I love this story, and re-reading it for class reminds me of
the bitterness that I have for not being able to see it in Central Park earlier
this year, but anyways…
In regards to this class and what we have thus far
understood magic to represent—demons, crazy women and witches, among other
things—Prospero and his experience with magic is refreshing. Surely, his
interest in magic has implications, hence the life on an island, but
Shakespeare seems to be less focused on the demonic implications of magic, and more
so the abilities of the art of magic. Nevertheless, Miranda refers to her father’s
magic as “his art,” but contextually she is referencing this art as something
negative: the storm is hurting these men and she cannot understand why, saying “If
by your art...you have/ Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them/…I have
suffered/ With those that I saw suffer!” (1.2.1-6). Prospero, though, has
control over the situation, almost like a director orchestrating a dangerous
scene for a film—a car crash or even an explosion—where he or she knows that
the situation is under control, and that the people are safe. It is a new idea
of a magician that Shakespeare is portraying. Doubled with the idea that this
is a father, who cares for his daughter, and appears to have been protecting
her from the pain of his personal experience with magic and the people on the
ship.
We are reminded though, of the negative forms of magic, but
it appears that they are represented as evil in the play as well—the “foul
witch Sycorax” (1.2.309). She is exactly what the people from pretty much every
text in the anthology would hang by the stake and kill, and she also appeals to
pretty much every modern negative connotation and association of witches. She
is portrayed as a hag, evil and has an almost deranged quality that, by nature,
Shakespeare’s audiences knows to dislike and distrust her. Even outside of what
we learn about Sycorax, we know that she is no good, simply because of what we
know about witches. At least for myself, ignoring what I already know about this
play, I imagine that one must be concerned about what to think of Prospero. Is
he the opposite of Sycorax on the witchy-evil spectrum, or is he just as bad, taking
Ariel as a servant. Considering he essentially stole the island from Caliban
and his mother, I am not entirely sure.
Also, I loved this.
Maybe you will too!
Great post. Amazing pic and entertaining video. I think you are so right. The book easily portrays the classic expected image of a witch. I do want to mention that they present Prospero as this fallen man, who rebuilt himself and is all powerful. He isn't described as hideous or foul like traditional witches. His magic is powerful, growing, mysterious. As we read on, Prospero lurks in the background cloaked by magic, I can assume. He resembles the male version of magic with its mightiness causing a storm and what not.
ReplyDeleteI have also been pondering the question of whether Prospero is good or bad. I feel it is too early in the play to condemn him as one or the other. He obviously cares very much for his daughter, but seeks revenge on the men who overthrew him as a Duke. Yet, his controlling demeanor and keeping of Ariel and Caliban doesn’t throw some shade his way. Prospero is not innocent and his methods could be considered sinister. I have also started to notice the irony of his name being Prospero when he has not been very prosperous lately. Instead of reveling in his dukedom, Prospero is living on a desolate island away from everyone. His saving grace and comfort is his magic and possibly his daughter. Yet, I believe his magic is what he will come to prize most in the end as seeing he possessed it before Miranda was born.
ReplyDeleteI like Nicole, have been exposed to the Tempest before. As Nicole writes, the Tempest does bring us back to the manipulative magic feared by Kramer and Sprenger. After being overthrown as duke, it seems that Prospero's always got a plan. Through the use of magic Prospero regains some of the control he used to have. He enslaves Caliban and takes over the island that he inhabits. While this very much reminds me of European imperialism, I, like Kassy, cannot say for certain whether Prospero is good or bad.
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