Themes In William Shakespeare’s "The Tempest"

The Tempest has a blend of excellent personas, fascinating milieu and an excellent plot lineally supported by various themes like for example magic, absolution, and kindness, colonialism, betrayal, racism, religion just to mention a few. The purpose of this essay is to the themes of magic, absolution and kindness and colonialism. The theme of magic; an intense analysis of the themes reveals that in the 16th century, the subject of magic was significant as it involved life and death to both specialist and victims.

There existed two versions of magic in The Tempest – a destructive version that was depicted by wizards and witches who auctioned their souls to the infamous devil faith and those who were controlled by him to do evil on victims. The other version was a benevolent one, obtained from training and practice in the occult and was utilized for uncovering of resent forces and researching of advanced powers into the physical and other scientific studies. An example in the play is depicted in a contrasting manner – that which the witch Sycorax shadily possessed and the one Prospero had, one that was enhanced entirely.

Sycorax alliance with the devil in return for powers over air and its indestructibility and rapidness of movement, but her wicked work led to her being banished and killed. Prospero on the other hand only solicited his mental intellect to attain extraordinary powers. Prior to having adequate training, he lacked wisdom which indirectly led to him being banished, but later in the Island, he gained total control over air and extraordinary expertise. He only utilized them to do well – restoring himself to the throne, his daughter’s wellbeing, Alonso’s repentance and disciplining the unruly. The features of magic Prospero used vary from books about magic, wand and the robe.

Although he himself never manifest invisibly, he frequently puts on the robe depending on whether he had work to do as either a magician or simple man. His wand is not regularly mentioned; (The Tempest 1.2. 27-29) 'Tis time I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand and pluck my magic garment from me. So, Lie there, my art. – Wipe thou thine eyes. Have comfort. His cloak shows his power over human beings, his wand represents a tool of power, and the books represent his mystic mastery. Summoning Ariel the spirit could be categorized as fire – which were awakened in lightning and is the types Ariel took in the fire on the poles and to rig the ship, and the will-o– the wisps used to torment Caliban, the air, earth, and water – with the water spirits that manifested in the Naiads and elves of the brooks and narrow rivers who attended the masque.

Another form of magic Prospero used alone or with Ariel’s help is in a worldly presentation like for example the creation and vanishing of the banquet, the strands of the sparkly garment, the entry, and dancing of the Reapers and the enchanting ring in which charmed the courtiers. Another key theme in The Tempest is absolution and liberation; the Duke of Milan, Prospero was grievously wronged by Antonio and even exiled along with Miranda who was then the compassionate and kind Gonzalo later saved an infant. He arrived on an island that was ruled by the witch Sycorax. He liberated Ariel from his torture of being imprisoned in a split oak tree and made him his assistant in supernatural matters.

When Prospero gets a chance to get his revenge on King Alonso, he instead forgives him. He also pardons Sebastian and the intoxicated Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano who conspired against him if they returned the stolen trumpery and decorated his cell nicely. Shakespeare acknowledged that living a full life required one to be able to accept and/or offer forgiveness, Prospero’s conduct is a discourse on the virtuous honesty that is nobler than exacting revenge. Happiness in life is achieved by honest pardon and not vicious retribution.

The theme of Freedom; the theme of freedom is also present as it is Ariel's essence of life, the air spirit. He is thankful to Prospero –for liberating him from torture in the split tree where he had been confined by with Sycorax. Ariel languishes on Prospero’s promise of eternal freedom after he is has fulfilled his mission. Ariel serves and obeys Prospero with no complains and does some work that he finds s repugnant because of the promise of liberation and at the conclusion of the play when his work is fulfilled, and Prospero is satisfied he gets his freedom. Ariel: I prithee, Remember I have done thee worthy service; Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise To bate me a full year. Prospero: Dost thou forget From what a torment I did free thee? (The Tempest 1.2.295-300). Caliban, Sycorax Son, views service as donkey work, and he is bitter and utters profanities towards Prospero for denying him the Island - his deserved birthright after his mother’s demise.

Despite being gravely punished for his profanities, he is not apologetic and keeps on insulting Prospero because he held that the Island belonged to him. His desire for liberation for slavery leads him to conspire with Stephano and Trinculo in attempts to dethrone Prospero. He later realizes his mistake and later acknowledges that slavery under Prospero was beneficent compared to the freedom that Stephano had promised him. Ferdinand refuses to undergo “wooden slavery” in his native country, but he is reunited to his people as he is serving Miranda.it makes his work easier as he finds liberation in service and no longer resents it. Miranda, given her inherent virtue, volunteers to work on his behalf because he loves him. They are both hitched to one another servitude and slavery gets liberated and unite in love.

The theme of colonialism; (The Tempest 1.2) The Tempest is understood as a theater piece about colonialism mainly because of several elements- Prospero arrives at the Island ruled by Sycorax, overpowers her, takes over rulership of the land and forces his culture to the natives of the land. He displaces natives and exalts himself at the top of things – he succeeds Sycorax and treats her inhumanly, he gets total control over the Island, enslaves Caliban and calls him a thing of darkness. This depicts the colonizer's perception of the native people they colonized.

The same way Caliban is viewed as detestable is the same way the whites perceived people of color while they hold that they are more superior to natives. Caliban receives inferior treatment. Prospero used terms like light, wisdom, and knowledge referring to himself while he used terms like elemental, darkness when describing Caliban. This double-edged opposition depicts how Prospero as the colonized and creates nature of the colonized natives. Prospero perceives himself as a monarch ruler executing civilization. Seen in the ways light eliminates darkness, ignorance is dispelled by knowledge. As a colonizer, Prospero teaches Caliban unsuccessfully. The mission of civilization goes hand in hand with the politics of power over the colonized natives.

Work Cited:

Shakespeare, William, Barbara A Mowat, Paul Werstine, and Folger Shakespeare Library. “The Tempest”. Simon & Schuster Paperback edition. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2016.