Key Quotes for Characters

Ariel

'Your charm so strongly works 'em that if you now beheld them, your affections would become tender... mine would, sir, were I human' Ariel (Act 5, Scene 1, line 17-20)

 Ariel is a spirit yet hear he shows more empathy to the characters of Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian than Prospero and these lines lead to Prospero's decision to forgive and reconcile rather than continue in his revenge.

Prospero

'Thus neglected worldly ends, all dedicated to closeness, and the bettering of my mine' Prospero (Act 1, Scene 2, line 90-91)

Here Prospero is explaining to Miranda how they came to be living on the island, it is not only beneficial to the characters but also to the audience as it gives them a before narrative to work upon without having take time and act it out. Prospero is meant to be a typical magus in which their aim was to better their mind in the hope of doing so they will become a better person. Yet, Prospero was usurped since he 'neglected' his Dukedom and wasn't a very good leader and then for the majority of play it could be said he seeks revenge rather than knowledge. Therefore only by the end of the play do we actually see him better his mind.

Caliban

'This island's mine by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak'st from me.' Caliban (Act 1, Scene 2, line 332-333)

This quote supports a colonist reading of the Tempest where its seen that Prospero came to the island and forcefully took it from Caliban, the original inhabitant, with the idea that he shall make it better. Caliban's lines are aggressive, punctuated and short which adds to the idea that he isn't from the same place that Prospero and Miranda are from and make him seem less civilised.

Alonso

'Whether thou beest he or no, or some enchanted trifle to abuse me... since I saw thee, Th'afflication of my mind amends'

It seems that Alonso cares little if Prospero is real or not, he is more received for the fact that their is someone else human and known on the island. Although he then goes on the resign his dukedom and asked 'thou pardon me my wrongs' it could be read this is more out of relief rather instant regret for the fact he send Prospero away on the island.

Gonzalo

'I'h'commonwealth I would by contraries execute all things.' Gonzalo (Act 2, Scene 1, line 144-145)

This is the introduction to Gonzalo's speech on how he imagines Utopia and it foregrounds how he believes the current way society runs is not perfect. This reflects the characters that have come from this society, Sebastian, Antonio and Alonso are all seen presented as corrupt. In the continuation of this speech we see that Gonzalo is being contradictory since although he asks for 'no magistrate' in laying out these rules Gonzalo himself must be the ruler.
It accentuates Gonzalo's differences with the other Lords in believing a place like uncorrupted and peaceful could exist, showing both his innocent and naivety and his goodly nature.

'There great guilt, like poison given to work a great time after, now 'gins to bite the spirits' Gonzalo (Act 3, Scene 3, line 105-107)

Gonzalo is commenting on the frenzied stated the three Lords are left in after they were visited by Ariel. He uses a simile, comparing their guilt to poison, to express how this guilt is afflicting and its adds to the performance on stage. Having Gonzalo comment on the mens actions make the drama more realistic and the audience understand exactly what has caused them to be like this.

Antonio

'Look how well my garments sit upon me, much feater than before.' Antonio (Act2, Scene 1, line 269-270)

Shakespeare uses clothes again later in the play, when Prospero uses it as a trap for Trinculo and Stephano. Clothes are a presentation of a characters wealth and status, Antonio uses them as a metaphor to present how much better off he is since he claimed Prospero's title. He states they fit more elegantly which insinuates that he is comfortable in the position and that its rightfully his, which as an audience we know isn't true.

Sebastian

 'You may thank yourself for this great loss' Sebastian (Act 2, Scene 1, line 118)

Directed at Alonso it shows how little sympathy Sebastian has for not only his brother but his king. Instead of being supportive, as Gonzalo is, Sebastian almost mocks Alonso and claims that he has made a mistake. This adds to his 'bad' character in the play, making him seem less likeable and foreshadows how he would murder his brother in order to selfishly gain power.
The statement questions Alonso's authority making him seem like a bad leader since he has got himself into this mess and for recognising this it make Sebastian seem like he would be the better leader.

'The devils speaks in him!' Sebastian (Act 5, Scene 1, line 129)

Sebastian is calling Prospero 'the devil' which is ironic since overall in the play Prospero is seen to be the good, righteous character putting order back into place, whilst Sebastian and Antonio are the evil characters creating more disorder.


Trinculo

'There would this monster make a man' Trinculo (Act 2, Scene 2, line 28)

The corruption of man is presented through this simple sentence, Trinculo is explaining how he would like to take Caliban and cruelly display him for money. In the Jacobean period this would not of been uncommon, often freaks were taken out and displayed for people to stare at and when the colonisation period began, natives from these countries were also taken back. To a modern audience it does present how discourteous society and with comparison to naive Miranda's belief of the 'brave new world' she is going to return to seem much less befitting.

Stephano

'Give me thy hand. I am sorry I beat thee. But while thou liv'st, keep a good tongue in thy head.' Stephano (Act 3, Scene 2, line 103-104) 

Theme of reconciliation and forgiveness are found in these quotes, since Stephano did get overcome by his power created by Caliban and beat Trinculo for something he didnt do. Here he is asking for Trinculo to forgive him and seemingly to become friends again. Although Stephano seemingly threatens Trinculo as well, telling him to keep him to not speak. Stephano has no real power, the only power he has is from his nomination to be leader from Caliban, who seems like a bad chooser for a good leader.

Ferdinand

'No, precious creature, I'd rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo' Ferdinand (Act 3, Scene 1, line 26-28)

 Ferdinands answer to Miranda's offering to help him carry the logs uses a lot of imagery to accentuate to the audience the toil he would undergo to please her, or her father. It emphasised to the audience the idea that Ferdinand does actually love Miranda, which otherwise could be seen as skeptical since she is seemingly the only woman on the island.
The use of hard sounding words like 'crack' and 'break' make the line sounds quite masculine, especially in comparison to Miranda's softer lines before using 'bear' and 'pray. Although this contrasts his earlier portrayal as weak, mourning over the supposed loss of his father.

Miranda

'Oh wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here!... Oh brave new world that has such people in't!'

Miranda is overall a very naive and innocent character and these lines sum it up paticullary well. She is looking upon the characters of Antonio, Alonso and Sebastian who are all seemingly evil, corrupt men who revolted against he father and the reason she confined to the island. Miranda ironically calls them 'goodly' creatures, which presents her naivety to how men could be corrupt. It possibly is also an extension of Prospero forgiveness, being that Miranda as his daughter is an extension of him. As he states to Ferdinand 'here a third of mine own life.' Therefore presenting that the men are fully forgiven and possibly giving the audience hope that these men can change for the better and become goodly men.

First Performance of The Tempest - Summary

http://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/the-first-night-of-the-tempest

It was first performed in 1610/1611 in Blackfriars Theatre.
Blackfriars was new reclaimed by the Kings men, it was an indoor theatre and they used it as their winter counterpart to the Globe, an outdoor theatre.

Performance Space
Blackfriars and the stage space was half the size of the Globe although set out the same, with a thrust platform, galleries on the three see walls, doors at the rear and musicians gallery above.
One of the privileges for fashionable men - gallants - which made the stage space smaller was the fact they would pay a lot of be able to sit at the sides of stage to be able to show off their fashion/wealth to the rest of the audience.
Shakespeare responded to the smaller stage by writing fewer lines between the characters entering and being in earshot of other characters already on stage, since it would take an actor less time to move from the door to a position of front of stage.
Asides to the audience had to be made more obvious because of the smaller stage, often having the actors moving to the musicians gallery which dramatically altered the structural entity of the play.

Clothing
The audience could arrive and show off their finest clothes since they didn't need to dress practically for an outdoor theatre.
Candles were the primary light source for Blackfriars which meant that choices of clothes were made with this in mind. Francis Bacon in his essay 'Of Masques and Triumphs' informs his readership that 'The colours, that shew best by Candle-light are; White Carnation and a Kindle of Sea-Water-Greene; and Oes, or Sprangs' which shows how the audience would of made conscious decisions on what best to wear based on surroundings.
It can be read that Shakespeare mocks this vanity in Act 4 when Prospero puts out his trap of beautiful clothes for the fools Trinculo and Stephano. They are distracted by the 'glistering apparel' much as many of the audiences clothes would of glistered in the candle light.

Sounds
Obviously and indoor theatre would of sounded very different to a outdoor theatre.
Therefore there was more scope to use music which was more likely to be heard in the indoor theatre of Blackfriars rather than an outdoor theatre. This was also due to changes in light, the early candles were made of beeswax which needed trimming every half hour and a break was required to do so.
Therefore the five-act structure common to Jacobean plays became full established - with four intervals in which music could be played and candles trimmed.
In the indoor theatre an whisper would of been audible even in the galleries therefore their was more range for actors on vocal tone, rather than having to shout all the time.
There was difference in instruments used in an indoor theatre, since much softer and lighter sounding instruments could be used without fear they would be drowned out, like lutes. Louder sounding instruments like trumpets were not likely to be used as they would be too powerful for the acoustical intense space, instead they were replaced with hautboys and cornets.
The musicians were visible by the audience, being in the gallery above the stage, meant they became a integral part of the performance. This is shown in the Tempest for the fact the music doesn't just exclude itself to the intervals instead being intwined with the play. Ariel haunting song to Ferdinand, how Caliban describes the island strange sounds, the music in which many characters are controlled by.
The music is both harmonious and chaotic. The early sounds of thunder in the first scene made by rolling a cannonball down a lead pipe and the dogs and hunters that drive Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban off stage to the 'sweet airs' descried by Caliban and the magical music sung by Ariel.

Stage Trickery
A Blackfriars performance could of been made into a 'sheer spectacle'.
This is especially shown in the Tempest when the banquet vanishes in fromt of the Lords eyes to be replaced with Ariel as a harpy. The stage direction instructs the use of a 'quaint device' which could be imagined to be the 'sudden snuffing of candles and the tables rapid decent into the stage trap.'
The entrance of Juno in the wedding masque for Miranda and Ferdinand might of been a chair descending from the ceiling which would not of been possible in the Globe.

The Tempest is believed to be the first to capitalise on the possibilities of the new indoor theatre of Blackfriars, although it continues to leave space for staging to be explored for each new performance space.

Quotes for Reconciliation and Forgiveness

Reconciliation - The restoration of friendly relationships

Forgiveness - The act of forgiving, granting pardon

Who in the Tempest reconciles and forgives?

• Prospero forgives Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian of their rebellion against him and taking his Dukedom. Although it is ambiguous if Antonio, his brother, is actually forgiven or accepts Prospero's forgiveness.
• Caliban asking for forgiveness and reconciliation, from Prospero, for thinking he could and wanting to overthrow him.
• Does Ariel cause Prospero to be forgiving or, as we see through Miranda, is human nature naturally forgiving.
• Miranda represents the natural state of humans to be empathic and forgiving.
• Is Prospero initially out for reconciliation or revenge?
• Finally Prospero asks for reconciliation from the audience which will allow him to be free.

Quotes

'Yet, with my nobler reason, 'gainst my fury do I take part. The rarer action is in virtue, than in vengeance.' Prospero (Act5, Scene 1, line 26-28)

Here we see Prospero realise that his revenge can only bring him so much satisfaction and actually only in forgiveness and reconciliation will he actually feel resolved. This makes Prospero seem more human and less cruel, especially since it was initially Ariel, a spirit, that prompted this human response.

'How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has such people in it!' Miranda (Act 5, Scene 1, line 181-183)

This is Miranda's reaction to he first introduction to the rest of the Lords that have been present on the island. These are the only other men she has met now, other than Ferdinand and this line instantly shows her innocent. It also could represent how naturally forgiving human nature should be, Miranda has in Act 1 that the storm was to bring the men that usurped Prospero to the island to be punished. Therefore she should of worked out that these men are the same that led to her being exiled to this island. Yet she ironically calls them 'goodly creatures' and states how 'beauteous' they are, which accentuates Prospero's reconciliation.

We see Miranda's merciful nature early on in the play too she tells Prospero that 'tis' beating in my mind - your reason for raising the sea-storm?' Miranda (Act 1, Scene 2, line 176-177) even after he has just explained to her how they came upon this island because of the rebellious acts of his own brother. Does Miranda represent human innocent or natural human nature without corruption, since she has only lead an isolated life on the island away from corruption of society.

'I'll be wise hereafter, and seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass was I to take this drunkard for a god' Caliban (Act 5, Scene 1, line 292-293)

Caliban by the end of the play reconciles with Prospero and asks for forgiveness for trying to overthrow him and murder him, understanding the stupidity of his actions. The speech of Caliban has changed here from previous in the play, instead of being abrupt and simplistic it seems slower and more thought out, which presents possibly a change of personality. Although it is ambiguous to whether Prospero is willing to pardon Caliban since he calls him 'sirrah' which is a term expressing contempt indicating how his view of their relationship has no changed and he will never forgive him for his actions throughout the play.

This response from Caliban does seem natural which presents the idea that Caliban is naturally forgiving much like Miranda and the reasoning for him being aggressive was actually because of the way he'd been treated by Prospero. This is also alluded to by the idea that Prospero and Miranda was the ones who taught Caliban how to speak and he states himself how this only meant he 'know how to curse.'

Yet as Amanda Millabard states 'For Caliban, Prospero has no mercy or forgiveness' since he punishes him for trying to reproduce with his daughter which to Caliban would of been natural action, as it is often for a child or animal. Therefore Caliban is presented to be uncivilised and because of this he must be punished or conform to it, for which he does not.

'or you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother would even infect my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault, -- all of them' Prospero to Antonio (Act 5, Scene 1, line 130-132)

Since he calls Antonio 'wicked sir' and that he would 'infect my mouth' it does make the audience question the authenticity of this reconciliation. It is ambiguous here wether Prospero is actually able to forgive and reconcile with his brother and depending on the way the director plays it, these lines could be read as both genuine or sarcastic. Antonio does reply either, which leads the audience wondering if Antonio is actually able to apologise to Prospero and accentuates the idea that Prospero is the better man, possibly making the audience feel its more acceptable that Prospero is literally taking back his Dukedom.