William Shakespeare's The Tempest - Comprehensive Study Notes

Knowledge vs. Authority during the storm in Act 1, Scene 1

The storm serves as an equalizer, showcasing the Boatswain's practical expertise as more vital than the aristocratic privilege of kings, who are rendered powerless against nature.

Epistemic Chaos in Act 1, Scene 1

This refers to the discrepancy between the perceived knowledge of the shipwrecked nobles (who believe they face imminent death from a natural storm) and the actual knowledge (that Prospero supernaturally engineered the storm, a truth the audience soon learns).

Prospero's books in Act 1, Scene 2

They are the tangible foundation of his magical knowledge and authority on the island. While devotion to private study initially cost him the Dukedom of Milan, this 'book knowledge' later grants him control over Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda.

Knowledge as Manipulation (Prospero)

Prospero deliberately withholds information from Miranda, controlling how and when she learns about her past, and manipulates the perceptions of others through fabricated events like the opening storm to instill fear and enforce compliance.

Who knows what in Act 1, Scene 2?

Prospero knows everything; Miranda knows very little but trusts her father; and the shipwrecked nobles are completely oblivious to their location or