The Tempest Key Quotes

A Romance Play

What type of Shakespearean play is The Tempest?

"All lost!"

The Mariners are unable to control anything during the storm. (Act I)

"to prayers"

The Mariners are very religious during this moment of chaos. (Act I)

"Yet again? What do you here?" and "Work you then"

The Boatswain has knowledge power over the other characters during the tempest. (Act I)

"Let's take leave of him."

Sebastian's disloyalty to his brother, Alonso, the King of Naples is established . (Act I)

Gonzalo

Who tells Antonio and Sebastian that they should "assist them" in regards to the King and Prince's prayers? (Act I)

They are "at prayers"

What are the Alonso and Ferdinand doing in Act I?

Antonio

Who says "I am less afraid to be drowned than thou art"? This reflects their view of how wealth gives them power.

"Stand fast, good Fate."

Gonzalo's religious belief separates him from the other godless noblemen.

Act 1

The Act in Shakespearean comedies in which personal identity and social hierarchy is often lost or reversed

Act 5

The Act in Shakespearean comedies in which personal identity and social hierarchy is restored, often through a party or a wedding

Becoming tragedies

Something Shakespeare’s romance comedies all have the potential of

“I have suffered with those that I saw suffer”

“the cry did knock/ Against my very heart”

Miranda’s introduction as kind and caring

“Had I been a god of power”

Miranda wonders about power in Act I Scene II

“no harm done”

Prospero’s response to Miranda’s concern in Act I Scene II

“I have done nothing but in care of thee”

Prospero and Miranda’s protective relationship in Act I Scene II

“pluck my magic garment from me”

Prospero’s clothes have power in Act I Scene II

“perished”, “souls”, “compassion”, “god of power”. “piteous”, “perdition”

Lexical field of religion Act I Scene II

“liberal arts”, “secret studies”

Lexical field of magic Act I Scene II

“The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed ‘em”

Pride and status Act I Scene II

“set all hearts i’ th’ state/ To whatever tune pleased his ear”

“ivy”

“master of a full poor cell”

“false brother”, “evil nature”

Antonio stole Prospero’s position

“Me, poor man”

Prospero sees himself as a victim

“my books… which I prize above my dukedom”

Prospero was a poor ruler

“To answer thy best pleasure”

Ariel willingly submits to Prospero in Act I Scene II

“Hell is empty,/ And all the devils are here”

Ariel’s view in Act I Scene II

“still-vexed Bermoothes”

The Bermudas, links to colonialism

“My liberty”

Ariel’s goal for the play

“malignant thing”, “she \[Sycorax\] did litter here”, “whelp”

Prospero dehumanises Caliban in Act I Scene II

“They being penitent/ The sole drift of my purpose”

Prospero being seen as God offering forgiveness

Shakespearean tragedy written in 1603

Othello

From Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”

Shylock

Christopher Marlowe’s play, includes magic

Dr Faustus

“You taught me language… I know how to curse”

Caliban is defiant of Prospero in Act I

“He does fetch our fire”

Caliban is used as a slave

“tortoise”, “abhorrd”, “filth”, “poisonous”, “villain”, “devil”

Caliban is further dehumanised in Act I Scene II

“This island’s mine, by Sycorax, my mother”

Caliban feels ownership over the island

“I loved thee”

Caliban and Prospero’s complicated relationship

“Mine would, sir, were I human”

Ariel as Prospero’s conscience

“I’ll drown my book”

“I’ll break my staff”

Prospero gives up his magic

“my modesty/ The jewel in my dower”

Miranda recognises the power of her virginity

“I had peopled else/ This isle with Calibans”

Caliban’s view of Miranda

“some defect in her/ Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed”

Ferdinand’s view of women

“many a lady/ I have eyed with best regard”

“I lik’d several women”

The double standard between Ferdinand and Miranda

“So perfect and so peerless”

Ferdinand’s idolisation of Miranda

“dare not offer/ What I desire to give, and much less take/ What I shall die to want.”

“bashful cunning”

Miranda cannot openly express her desires

“I am your wife, if you will marry me;/ If not, I’ll die your maid”

“I’ll be your servant”

Miranda’s loyalty in Act III Scene I

“How beauteous mankind is”

“O brave new world”

Miranda’s naivety in Act V

“luggage” and “trash”

Caliban’s view of Prospero’s power (through his clothes")

“monster”, “moondog”, “servant-monster”, “foot-licker”, “puppy headed”

Ways Caliban is described throughout the play

“not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver” -Trinculo

“he’s a present for any emperor” - Stephano

Trinculo and Stephano aim to exploit Caliban

“You taught me language. and my profit on ‘t/ Is, I know how to curse”

Caliban is openly defiant to Prospero

“Kiss the book”

Stephano uses alcohol to control Caliban

“I’ll kiss thy foot. I’ll swear myself thy subject”

Caliban imposes himself in a subordinate role

“a plain fish and no doubt marketable”

Antonio discusses Caliban’s exploitation

“my charms I’ll break”

Prospero releases the nobles in Act V