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The Tempest Comparative Essay

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Composers re-imagine texts to shine new meanings on notions explored in the hypotext. Differing contexts lead to new interpretations of aligned thematic concerns and enable texts to remain relevant to contemporary audiences. William Shakespeare’s Jacobean play The Tempest (1611) explores how one’s grief can be an impetus for revenge, which can ultimately lead to reconciliation. The Tempest was written during the Age of Discovery in response to colonialism, the Great Chain of Being, and Protestantism & Christian Humanism. Margaret Atwood’s prose-fiction novel Hag-seed (2016), innovates Shakespeare’s The Tempest to reflect the contemporary context of her time. Hag-seed was composed in our postmodern, electro-digital, secular society. Both Shakespeare …show more content…

they now are in my power”. Unlike Shakespeare, Atwood adapts Caliban from The Tempest and represents his character through the collective of the prisoners. Opposed to ‘monstrous’ Caliban, she depicts the prisoners as marginalised, “He refused to call them inmates”. As a human rights activist, Atwood alters the portrayal of Caliban-empowering minority groups. Prospero and Caliban’s relationship critically influences Atwood as she re-imagines the play within a prison, “Felix heads off to Fletcher Correctional”. Furthermore, Felix uses his production to enact revenge like Prospero, but to bring his daughter Miranda back to life using 3rd person limited narration, “his Miranda must be released from her coffin, she must be given a life. Second, he wanted revenge”. Her use of this device only allows the audience to view Felix’s opinion and version of events. HIs inability to let Miranda go keeps him imprisoned by himself, which becomes impetus for revenge. Thus, both authors posit how a desire for revenge can imprison an individual and others. Both authors posit how one can feel freed from grief through seeking

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Felix’s idolisation of Prospero is shown through the power dynamic between Felix and the Fletcher Correctional Players as Felix tries to replicate the dynamic and chooses to play Prospero in his production ‘The Tempest’, being both the director and actor. Through this he finds redemption within his art, acting and directing, aligning with ‘The Tempest’. "under these conditions I pardon all of you and we'll let bygones be bygones" Atwood’s use of idiom shows Felix’s relinquishment of power and putting it beside him. This collides with Prospero’s relinquishment of power because Felix puts conditions on his redemption which does not fully allow Felix to let go of his want for power and control therefore not possessing the full effects of the liberal arts theory that Shakespeare has shown in ‘The Tempest’ sparking a textual

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Composers can reimagine iconic texts as a way to reinforce their core themes and significantly challenge contextual norms. ‘Hag-seed’ written in 2016 by Margaret Atwood is a prose fiction novel that reimagines Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ through a modern-day lens, allowing audiences to connect and deepen their understanding of the original text in a more digestible way. As a modern female author, Atwood utilises redefined plotlines in her novel to embed relevant social commentaries, expressing the differing values and contexts between herself and Shakespeare. Atwood’s representation of the character Miranda better helps the audience understand the actions and motives of Miranda in the base text. The intentional similarities and differences

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1265 Words | 6 Pages

Self-Reliant or Submissive? Margaret Atwood retells the Shakespearean classic The Tempest in an exciting and engaging way. In Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood, Atwood gives life to a play written four hundred years ago in a way that readers can relate to the play. In Hag-Seed, Atwood writes about a grief-stricken man named Felix who tries to bring back his dead daughter by directing the play, The Tempest. In particular, he finds a special actor for Miranda named Anne-Marie.

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333 Words | 2 Pages

In “When in Doubt, It’s from Shakespeare”, the fifth chapter of Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster discusses the importance Shakespeare holds in today's literature, and how his work can be found in nearly every story. To begin, Foster states reasons for why writers frequently reference Shakespeare. Foster gives the example of Athol Fugard who is famous for his play “Master Harold” … and the Boys (1982). This intertextual play, which deals with racial problems from the 1950’s alludes to Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part II.

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625 Words | 3 Pages

Caliban is not only a slave to Prospero but to envy and concupiscence, which has turned his once human lifestyle into a quest to seek revenge. His monstrous nature broke out when he “didst seek to violate the honor of Miranda” (1.2-16 Shakespeare). After Caliban’s endeavor to ravish Miranda his true dark heart was revealed even further when he expresses “would it had been done! Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else, this isle with Caliban’s” (1.2-320) this shows that he has no contriteness for his unconsented sexual endeavors with Miranda. Caliban’s savage composed nature cannot be transmuted, but only tamed by his master.

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(607). He loves Miranda but just like a human he fears the rejection he might get from Miranda because of what he had tried to do. 3)Caliban is someone who wants a legacy and seeks to do it in the form of offspring. When he has his first appearance in the play, Prospero claims to Caliban that “In mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate The honor of my child” and Caliban replies by saying “Would’t had been done! Thou didst prevent me!”

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395 Words | 2 Pages

Unfortunately, Prospero, Caliban, and Antonio become revenge seekers, yet also fall victim to the violent desire of revenge. The basis of the play is built upon Prospero pursuing a long anticipated vengeance on his brother, and any other person who deceived him. Prospero is certainly a more complex character than the typical revenge motivated protagonist. Prior to being banished to the island, Prospero was exiled from his dukedom by his spiteful brother, Antonio. While Antonio and some other royal subjects are on a voyage, Prospero creates the tempest, which is a

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Through The Tempest, the author tells the story of Prospero’s revenge on the men who took his dukedom away and left him and his daughter to die. Throughout the book Prospero tortures and manipulates them until he has complete control over them. In Act 5, Prospero’s chooses to forgive them and in the meantime abandons his art which can be a sign of change in character. However, through triumph, not change, the author uses Prospero’s choices to reveal that his desires are for power and superiority.

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Shakespeare was a famous author and poet that wrote extremely well-known texts, such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.” Shakespeare lived during the Renaissance when art and science advanced and he was one of the major contributors to this historical period. “Shakespeare Influences the way we speak now” by Hephzibah Anderson, “William Shakespeare’s Impact on Theatre” by Octane, and “How Outrage Built Over a Shakespearean Depiction of Trump” by Sara Krulwich suggest that Shakespeare had a great influence on many aspects of society, such as the phrases we use, style of theater, and is a figure of inspiration to many people. Shakespeare has contributed to many well-known phrases that are still used to this day, showing his significance in history.

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881 Words | 4 Pages

The Tempest can be seen as a play about reconciliation, forgiveness, and mercy. However, while it is clear that the theme of forgiveness is at the heart of the drama, it is unclear to what extent mercy is given. An examination of Caliban and Ariel and their representations of Prospero’s struggle illustrates that there is little, if any, true forgiveness and reconciliation in The Tempest. Prospero’s actions from the beginning of the play seem to contradict his ultimate aim to forgive those of have wronged him. Prospero seizes the opportunity for revenge with the help of his magic and good fortune.

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2448 Words | 10 Pages

Unlike Shakespeare’s other main characters, he is much more enigmatic. In they play Prospero is portrayed as the rogue who seeks revenge on his brother Antonio for his treachery. In this Shakespearean comedy it becomes clear that Prospero is the heart of power on the island. Evidently Prospero has been wronged by his brother’s usurping which he could not control and now uses his magic as a tool for controlling the events that occur on island throughout the play. The theme of power in this play is hugely significant as it clear that the violence interrogated in this play is in relation to power and the abuse of that power by the protagonist.

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738 Words | 3 Pages

In the twenty-first century, the plays of William Shakespeare may at first appear dated and irrelevant: they use archaic language, are set in the age of Kings and Queens, and the Kingdom of England. However, it would be plainly mistaken to construe that Shakespeare’s works do not still remain integral to a twenty-first century society. Shakespeare’s plays gave the words and expressions one uses every day, revolutionized the art of theater as it was known, and forewarned about issues that would unknowingly still apply centuries later. Therefore, Shakespeare has had a profound effect on our lives by enriching our language and culture, as well as providing ideas that would still apply five centuries later, and it would thus behoove us to learn from his works and life.

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1777 Words | 8 Pages

Despite being written a long time ago, readers in this day and age can still relate to the themes and characters. Each reader can find something that appeals to them. Shakespeare’s and Jonson’s works are evidence that there is no one definition of great literature. Even though they didn’t have the same approach or use the same techniques, they are both perfect and their works are jewels that need to be cherished in years to

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1123 Words | 5 Pages

In comparison, the inconsistency between diction depicts the power dynamics observed in the play. Shakespeare often uses Prospero’s servant, Ariel and slave, Caliban to portray the differences in the hierarchy of the play. As observed by the audience Prospero often uses threats and insults to communicate and assign task to Caliban, hence “...tonight thou shalt have cramps, side stitches that shall pen thy breath up. ”(I.ii.325-326) Prospero threatens Caliban with pain after his refusal to do work, because he feels as if the isle belongs to him due to the fact that it was inhabited by his mother first.

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