The Tempest Group

Question:

luke-8
luke-8
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In Act 5, Scene 1, lines 1-104, what differences are there between the way Prospero and Ariel use language?

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Posted by luke-8 on Sunday April 8, 2007 at 1:33 PM and tagged with ariel, character analysis, propsero, tempest, the tempest.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    The most obvious differences relate to their relative power relations. Prospero asks; Ariel answers. Even when Ariel is trying to remind Prospero of his obligations to free Ariel, there is a hesitancy.

    A related difference is that Ariel speaks to Prospero, while Prospero speaks to Ariel, the world, and perhaps a host of other invisible spirits.

    If we turn to content, Ariel, while descriptive, focuses on the tasks at hand, and is more precise. Prospero, by contrast, refers to a much wider range of activities, discussing all of his many activities. Ariel focuses on the present; Prospero discusses power, and reflects on the past.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/tempest/

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    Posted by gbeatty on Tuesday April 10, 2007 at 11:50 AM