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The Tempest Comparative Essay

1205 Words5 Pages

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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