a stranded island. Prospero wishes for revenge and taking back his ranking in Milan. Antonio and Sebastian wishes to kill Alonso to take over his ranking as king of Milan. Gonzalo wishes to have power over the island. Many people in “The Tempest” are power-hungry.
ReplyDeleteIn Act 5 Scene 1 of "The Tempest" Miranda says "O, brave new world
ReplyDeleteThat has such people in ‘t!" Miranda says this when she lays eyes on four new men, Alonso, Sebastian, Gonzalo,and Antonio. Majority of Miranda's life was spent on the island and stranded away from the real world. Therefore, she has not seen anyone other then her father and Caliban and that is why she is in shock of seeing other men or people. Up until the point where she saw those four different men, she thought it was only her father her,caliban, and ferdinand. Even when she saw ferdinand she was shocked, but at the same time attracted to him. Shakespeare portrays Miranda as an innocent and naive girl who is oblivious to many things due to her being stranded on an island. After coming across those four men, she seems to be interested and curious about the real world out there.
"O, brave new world That has such people in ‘t!"
ReplyDeleteMiranda recited this quote in Act 5 Scene 1, when Miranda first sees Alonso, Antonio, Gonzalo, and Sebastian. She only knew of two men before she met Fransisco, who were Prospero and Caliban. She is amazed when she meets the other male characters because she has only known of two males throughout her life. Miranda is in awe from meeting new people that she didn't know existed. She was sheltered being isolated on an island with only Prospero and Caliban and now she is being exposed to new people that could be apart of her life in the future.
"O, brave new world That has such people in ‘t!"
ReplyDeleteThis quote was taken from Act 5 Scene 1. This quote comes from Miranda after she first lain eyes on Antonio, Alonso, Gonzalo, and Sebastian. Since she never met any other people before her father, Prospero, and Caliban, seeing this many people were amazing. She was in a sense, embarking on a new journey, going to a new world. By seeing all these new people, her view of the world expended and to her she was getting a glimpse at what the world outside the island was like. Also by marrying Ferdinand, Miranda would be going essentially to a new world where she would be able to see all different types of people.
During the time that Shakespeare was writing "The Tempest", England was going out into the New World and colonizing. This quote was what he imagined what the natives as well as his fellow English men were feeling when going onto this new land and first seeing these different types of people. This quote relates to the rest of the book as well as the colonizing. As Miranda was starting to see these new people, her world was expending just like how when the English went out to colonize their world was also expanding.