Act 3 Quotes

Scene 1

'The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning, and prompt me, plain and holy innocence. I am your wife, if you will marry me; if not, I’ll die your maid.’ (Miranda Lines 83-86)

'Bigger bulk' could show the growth of Miranda's feeling for Ferdinand, yet it also alludes to pregnancy and since she has come an visit him against her fathers wishes, her growth as an independent person.

Shakespeare makes Miranda begin talking in almost riddles, using lots of adjectives to present her confusion in her own feelings and actions. Yet by the end she is very direct 'if you will marry me; if not, I'll die your maid' which tells Ferdinand exactly how she feels.

These lines can be read in a way which accentuates Miranda's innocent and how she has had a sheltered lifestyle, she seems to have no knowledge of courtship, instead given herself to Ferdinand as his wife or as 'his maid' which would of been quite a derogatory position.

They begin to present Miranda as a character becoming independent from her father but also innocently bowled over by the first man she meets and becoming under his power. Therefore you could make the audience both feel respect and pride for her new found independence but also empathy and foolishness for falling for another man so easily.

‘[Miranda] If you’ll sit down I’ll bear your logs the while. Pray give me that; I’ll carry it to the pile.
[Ferdinand] No, precious creature, I’d rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo,’ (Lines 24-28)

Miranda offers to bear Ferdinands logs for him since she cannot bear to see him work, since she feels its partly her fault that he suffers. 'I'll bear your logs' has connotations of bearing his feelings and thoughts forgroudning how they will confess their love for each.

These lines  could be performed to give two impressions of Miranda character, as an innocent maid who feels sympathy for Ferdinand and that its partly her fault her suffers, or as a strong girl who is finding her independence and wanting to impress Ferdinand with her vice and strength.

Shakespeare use hard sounding words like 'crack' and 'break' to make Ferdinand line very masculine and to contrast with Miranda's line before which uses softer sounds like 'bear' and 'pray'.

The line begins very directly with 'no' which sounds very aggressive, which again accentuates Ferdinands masculinity.

There is a half rhyme in both lines of these character, Shakespeare rhymes 'while' and 'pile' on Mirandas line and 'crack' and 'back' in Ferdinands. The rhyme come much quicker in Ferdinands like than Mirandas, which with the hard sounding words creates an almost desperation to seem strong. Whilst Mirandas being further apart and longer sounding make the line more musical and poetic and adding to her beauty.

Shakespeare use stichomythia, where the characters finish each others lines. This suggests and begins to accentuate a unity between them and helps to solidify the idea that they are and should be in love with each other and married.

Act 3, Scene 2 - Caliban

Act 3, scene 2

Caliban

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises,Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.Sometimes a thousand twangling instrumentsWill hum about mine ears, and sometime voicesThat, if I then had waked after long sleepWill make me sleep again; and then in dreamingThe clouds methought would open and show richesReady to drop upon me, that when I waked I cried to dream again (lines 127–135). 

The lines are written blank verse, which is measure and controlled. It is unusually that Shakespeare should have him speak like this since he is meant to be the uncivilised monster. 

The language that Caliban uses is surprising especially after the aggressive language he has used before this when aggravated by Trinculo, he calls him a 'scurvy patch' and describes in detail how he will kill Prospero; 'Batter his skull, or pauch him with a sot.'
Whilst in this speech from him he uses words such as 'twangling' and 'sweet airs' which all have positive connotations and are soft sounds.
Caliban also uses more complex words and words he hasn't used before like 'delight' and 'riches' differ to how he states to Miranda that 'you taught me language, and my prof on't is, I know how to curse.'
Yet actually this short monologue from him shows he knows how to use language sophisticated fashion, which disagrees with his earlier portrayal and characteristics.
The word 'twangeling' does not exist in the modern dictionary, but Shakespeare did make up many words, it creates the image of string music and is also onomatopoeic. The word 'Hum' is onomatopoeic as well, its a resonating and calm sound, this accentuates how the island is safe.
The voices he mentions are most likely to be Ariel or the other spirits, even though these spirits are possibly the ones who taught him.
The voices are made to sound hypnotic, they make him fall asleep, where he dreams of the wealth falling from the sky - which is possibly a metaphor for his want for power.
Overall the speech is poetic and many critics write that it shows that Caliban is more than just the uncivilised monster he is viewed as by the other characters.

Shakespeare has littered this monologue with powerful imagery, which help to guide the audiences imagination of the setting since at the time, and in some performances now, there was very little visuals to go with. 'Sweet airs' alludes to the sound of wind through the trees, 'a thousand twangling instruments' add to this possibly picking up on the sounds of birds and insects singing but as if it were music and to 'give delight'. The noises 'hum' in Calibans ears too which give strong imagery of how these sounds are always all around. The description of the 'clouds methough would open, and show riches' could be Caliban describing the rain, which would show riches upon the earth as its necessary for life.

From this speech Caliban make the island seem wonderful and mystical, but also with an air of mystery and unsuitable for the men, who don't understand this beauty like Caliban does. The island does sound beautiful with its 'riches' from the sky above and 'sweet airs' that 'hum' about the island. The 'twangling instruments' and 'voices' add to the mystery of the island and make it almost believable that the clouds would open up to 'show riches ready to drop' and that these riches would appear on this island. Overall Caliban makes the island seem like a natural sanctuary and to be 'afeared' as it is only full of enchanting wonders.

When reading these line its interesting to look at the theme of nature and nurture. Is Caliban how he is because its in his nature or is it because of how he has been treated by Prospero?
Since the speech is poetic and seemingly calm, its seems that this is Caliban's true nature and his monstrous side is his reaction to the way he has been treated by Prospero.
Caliban was one of the only inhabitants of the island and has lived their all his life, in this monologue he speaks of it very positively, almost poetically. Picking up on its beautiful side and making the slightly frightening side, for instance the voices and mysterious music, seem appealing.
The island has nurtured Caliban and because of this he has a lot of respect for it, contrasting with his more aggressive side when speaking about Prospero or subservient side when addressing Stephano. It could be read that Caliban is this aggressive, primitive character only because that is how Prospero treated and treats him but originally he was happy just being with nature.

The fact that Caliban talks about dreams Shakespeare could be insinuating that all the beauty in the island can only be seen by him, since dreams are private and only seen by you. It also makes the beauty of the island seem less realistic and Caliban become a less reliable resource, therefore the island is to be afeared. And maybe it is to be afeared by Trinculo and Stephano since Prospero watches over all they do and knows what they are plotting and therefore punishes them for it.
Dreams are important to Caliban, its his escape from the world he lives in as Prospero's slave. Which is why he cries to 'dream again' and is so desperate to get back there.

These lines help the audience picture the island and what its looks like. This would of been very important to Shakespeare, especially at the time when there would of been little technology in stage design, having descriptive sections helps the audience to imagine. It also helps the audience remove this setting from the real making the supernatural and magical happenings more realistic as the audience remove themselves from reality.

Looking back at Act 2

What does it mean to be civilised?

Civilised (adj) having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc. To be polite; well-bred; refined.

The characters in scene 1 of act 2 are all meant to be civilised, modern men. They come from a place where there is law, order, art and culture to a place which is without all of this. They dress smartly, unlike Caliban who is mostly portrayed just in a cloth round his loin, they are polite to each other and call each other by their rightful title.
Yet, does Shakespeare make Antonio and Sebastian seem civilised? Antonio has already taken the rightful title of Duke from his brother Prospero and is proposing that Sebastian also does this to his brother by murdering him and the other lords. Is the how civilised men are suppose to act or is Shakespeare presenting the corruption of power.
Antonio and Sebastian are very disrespectful to both their fellow Lords and the King of Naples. Sebastian is not empathetic to his own brother about the loss of him son, instead blaming Alonso for all that has happened to him including the loss of both his son and daughter.

'Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss, that would not bless our Europe with your daughter but rather lose her to an African' - Sebastian 118-119

In scene 2 Shakespeare can be seen to question how civilised a western society is. This is especially prominent if you read The Tempest as a colonist play.
When Trinculo first finds Caliban under the cloaks he believes him to be a monster and his first thought is how much money he could make taking this monster back to Europe and using it as entertainment. This was very common at the time and often bears and other foreign creatures would be paraded round the country for the entertainment of the wealthy and the poor.

'Were I in England now - as once I was - and had but this fish painted, not a holiday-fool there but would give a piece of silver. The would this monster make a man; any strange beast there makes a man. When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian.'

An audience of the time would of recognised and possibly identified with Trinculo's speech. Does this present the idea that they are civilised though, if to be civilised means to be polite and refined does jeering at a strange beast or person from a who looks strange illustrate these ideas.

From the point of view of modern society, both then and now Caliban does seem to be uncivilised. Shakespeare explains how when Prospero and Miranda came to Island he talked in a gabble, not proper English. He tried to rape Miranda, which shows sexual freedom which not only contrasts Prospero's clear control over any contact between Ferdinand and Miranda let alone sexual, it also was also very much frowned upon at the time. He wears only a sack around his waist and is not refined in the way he speaks by cursing and shouting.
Yet he can be seen to be culture, he knows all about the island and finds beauty in it.

'I showed the all the qualities o'h'isle, the fresh springs, brine pits, barren place and fertile.'

From Calibans point of view his island has been invaded by Prospero and Miranda and he has been forced to conform to their civilised ways. Yet when he could not conform, he was shunned from it and forced to become Prospero's slave. Does this make Prospero seem civilised by forcing a fellow human against his will in both the sense of making him civilised and then making him as slave.
Another definition of civilised is to be easily managed or controlled. Which is true of Caliban, although he does curse Prospero he still does what he says, although he does have to be threatened. Then when Trinculo and Stephano turn up, he quickly takes a subordinate position to them and again does what they tell him to do.
This differs from Antonio and Sebastian who do not do as they are told or which is morally right and are difficult to control. One example is when Gonzalo tells them they should be more optimistic about the situation, but they ignore him and continue to push Alonso and make him feel worse about himself.

Who does seem civilised?
Gonzalo is one of the characters in act 2 who does seem civilised. He is calm in the face of danger and stress, comforting the King for his loss and trying to be positive about the situation they are in. Unlike, Antonio and Sebastian he does not try and make any personal gains out of the situation they are in and in comparison to their snide almost childish comments about and to him, he does seem to be polite and well bred.
His description of a Utopian land though, does sound very much like the reports that came back from explorers on how the natives lived. With no clear heircahry and everyone equal. This is what Gonzalo see's as civilised nation, yet it is far from the civilisation he has come from. It is also mocked by Antonio and Sebastian which does two things, it adds to the notion that these two character are uncivilised but it also makes the audience doubt Gonzalo's Utopia. Although the audience is made to respect Gonzalo for being positive and empathetic, we are also made to slightly agree with Antonio and Sebastian that he has no idea what he is talking about. This is especially true if the audience see's themselves as civilised and the way they live and the society they in would most likely contrast Gonzalo's Utopia.

From a literal point of view, Caliban is made to seem savage and uncivilised.
Yet it can be argued that the other characters are just as uncivilised, they act for themselves and don't think of others, they are willing to murder and they are willing to take something or someone against their own will and force them to do something.

Looking back at Act 2

What happens in Act 2?
Scene 1-
We are with the characters, Alonso (King of Naples), Sebastian (Alonso's Brother), Antonio (Prospero's Brother), Gonzalo, Adrian and Francisco (all Lords).  They have all been washed up together on one of the beaches of the Island, thanks to Areil. Alonso is mourning the potential loss of his son, Ferdinand, and begins to regret marrying his daughter to an African prince in Tunis, as he fears he has lost her too.
Gonzalo trys to be optimistic about the situation but is thwarted by Sebastian and Antonio's mocking and jeering at him. Gonzalo and Adrian also discuss the positive aspects of the island and discuss how they would rule if they were King of the island (see Gonzalo Utopia).
Shakespeare presents Antonio and Sebastian as pessimistic and almost evil characters as they mock the other Lords, blame Alonso for the situation they are in - making him feel worse - and plot to kill the king and the other Lords for their own power gain whilst they sleep.
Fortunately, Ariel brings around Gonzalo before the two men can do anything. Antonio and Alonso quickly make up a lie that they heard beast in the forest which is why they have their swords drawn.

Scene 2-

The scene begins with Caliban carrying wood for Prospero, whilst cursing and moans about Prospero's torment of him using spirits and other magic. Whilst doing this he seen Trinculo, the court jester, on the horizon and believing this is another spirit sent by Prospero he tries to find somewhere to hide to avoid the torment. The only place being underneath the cloak he is carrying.

Another storm starts to brew and Trinculo, fearing for his life, wishes to find some cover. He spots the cloak and upon further inspection believes it to be a monster. Since this is the only cover around he takes a chance and hides from the storm underneath the cloak with Caliban.

The final character to appear in this scene is Stephano, who had been washed up ashore with all the liquor from the boat. He is drunk and happens upon the cloak with Caliban and Trinculo in it. He, like Trinculo, believes it to be a monster and since Caliban is crying out believing both men to be spirits, Stephano decides its a four legged monster with a fever and thinks he will give him some of the drink to help him.

Trinculo recogieses Stephano's voice and Stephano helps his get out from under the cloak. They celebrate before turning back to Caliban who now is begging for liquor believing Stephano to be a god. Caliban states to Stephano that he shall follow him and help him defeat Prospero so Stephano can be king of the island. The two men think their monster is a fool for being so easily won over but go along with the plan.

What is Prospero thinking?

Prospero has no time on stage in Act 2, yet he still has a presence. Not only through being briefly spoken about by Antonio and Caliban, but also through Ariel and from these we learn that he knows all that goes on the island.

As Ariel states 'My master through his art foresee's the danger' when he was up Alonso and Gonzalo who are about to be murdered. 

This statement accentuates to the audience Prospero's power and it also makes the audience begin to understand that Prospero is in control of everyone's actions on the island. Including Trinculo, Stephano and Caliban's who are plotting to murder him.

Shakespeare doesn't completely specify how Prospero is able to do this. We know he is a very powerful magus, yet Ariel seems to be the one who acts out all his magical wants. Therefore does he have many spies/spirits on the island who communicate everything back to him. 

Antonio and Sebastian - Act 2, Scene 1

Antonio is the current Duke of Milan and is the brother of Prospero.

Sebastian is the brother of Alonso, who is the King of Naples.

The scene begins with a speech from Gonzalo, optimistically pointing out how they have survived the storm and how the group should all bring comfort out of this.
Within Antonio and Sebastian's first lines in this scene we see their true pessimistic, obnoxious and  devious personalities.

Sebastian: (apart to Antonio) [Alonso] receives comfort like cold porridge.
Antonio: (apart to Sebastian) The visitor will not give it him o'er so.

Shakespeare presents the characters discount of the correct hierarchy, Sebastian is privately mocking not only his brother but also his king. As the audience you already begin to understand the lack of respect these men have for anyone but themselves.

Antonio and Sebastian then continue to mock whatever Gonzalo says privately, whilst Gonzalo remains positive in his view of the island and trying to make the best out of the situation. Antonio and Sebastian laugh at him and see only the bad in their situation.

Their ridicule of Gonzalo makes the audience question, who is telling the truth?
We are made to believe that Gonzalo is a very knowledgeably man and, as we found out in Prospero's monologue to Miranda, we know he was kind enough to put himself out his way to make sure they had food and books for their exile.
Yet, Gonzalo is ridiculed by the two men, they call him an 'old cock' and mock his every opinion which inevitably makes the audience also doubt Gonzalo.
In line 65-67, Shakespeare uses Gonzalo to inadvertently explains to the audience how all these Dukes and the King came to be travelling rather then in Naples. They are all returning from the marriage of Alonso's daughter to the king of Tunis.
From this the audience is again made to doubt Gonzalo because of Antonio and Sebastian.
Gonzalo compares the new queen of Tunis to widow Dido, queen of Cathage and famous figure in Greek mythology, which shows that he know and has read his myths yet he is flawed.

• Widow Dido was queen of Carthage which is close to the city of Tunis, Gonzalo has got confused between the two cities.
• In one of the versions of this myth Dido kills herself after she is rejected(widowed) by her lover Aeneas. Therefore she is not a true widow and would actually of been seen as 'evil' for having an affair.

Antonio and Sebastian pick up on these things are argue and mock Gonzalo because of it. It does make you as an audience start to see Gonzalo as less knowledgable than he makes out and more like the 'old cock' that will witter on as Antonio and Sebastian make out he is.

Gonzalo's Utopia - Act 2, Scene 1

Gonzalo's Utopia - Beginning pg 53, line 140

I' th' commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things, for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
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—
[...]
All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavor: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth
Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people. (2.1.162-171; 175-180)

Gonzalo would be king of the island - 'and were the king on't, what would I do?'

• There would be no 'traffic' which means no trade or business.
• No 'name of magistrate', therefore no one in charge of administering the law, as their would be no law.
• 'Letters should not be known', 'Letters' being in reference to education, therefore there would be no education, learning or literature.
• Everyone would be the same, there would be no 'riches' and 'poverty' and no 'use of service' meaning slavery or servants.
• No one would inherit; 'contract' and 'succession... none'.
• No 'Bourn, bound of land, tilth' which means there would be no boundaries, fences or agriculture, which also alludes again to there being no law.
• 'No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil'
• No one would be employed and everyone would be 'idle', possibly wanting everyone to be free.
• Women would also be 'idle' and 'innocent and pure'.
• Everyone would be allowed access to everything, 'all things in common nature'.
• He believes that this would lead to no 'Treason or felony' and no need of weapons or to fight.
• Everything would be made natural and there would be no 'need of any engine' since nature would be 'all foison', plenty, 'all abundance'.
• His subjects would be innocent.

Which peice of writing did Shakespeare draw these ideas from?
Shakespeare actually plagiarised this speech from 'Of Cannibals', an essay by Montaigne's, where Montaigne's describes how Brazilian indians live;

'no kind of traffic, no knowledge of letters, no intelligence of numbers, no name of magistrate or politic superiority, no use of service, of riches or of poverty, no contracts, no successions... no occupation but idle, no respect of kindred but common, no apparel but natural, no manuring of lands, no use of wine, corn, or metal.' (From John Florio's 1603 English Translation)

Montaigne does suggest that the way these people live is like some sort of Utopia and that the European invaders were the real barbarians. Does this add to the colonial reading of the Tempest, that Shakespeare gets Gonzalo to speak this since he is the 'good guy' who helped Prospero and Miranda survive their exile and is very optimistic throughout. This could allude to the idea that he agrees with Montaignes suggestion and therefore is against Europeans colonisation. Although this reading contradicts how Prospero, who would represent the European invaders, in a positive light and how Caliban is presented savage and barbaric unlike the Brazilian Indians describe by Montaigne.

Why is Gonzalo's Utopia flawed?
In his speech Gonzalo almost instantly contradicts himself, he asks 'were the king on't, what would I do?' before his speech yet in his speech he states how their will be 'no name of magistrate' which implies there will be no king and no leader. Therefore, how can Gonzalo be in control.
Shakespeare, presents the flaws of this Utopia through the other characters in the play, not only to Antionia and Sebastian mock Gonzalo's speech they also demonstrate how the 'modern man' could not live in such a society because of the corruption of modern society.
To Antonio and Sebastian the island is a free land where they can deny authority. Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill their king Alonso whilst they sleep because of their greed for power. Shakespeare reveals the true dishonest and conniving traits of these two men, presenting to the audience the man in 'modern society' that would undermines Gonzalos Utopia. This is reiterated by the way these two men mock Gonzalo through this scene.