The Tempest Theme The Illusion of Justice Prospero

‘The Tempest’ Theme: The Illusion of Justice

Prospero himself was usurped by his brother, and he is furious with him for taking his power. He thinks that it is unfair and represents himself as a victim of injustice so, he wants revenge. l On the island, he makes Caliban and Ariel his slaves. He has no qualms about this in order to achieve his ends. l The idea of justice seems highly subjective since Prospero controls the fate of all the other characters. l

Uses of Magic Prospero was the only one who uses magic most of the time. He uses magic to perform injustice acts such as giving Caliban aches and cramps and night. l Prospero also uses his magic to perform his revenge – The play becomes more and more involved with the idea of creativity and art. l Magic plays an important role in presenting the idea of justice as it effects the structure of the play which depends almost entirely on the use of supernatural powers. l

Slavery Caliban and Ariel represents slavery in this play. Prospero’s sense of justice seems extremely one-sided and mainly involves what is good for Prospero. l Caliban thinks that it is unfair because his island is taken from him, he really hates Prospero for treating him as a slave. He even plans to kill Prospero when Stephano and Trinculo became his new masters. l

Caliban’s quote “The island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou tak’st from me. ” l “Why, as I told thee, ‘tis a custom with him I’ th’ afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him, Having first seiz’d his books” l “The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. ” l Does Caliban deserve to get sympathy or disgust?

Slavery pt II Prospero releases Ariel from a tree by using his magic. He actually needs Ariel to do his revenge and he promises to free him after he achieves what he wants. l Ariel is obedient to Prospero and although he longs for his freedom, he seems to take “All hail, great master! Grave pleasure in his work. l sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure” -Ariel

Happy Ending By using magic and tricks, Prospero gradually persuades the other characters and the audience of the rightness of his deed. As he does so, the ambiguities surrounding his methods slowly resolve themselves. l Prospero forgives his enemies, releases his slaves, and relinquishes his magic power so that at the end of the play, he is the only person who works toward the happy ending. l Shakespeare seems to say that happy endings are possible because the creativity of artists can create them, even if the moral values that establishes the happy ending originate form nowhere but the imagination of the artist. l

Justice and Shakespeare? Prospero’s role begins to mirror more explicitly the role of an author creating a story around him. l Prospero as a surrogate for Shakespeare himself? l Shakespeare is in the play, and the fact that he establishes his idea of justice and creates a happy ending for all the characters becomes a cause of celebration, not criticism. l

Conclusion Hmmm…The Tempest represents the idea of justice by presenting Prospero as the only character whose work has been responsible for all the audience's pleasure. l The establishment of Prospero’s idea of justice becomes less commentary on justice in life than on the nature of morality in art. l

Something for you l In The Tempest, has magic ever used benignly? (Think about Sycorax’s imprisonment of Ariel and Prospero’s enslavement of Caliban and insistence on service from Ariel. )

The end of our presentation “But release me from my bands, With the help of your good hands. . ” -Prospero