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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can't say this is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, but I can say that it's compelling for three reasons: 1) it's themes on revenge 2) the use of magic to magnify personal will and 3) the depiction of colonialism.
REVENGE. I can see why Prospero is upset about being outmaneuvered, but there are scenes in _The Tempest_ that make me thing "two wrongs don't make a right." Prospero can be downright mean and spiteful. There are some passages that display wisdom and maturity, but too many scenes show him seeking to hurt people. It's unsettling.
MAGIC. The use of magic can be fun to watch in stage / film productions. Ariel is particularly beguiling. However, much of the magic is employed as a way to magnify Prospero's will, which is sometimes motivated by good, but often motivated by ill. It's upsetting to watch him use his power to inflict emotional and physical pain.
COLONIALISM. Oh, this is particularly upsetting. Ariel is enslaved, which is bothersome, but because he's a magical creature, I am a little less upset by this than about Caliban's enslavement. Yes, Caliban is presented as a non-human, but there are so many markers that Caliban is created from accounts of African slaves and Carribean natives that I wince and writhe every time Caliban is on stage or spoken to or spoken about in the play. It's interesting to see that Shakespeare actually includes some criticism of slavery and colonialism in the play itself. Nevertheless, the play still does depict a lot of negative images and exploitative power relationships that support systemic racism. Gah! As a little post-script, I see some classicism in how Trunculo and Stephano are depicted--stupid, drunk fools who dream of having power (and who exploit Caliban as a way to vent their frustrations at being low on the totem pole in the class system of Europe). I'm not excusing their behavior, but it's part and parcel to the class system in which they are trapped.
I have seen and read this plays several times from the 1980s onward. However, in 2017 I reviewed this play in four ways: by watching a stage production (with a female lead as Prospera) at the University of Evansville in the fall, by reading Margaret Atwoods novel _Hagseed_ that is a modern adaptation of _The Tempest_ set in a Canadian prison, by (a long overdue) viewing of the 2010 film version _The Tempest_ starring Helen Mirren as Prospera, and by rereading the text.
There are a few scenes that are very enchanting: Miranda and Ferdinand declaring their (young, idealistic) love to each other, Caliban describing the beauties of the island, Prospero's two speeches at the end of the play about ending the revelries and breaking his charms. But the power struggles (raw ambition, plotting, revenge), the enslavement, the dehumanizing treatment of Caliban (and Ariel, too) makes each reading / viewing tension filled.
REVENGE. I can see why Prospero is upset about being outmaneuvered, but there are scenes in _The Tempest_ that make me thing "two wrongs don't make a right." Prospero can be downright mean and spiteful. There are some passages that display wisdom and maturity, but too many scenes show him seeking to hurt people. It's unsettling.
MAGIC. The use of magic can be fun to watch in stage / film productions. Ariel is particularly beguiling. However, much of the magic is employed as a way to magnify Prospero's will, which is sometimes motivated by good, but often motivated by ill. It's upsetting to watch him use his power to inflict emotional and physical pain.
COLONIALISM. Oh, this is particularly upsetting. Ariel is enslaved, which is bothersome, but because he's a magical creature, I am a little less upset by this than about Caliban's enslavement. Yes, Caliban is presented as a non-human, but there are so many markers that Caliban is created from accounts of African slaves and Carribean natives that I wince and writhe every time Caliban is on stage or spoken to or spoken about in the play. It's interesting to see that Shakespeare actually includes some criticism of slavery and colonialism in the play itself. Nevertheless, the play still does depict a lot of negative images and exploitative power relationships that support systemic racism. Gah! As a little post-script, I see some classicism in how Trunculo and Stephano are depicted--stupid, drunk fools who dream of having power (and who exploit Caliban as a way to vent their frustrations at being low on the totem pole in the class system of Europe). I'm not excusing their behavior, but it's part and parcel to the class system in which they are trapped.
I have seen and read this plays several times from the 1980s onward. However, in 2017 I reviewed this play in four ways: by watching a stage production (with a female lead as Prospera) at the University of Evansville in the fall, by reading Margaret Atwoods novel _Hagseed_ that is a modern adaptation of _The Tempest_ set in a Canadian prison, by (a long overdue) viewing of the 2010 film version _The Tempest_ starring Helen Mirren as Prospera, and by rereading the text.
There are a few scenes that are very enchanting: Miranda and Ferdinand declaring their (young, idealistic) love to each other, Caliban describing the beauties of the island, Prospero's two speeches at the end of the play about ending the revelries and breaking his charms. But the power struggles (raw ambition, plotting, revenge), the enslavement, the dehumanizing treatment of Caliban (and Ariel, too) makes each reading / viewing tension filled.
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-paced
Would be a 5/5 if I cared more about Caliban's wacky hi-jinks, but there's only so funny I find a bunch of drunk dudes talking in prose.
Yeah like fuck it up Shakespeare!!! Prospero is such an interesting character like it’s so unclear to me exactly how powerful he is but he’s also just this grumpy dude. Love the Caliban stuff, like was he born evil as Prospero claims or did Prospero hide all his darkness in Caliban? And Ariel is great obviously love me a sprite that was imprisoned in a tree and just goes around causing chaos, plus Ariel is air and water while Caliban is earth and fire ooooh. We are such things as dreams are made on!!!
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”
This play did not dilly dally. While it did have all 5 acts as per usual, the acts were very short, ranging from 1-3 scenes, most only having one scene, which didn't give much room for random scenes and side quests as in plays like As You Like It.
While it's not my favorite play of his, I do hold it near to my heart due to it's possible significance. Being Shakespeare last play, it feels to be a farewell in a sense, he knew it was his last. Especially Prospero's ending soliloquy during the epilogue.
"Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
[...]
As you from crimes would be pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free. (He exits)"
and we all appluad. But in all seriousness, as Prospero sets down the hat and lets the magic go, Shakespeares put the pen down, and leaves us with his works. The end.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nothing really happens. There are some very good lines because it is Shakespeare, but you might as well title the play “Prospero manipulates everyone and then repents at the end and everyone is happy”. Maybe I accept more tragedy from Shakespeare, because everything turning out alright after several people plot to kill each other is very odd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Colonisation
Minor: Rape