Themes: Magic

Magic is a central theme in The Tempest, shaping almost every event in the play and giving it a fairy tale-like atmosphere. It's essential to note that during Shakespeare's time, magic was perceived much more seriously than it is now. Renaissance thinkers, such as Henry Cornelius Agrippa—whose works Shakespeare might have been familiar with—were knowledgeable about magic and wrote extensively on its various sources of power. Essentially,...

Themes: Order and Structure

For centuries, critics have been deeply interested in the structure of The Tempest. They have observed that, unlike his typical style, Shakespeare adhered closely to the classical unities of time and space in this play. The entire storyline takes place on Prospero's tropical island, featuring characters such as Miranda, Ariel, and Caliban, and unfolds over just a few hours—roughly the same duration as a theatrical performance of The Tempest. The...

Themes: Music and the Masque

The Tempestis distinguished as one of Shakespeare's most musical plays, featuring a greater number of songs and melodies than any of his other works. A significant portion of this music is presented through Ariel's songs, which are scattered throughout the play. Furthermore, music is integral to the betrothal masque that Prospero orchestrates to honor the love between Miranda and Ferdinand. In Shakespeare's time, music was frequently associated...

Themes: Illusion vs. Reality

Witnessing a banquet complete with sprites and the shapes of unicorns, Gonzalo says: "If in Naples, I should report this now, would they believe me?" (III.iii.27-28). His sentiments are echoed by reformed King Alonso in his final word on Prospero's island and magical art:

This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod;
And there is in this business more than nature
Was ever conduct of: some oracle
Must rectify our knowledge.
(V.i.241-244)

In The Tempest

Themes: Theatricality and Art

The Tempestis above all theater, a show in which Prospero presents the audience with a series of shows. In the midst of the proceedings, Prospero says to his actor Ariel, "Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou / Perform'd, my Ariel, a grace it had …" (III.iii.81-82). Shakespeare's last play is self-consciously theatrical, and as its internal author tells us, it is evidently about the theater itself. In the sole scene of Act IV, unable to...

Themes: Art vs. Nature

Here we note a related opposition in the play between Art or civilization, on the one hand, and Nature, or anarchic instinct, on the other. Following out one line of analysis, many scholars have noted that a passage from the French philosopher Montaigne's essay "On Cannibals" is echoed in Gonzalo's ideal commonwealth speech (Act II, scene i, 143-164), in which he says that were he the ruler of an ideal society, he would "execute all things," with...

Themes: Human Nature

The overarching thematic issue that Shakespeare presents to us in The Tempestis the question of what is human. The subject surfaces prominently in the text. When Miranda first sees Ferdinand being led to Prospero's cell by the enchantments of Ariel, she exclaims: "What is't? a spirit? / Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, / It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit. (I.ii.410-412). Immediately thereafter, Ferdinand responds to Prospero's...

Themes: Colonialism

The Tempestexplores the theme of colonialism through the interactions between Prospero and the island's original inhabitants, Ariel and Caliban. Written during a time of European colonial expansion, the play reflects the dynamics of power, control, and resistance that characterized the colonization of the New World. Prospero's domination over the island and its inhabitants mirrors the European colonizers' control over indigenous peoples, while...

Themes: Power

Power is a central theme in The Tempest, manifesting through control, dominance, and authority. Prospero, the protagonist, wields significant power over the island and its inhabitants, reflecting both the potential for benevolent leadership and the dangers of tyranny. The play explores the dynamics of power through Prospero's interactions with other characters, the usurpation he experienced, and the eventual relinquishment of his magical authority.

Themes: Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a central theme in The Tempest, where it serves as a transformative force for the characters, particularly Prospero. Initially driven by a desire for revenge against those who wronged him, Prospero ultimately chooses forgiveness, which leads to personal peace and reconciliation. This theme is explored through Prospero's interactions with other characters and his eventual decision to forgive his enemies, illustrating the power and...