English literature Tempest essay

abc-2006

Can someone please go over my essay for me. My English literature mock is next week but I'm not sure if my writing is bad.

‘Prospero is right to give up his magic.’
Using your knowledge of the play as a whole, show how far you agree with this view of The Tempest. Remember to support your answer with reference to different interpretations.

Throughout ‘The Tempest’, Shakespeare presents the potence of Prospero’s magic in order to highlight the importance of his decision to stop using his “rough” magic. Prospero mentions how he has created a “roaring war” and a “rattling thunder”. The aggressive verbs “roaring” and “rattling” emphasise the potence of Prospero’s destructive magic. Prospero is aware of his competence as he calls himself a “god of Power”. Through a Christian reading it is evident that Prospero is trying to create a parallel between himself and God. The Jacobean era was a time when many were religious and believed in the existence of God. Therefore, by comparing himself to God, Prospero is effectively damaging world order. However, Shakespeare utilises act 5 to evolve Prospero as a character and to perhaps convey that Prospero is right to give up his magic. In parallel to conventional comedies in the epilogue the Jacobean audience is faced with a Prospero who is asking to be “relieved by prayers”. Through a Christian reading it is apparent that Prospero is remorseful for not having regard to hierarchal order by not following the great chain of being, which is why he wants to give up his magic. Shakespeare uses metatheatre in order to imply that Prospero is remorseful, as he asks the audience “let your indulgence set me free.”. The noun “indulgence” is ironical for the modern-day audience. Prospero wants generosity and remission for his sins, even though he didn’t give Caliban remission for his sins. Therefore, for the Jacobean audience, Prospero was right to give up his magic as he has restored social hierarchy.

However, through a modern perspective the chain of being is not a recognised institution and therefore Prospero was not right to give up his magic. Through a post-colonial reading Prospero is illustrated as being a tyrannical oppressor who is “the dead of darkness”. Through a Freudian reading of Prospero’s mind this metaphor could be representing one of the three parts of Prospero’s mind. This metaphor could be portraying Prospero’s ID which represents Caliban and violence. Therefore, through a psychoanalytical reading it could be argued that even if Prospero tried to usurp himself off his magic he would ultimately fail. During Prospero’s monologue in the epilogue of the play, Prospero is still vengeful as he states that he has his “dukedom got”. Through a modern-day perspective, Prospero’s intentions of giving up magic are being questioned as he is still vengeful towards Antonio for usurping his dukedom. To add on, Prospero’s vengeance is also reflected at the beginning of act 5 when he refers to his magic as “my potent art”. The possessive determiner “my” signifies that Caliban is possessive over his magic. Therefore, the Jacobean audience is questioning whether Prospero’s intentions to stop using magic is real. Through a modern-day perspective, It could be argued that Prospero was not right to give up his use of magic, as he should have seeked vengeance from Antonio for usurping him off his Dukedom.
However, Shakespeare utilises the theme of oppression in order to imply that Prospero was right to give up his magic. Prospero's “charms are all o’erthrown” implying that he is asking for repentance. Shakespeare could also be implying that Prospero is sacrificing his magic like Jesus sacrificed himself for people's sins. In Prospero’s monologue during the epilogue of the play, Shakespeare has utilised rhyming couplets like “sails” and “fails”. These rhyming couplets could be backshadowing Prospero’s past mistakes. The Jacobean audience is forced to notice how similar Prospero’s language is to Ariel. Perhaps, Shakespeare is trying to create a parallel between Ariel and Prospero. Prospero is now in the “bare island” by “spell”, similar to Ariel who was also confined in the island by Prospero. Through a post-colonial reading it could be argued that Prospero’s decision to give up his magic and ask for repentance is justified as he is setting free Caliban and Ariel who he had enslaved. The theme of oppression and slavery was commonly utilised in ‘The Tempest’ through Prospero as he would inflict “stiches” and “pinch” Caliban. These aggressive verbs used by Prospero in act 1 contrasts with the Prospero illustrated in act 5 who is seeking repentance. In the 2011 South African production of the play, Caliban was presented as using crutches. However, at the end of the play Caliban is able to get free of his crutches which hints that he has gained liberty. Therefore, it is evident that Prospero was right in giving up his magic.

Moreover, though a modern-day perspective Prospero should not give up his use of magic since then he will set Caliban free. Shakespeare uses the theme of slavery to represent that Prospero is using his magical ability as a tool for his colonial oppression over Caliban. In Act 1 Caliban utilises the aggressive verbs “blister” and “blow” in order to curse Prospero for treating him like a “tortoise”. Shakespeare uses animalistic imagery to portray Caliban as being an abnormal outsider. Through a Marxist reading, it could be argued that Prospero treats Caliban as an “abhorred slave” due to his social hierarchy. During the Jacobean era due to the popularity of the chain of being Caliban would have been treated like a “poisonous slave”. The motif of the noun “slave” conveys the immense inequality in power between both protagonists. However, it must be acknowledged that social hierarchy does not play a role in Prospero’s treatment of Caliban. In act 1 Prospero treated Caliban like a “moon-calf” because he had attempted to “violate the honour” of Miranda. Therefore, through a modern perspective it could be argued that Prospero should not give up his magic and instead use it to punish Caliban.

To conclude, it must be acknowledged that Prospero was right to give up his magic. Even though, Prospero could have seeked vengeance from Antonio and Caliban, it must be understood that Prospero was just as wrong for using his magic against people.