Shakespeare's The Tempest and Atwood's Hag-Seed Comparison

A series of flashcards summarizing key concepts comparing Shakespeare's The Tempest and Atwood's Hag-Seed.

Thesis

Shakespeare’s The Tempest reflects Jacobean values of patriarchy, colonial power, and divine authority, while Atwood’s Hag-Seed reframes these ideas for a modern audience.

Gendered Agency

Shakespeare reinforces Jacobean patriarchy; Atwood challenges it with contemporary female autonomy.

Caliban

A colonized subject in The Tempest; symbolizes dispossession and dehumanization.

Miranda

Shakespeare’s character representing obedience and control within a patriarchal society.

Prison Marginalization

Atwood uses the modern prison system to reflect themes of agency and resilience.

Psychological Healing

Atwood frames forgiveness as a personal journey rather than a public moral duty, emphasizing internal liberation.

Aphorism in The Tempest

“The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance”, signifies Jacobean morality.

Rough Magic

A term used by Shakespeare to depict violent retribution in The Tempest.

Intertextual Dialogue

The conversation between texts; Atwood critiques and echoes Shakespeare through Hag-Seed.

Fragmentation of Identity

Atwood reveals how inmates relate to Caliban’s experiences of exclusion.