Act 2, Scene 2 - Caliban, Stephano and Triculo

Caliban

• Anger at treatment (especially in the film)
• Tormented - helps us to feel sympathy at his position
• Funny - comes from laughing at him at his idiotic, drunk, clumsiness - basic, low level, comedy, base comedy
• Reacts with awe to the new comes
• Motivated to get away from Prospero with hopes of them protecting him

Stephano and Trinculo

• Mock Caliban, laugh at him, trick him
• Want to exploit him
• => Exhibiting strange looking people as freaks was common
• Stephano says "we will inherit here" - want power

Act 1 Scene 2 - Miranda and Ferdinand

Miranda and Ferdinand - Line 375 - end of scene


Ferdinand - vulnerable, sympathy, attractive, young, lost, confused, alone - creates sympathy


Song - eerie, creates tension, other worldly, hypnotic, magical


Reaction to the island

• Ferdinand is in awe doesn't see it as hostile
• The island changes depending on who you are

Prospero wants them to get together and then stops it

• "They are both in either’s powers, but this swift business
  I must uneasy make lest too light winning
  Make the prize light."
• Adds value - makes them want to do it even more
• Adds suspense, tension, conflict

"I might call him a thing divine..."
=> Naivety - curious, hypnotised by him


"It goes on as my soul prompts it."
=> Not entirely natural - staged


"At first sight they have changed eyes."
=> Congratulates Ariel as if has something to do with it


Checking her virginity - confident of himself


"There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple."
=> Naïve, shallow, childlike innocence


"Space enough have I in such a prison"
=> Hyperbole of love

Act 1 Scene 2 - Caliban, Prospero and Miranda

Caliban, Prospero and Miranda - line 321 - line 375


We hear the backstory - fill in their relationship

• The relationship changed at the rape
• Miranda is scared of Caliban
• 2 sides of the story
• No respect
• Doesn't like it when Prospero makes him feel small

Nature nuture

• Influence of inherited
• Big question at the time
• Arguments for colonising - civilise them teach them - improve their lives

Sympathy for him but also disgust as he refuses to repent the rape - animalistic, can't control lust

"For this be sure thou shalt have cramps."
=> Only the magic, violence and threats that allows Prospero to have control




"Poisonous slave" - insults Caliban


"You taught me language and my profit on't is I know how to curse"


"I had peopled else the isle with Calibans" - Motivation for rape - sympathy but also disgust and abhorrence




"Woud't had been done!"


"I must obey; his art is of such power"

Setting, symbolism and magic

What we lose as a modern day audience

• Jacobean audience wouldn't have expected things and attitudes we take for granted
• Different ideas of self the relationship between countries and their colonies and what constitutes a good government
• Jacobeans would not have taken the negative view of Prospero
• Jacobeans would have recognised things

The Island

• The heath where Lear is put
• The heath where Henry VI wanders and finds understanding
• The wood from a midsummer nights dream where everyone loses and finds themselves
• The wood in as you like it
• The wood of medieval romance and self discovery
• Anything can happen and you come out changed
• Gonzalo says "people didn't know each other and know they know themselves"

The names

• People would have known a bit of Latin
• Prospero - look for, hope for the future - optimistic
• Miranda - that which should be wondered at - miraculous, marvellous
• Ariel - connected with air
• Caliban - anagram of cannibal

Prospero's history

• A failed ruler who failed - like Lear - by concentrating too much on what he wanted rather than the good of the country
• Unlike Lear Prospero gets a second chance to learn what power is and what it costs

Magus

• Jacobean audience would have recognised Prosper as a Magus
• Not just magic
• The art of understanding this universe both spiritually and materially
• Achieves this power through study and prayer and holiness
• Can manipulate forces to help God
• Magus include - Elias Ashmole, Sir Issac Newton
• Goetia different as it is magic for the self
• Magus work not for themselves but for the greater good
• Jacobean audience would have been familiar with the discipline

Elements

• Caliban earth
• Ariel - air
• Ferdinand and Caliban both carrying logs - fire
• Surrounded by water