The Tempest
Mixed Feelings
Discussion Questions
What does Alonso think happened to Ferdinand?
Alonso thinks that Ferdinand drowned.
Why isn't Prospero going to kill Alonso?
He isn't going to kill Alonso because he wants him to punish him worse than killing him
"Do pronounce by me lingering perdition, worse than any death can be at once," (Shakespeare 27).
Why does Ariel confront Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian?
"ARIEL
(to ALONSO, ANTONIO, and SEBASTIAN )
You are three men of sin, whom Destiny,
That hath to instrument this lower world
And what is in ’t, the never-surfeited sea
Hath caused to belch up you—and on this island
Where man doth not inhabit, you ’mongst men
Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad,
And even with suchlike valor men hang and drown
Their proper selves. (some of the courtiers draw their swords)
You fools, I and my fellows
Are ministers of fate. The elements
Of whom your swords are tempered may as well
Wound the loud winds or with bemocked-at stabs
Kill the still-closing waters as diminish
One dowl that’s in my plume. My fellow ministers
Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt,
Your swords are now too massy for your strengths
And will not be uplifted. But remember—
For that’s my business to you—that you three
From Milan did supplant good Prospero,
Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it,
Him and his innocent child. For which foul deed
The powers—delaying, not forgetting—have
Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures,
Against your peace.—Thee of thy son, Alonso,
They have bereft, and do pronounce by me
Lingering perdition, worse than any death
Can be at once, shall step by step attend
You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from—
Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls
Upon your heads—is nothing but hearts' sorrow
And a clear life ensuing." (Shakespeare 27)
ARIEL
(to ALONSO, ANTONIO, and SEBASTIAN) The three of you are sinners, and Destiny made the sea belch you up onto this island—where no men live, since none of you deserve to live. I’ve driven you crazy, and many mad people are driven to kill themselves in desperation.(some of the courtiers draw their swords) Listen, you fools, my fellow
HARPIES
A harpy is a mythological creature with a woman’s face and breasts and the wings and claws of a bird. Shakespeare apparently intended to have Ariel appear together with two other harpies.
harpies and I carry out Fate’s orders. Your swords are useless against us—you’d be more successful swinging them at the empty air, or stabbing at water, than trying to cut off even one of my feathers. My two companions are just as invulnerable as I am. Even if you had the power to hurt us, you’d find your swords far too heavy to lift. But remember—and it’s my job to remind you of this—that in Milan the three of you stole Prospero’s throne and threw him and his innocent child into the sea, which has now taken revenge on you. To punish you for this horrible crime, the higher powers—delaying their punishment, not forgetting about it—have stirred up the seas and all the creatures of earth against you.—They’ve taken your only son from you, Alonso, and they’ve ordered me to destroy you slowly, in a way worse than sudden death could ever be. I’ll stay with you every step of your way. The only way to protect yourselves from the angry higher powers—which are ready to fall upon your head on this empty island—is for you to be sincerely sorry in your hearts for what you’ve done, and to live innocent lives from this time forward.Character Analysis
Alonso
Hopeless:
"Even here I will put off my hope and keep it no longer for my flatterer." (Shakespeare 26).
Optimistic:
I will stand to and feed,
Although my last. No matter, since I feel
The best is past. Brother, my lord the duke,
Stand to and do as we. (Shakespeare 2?)
Gonzalo:
Aging:
"(to ALONSO) By 'r lakin, I can go no further, sir.
My old bones ache. Here’s a maze trod indeed
Through forthrights and meanders. By your patience,
I needs must rest me." (Shakespeare 26)
Assuring:
"Gonzalo: Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dewlapped like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
Wallets of flesh, or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts?—which now we find
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of." (Shakespeare 2?)
Translation: I assure you, sir, there’s nothing to be afraid of. When we were boys, who’d believe that there were mountain people with rolls of skin around their necks, with their throats hanging down? Or that there were men with heads in their chests?—Nowadays travelers commonly report that these things exist.
Antonio:
Impatient, Eager:
"Let it be tonight,
For now they are oppressed with travel. They
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they are fresh." (Shakespeare 2?)
Ariel:
Valorous:
"You fools! I and my fellows are ministers of fate: the elements, of whom your swords are temeper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds,or with bemocke'd-at stabs kill the still-closing waters, as diminish one dowle that's in my plum: my fellow-ministers are like invulnerable."(Shakespeare 27).
Translation:
Prospero:
Happy-
"My high charms work and theses mine enemies are all knit up in their distractions; they now are in my power; and in these fits I leave them " (Shakespeare 27).
Theme
For the them I chose "It is right to manipulate others to get your way of wishes."
I chose this theme for the climax of the play Act 3 scene 3 because in this section Ariel uses soft music, shadows in the sky, and a banquet of food in a attempt to manipulate Gonzalo, Alonso, and Sebastion into apologizing for there sin and to live a innocent life.
The quest for power is worth it, no matter the cost.
"ANTONIO
(aside to SEBASTIAN) I am right glad that he’s so out of hope.
Do not for one repulse forego the purpose
That you resolved t' effect.
SEBASTIAN
(aside to ANTONIO) The next advantage
Will we take throughly.
ANTONIO
(aside to SEBASTIAN) Let it be tonight,
For now they are oppressed with travel. They
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they are fresh." (Shakespeare 26)
Human interaction is needed in order to survive.
"Enter several strange shapes, bringing in a banquet They dance about it with gentle actions of salutations, and, inviting the king and the others to eat, they depart
ALONSO
Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?" (Shakespeare 26)