Concetti Chiave
- The setting is a ship and an island in the Mediterranean, making it a theatrical stage for magical events.
- Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, uses his magic for good and ultimately chooses forgiveness over revenge.
- Ariel is a swift spirit, formerly imprisoned by the witch Sycorax, who serves Prospero after being freed.
- Caliban, native to the island and son of Sycorax, represents the conflict between civilization and primal instincts.
- The Tempest explores themes of forgiveness, theatrical magic, and a caution against English colonial ambitions.
The settings are a ship and an island, and the action takes place in three hours. The island may be located somewhere in the Mediterranean since the King of Naples were travelling between Naples and Tunis when the storm hit them. So it is away from national claimsand and this makes it theatrical, the ideal stage for a series of magical occurrences. The main characters are:
-Prospero the Duke of Milan deposed and exiled with his daughter Miranda on the orders of his brother Antonio.
-Ariel a spirit of the air who is very fast, can become invisible and can change his appearance; he used to be in the service of the witch Sycorax. After twelve years’ imprisonment, he was released by Prospero. The meaning of his name is ‘Lion of the Lord’, and his voice sometimes sounds like a lion’s roar.
-Caliban the only native of the island, he is the son of Sycorax. Caliban’s name may derive from ‘cannibal’, a term used to describe flesh-eaters. When Prospero came to the island, he showed him how to survive and Prospero taught him to speak. Later he tried to rape Miranda and Prospero enslaved and punished him.
-Miranda the girl who embodies female perfection.
The Tempest belongs to the last period of Shakespeare’s work and he seems eager to show that good may come of evil. The most interesting themes are:
Forgiveness: all ends in peace and reconciliation, with music intensifying the atmosphere of enchantment.
The magic and its representation as ‘theatrical illusion’.
A warning against the dangers of English expansion abroad. Shakespeare used different levels of speech and a character may switch from everyday prose to solemn verse. Sometimes are included allegorical scenes, noises, the sounds of the sea, songs, music and dances, magical transformations.
Domande da interrogazione
- Qual è il ruolo di Prospero nell'opera "The Tempest"?
- Chi è Ariel e quale significato ha il suo nome?
- Quali sono i temi principali de "The Tempest"?
Prospero è il Duca di Milano deposto ed esiliato, che vive sull'isola con sua figlia Miranda. È un mago le cui abilità derivano dai suoi studi, e cerca di usarle per fare del bene. Alla fine, decide di perdonare suo fratello e distruggere il suo libro di magia, dimostrando saggezza e intelligenza.
Ariel è uno spirito dell'aria che può diventare invisibile e cambiare aspetto. Era al servizio della strega Sycorax prima di essere liberato da Prospero. Il suo nome significa "Leone del Signore" e la sua voce a volte suona come il ruggito di un leone.
I temi principali includono il perdono, con la storia che si conclude in pace e riconciliazione, e la magia rappresentata come un'illusione teatrale. L'opera avverte anche dei pericoli dell'espansione inglese all'estero e utilizza diversi livelli di discorso, includendo scene allegoriche, suoni del mare, canzoni, musica e trasformazioni magiche.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
