The Tempest Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is the meaning of The Tempest?
The Tempest is a storm.
Who is Antonio?
Antonio is Prospero’s brother and Duke of Milan
Who is Alonso?
He is the King of Naples
Who is Ferdinand?
He is the prince of Naples
Son of Alonso
Who is Sebastian?
He is Alonso’s young brother
Who is Gonzalo?
A loyal Neapolitan courtier and councilor to Alonso
Who is Stephano?
A butler on the Italian ship
Who is Trinculo?
A jester on the Italian ship
Who is Prospero?
He is the ruler of the island
Former Duke of Milan
Master of Ariel and Caliban
Who is Ariel?
An airy-spirit
Fairy-servient of Prospero
Who is Caliban?
Enslaved by Prospero
Son of Sycorax
Who is Miranda?
She is Prospero’s daughter
Lover of Ferdinand
Only female on the island
Who is Sycorax?
She is a witch and was banished from the city of Algiers in Algeria.
She was Ariel’s first master.
Why was Prospero banished?
Prospero focused more on studying magic than his duties as the Duke of Milan.
Antonio and Alonso conspired to assassinate him to make Antonio Duke of Naples but the assassination failed because Gonzalo warned Prospero of the plot and he helped Prospero and Miranda onto a rotting boat and then they landed on the island.
Why does Ariel work for Prospero?
Ariel well out of favor of Sycorax because he did not follow her orders. She imprisoned him in a cloven pine and he reminded in there for 12 years living in eternity of pain before Prospero set him free from his prison (tree), from then on Ariel owed Prospero.
Why does Caliban hate Prospero?
Caliban hates them because they took control over his island. This is ironic because both him and Prospero was violently pushed from the seat of power. Whereas Prospero was free but exiled, Caliban was enslaved in his own home.
Caliban resents the fact that he was first a free ruler of the island to a servant of a master.
He also resents Prospero for taking all his power.
Why does Caliban hate Miranda?
He resents the education Miranda has given him. Caliban sees her selflessness as an extension of Prospero’s imperialism (extending power).
He insists that the only good thing about learning her language is that he can express his hatred.
How does Prospero manipulate Alonso and his company?
Prospero commands his servant Ariel to present Alonso and his company with visions of splendor and horror. They are meant to keep the men disoriented (unable to think clearly). Ariel even puts the men to sleep in order to disorient them further. As long as they remain bewildered (deeply confused), Prospero can control their movements as he pleases.
The visions of splendor and horror are meant to break the men down emotionally and psychologically. This emotional breakdown is a crucial aspect of Prospero’s plan. Alonso must feel broken and defeated, so that when Prospero reveals that his son Ferdinand survived, the revelation will enable an genuine emotional resolution to their longstanding conflict.
Prospero uses magic both to get revenge and to secure his own salvation (being saved from sin).
Why does Prospero give up magic?
Magic is capable of great harm. Prospero’s obsessive study of magic is what cost him his dukedom. He tells himself that he will abandon magic when he manages to resolve his conflict with Alonso and Antonio and once he accomplishes his goal, he will abandon magic and rid himself of its corrupting influence for good.
