Rachel Tran, Seyana Sivakumaran, Tram NguyenENG 3U0-BThe Tempest Seminar Speech Analysis

Speech[...] Now 'tis true I must be here confin'd by you, Or sent to Naples. Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got, And pardon'd the deceiver, dwellIn this bare island by your spell,But release me from my bandsWith the help of your good hands.Gentle breath of yours my sails Must fill, or else my project fails,Which was to please. [...]And my ending is despairUnless I be reliev'd by prayer,Which pierces so that it assaultsMercy itself, and frees all faults.As you from crimes would pardon'd be,Let your indulgence set me free.(V. 321-331, 333-338)Modern Translation"Now it's true that you, the audience, have the power to decide whether to keep me here on this island or send me to Naples. Let me leave this island because I have my dukedom now and I have pardoned the deceiver who now remains on this empty island under your spell. Release me from my ties with your loud applause. The sails of my ship can only be filled with your kind words, or else my goal of pleasing you would fail. [...] And my life will end tragically unless I am soothed with your prayers, which pierce so that they will overwhelm God himself and undo all wrongdoings. As you would want your crimes to be pardoned, pardon me from mine with your leniency."

Analysis

Line/phraseExplanation and Analysis

[...] Now 'tis true I must be here confin'd by you, Or sent to Naples.Prosperos Characterization Prospero, who thought of himself as the king of the island throughout the play, now considers himself trapped on the island by the audience. There has been a transfer of power and authority from Prospero to the audience, and this demonstrates a significant change in Prosperos character. He has changed from a person who had once believed he had ultimate power, with his white magic, magic spells, magicians robe, and tight control over the inhabitants of the island, to a person who places his fate into the hands of others: the audience. He still wants some power, since he wants to return to his original position of power: Duke of Milan, but he does not want absolute reign. Theme: The Allure of Ruling a Colony Prospero begs the audience to free him from the island throughout this speech, which shows that his need to maintain control over the island has weakened significantly from the beginning of the play. This means that the allure of ruling the island has nearly faded by the plays end, but the allure of ruling over a dukedom, or another version of the island, still remains.

Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got, And pardon'd the deceiver, dwellIn this bare island by your spell,Explanation Caliban is "the deceiver" being referenced in the speech.Metaphor Rhetorical Device Prosperos Characterization Similar to the shift of power from Prospero to the audience, Prospero has now become a person who must seek approval of his actions before continuing with any plans he has made. This is evident when he attempts to persuade the audience to set him free because he has pardoned Caliban of his deception and betrayal. He wants the audience to acknowledge his good deed. In comparison, at the beginning of the play, Prospero ordered Ariel to create the tempest without seeking approval from another party. (There would not have been another party to consult because Prospero thought himself the sole ruler of the island and the other inhabitants incapable of advising him.) Theme: Forgiveness Theme: Desire to Return to More Preferable Times

But release me from my bandsWith the help of your good hands.Metaphor Rhetorical Device

Gentle breath of yours my sails Must fill, or else my project fails,Which was to please.Metaphor The 'gentle breath' is a metaphor for the kind words given by the audience about the play. The sails are part of Prospero's ship that would return to Naples and his goals of pleasing the audience. This metaphor compares a ship's need for wind in order to sail to Prospero's need for kind words and reviews about his performance (as a performer in the play and as a person) in order to be happy with himself. Prosperos ship can also represent his dream to return to Naples. If the audience is not satisfied with his work, his dream will never set sail.Allusion Prospero speaking of his desire to please the audience alludes to Shakespeare himself and his own desire to end his career as a playwright on a high note. The Tempest was Shakespeares final completed play. Like how Prospero wants audience approval of his performance as a person and as an actor, Shakespeare probably wanted the audience to approve and enjoy his final piece of work. Imagery The metaphor in this part of the speech helps the audience envision how their words can send Prospero's ship sailing away towards Naples and his dream.

[...] And my ending is despairUnless I be reliev'd by prayer,Which pierces so that it assaultsMercy itself, and frees all faults.Personification Prayers and well wishes are given the physical actions of piercing, assaulting, and liberating. Imagery Giving an intangible object such strong actions can allow the audience to visualize the intent and strength of the prayer.Prosperos Characterization These lines reinforce Prosperos need for approval in order to be satisfied with himself and to continue with his plans. He explains how his ending [will be] despair Unless [he is] relievd by prayer, or well wishes from the audience, so that they [assault] Mercy itself and forgive any faults he has committed, such as his cursing of Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.

As you from crimes would pardon'd be,Let your indulgence set me free.Simile Rhetorical Device Prospero compares each audience member's desire to be forgiven of his/her crimes with his own need to be forgiven. By making this comparison, Prospero establishes a personal connection with the audience. He makes the audience members reflect on their own crimes and the emotions felt when they committed them. This allows them to clearly understand Prospero's position and emotions as well.Theme: Forgiveness

"And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell"As you from crimes would pardon'd be,...Repetition The action of pardoning or forgiving is first mentioned in the beginning of the speech and is repeated near the very end. This repetition emphasizes the theme of forgiveness in this play. Theme: Forgiveness

Throughout the speechRhyming Rhyming scheme is used: AABBThe speech makes the speech more lyrical and pleasant to the ear. Most of the play's dialogues were in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), but this final speech follows a rhyming scheme. This puts emphasis on the importance of Prospero's final words.

Creative Writing MonologueLine/PhraseLiterary Strategies and Themes

My men, tonight shall be our last heist together. After this we shall depart forever.Comment by Tram Nguyen: this is the only rhyme i can think ofRhyming

I no longer wish to seek the touch of Midas anymore.Allusion: The touch of Midas alludes to a Greek myth of a how a king who desired to turn everything he touched into gold had ended up transforming his daughter to gold.

Had I not been careful, the sinewy metal tendons of the wealth I sought would have corroded and consumed my heart long ago.Imagery: The wealth is given the image of being metallic and sinewy .Personification: Here, the tendons of wealth are given the human actions of consuming.

I am not Midas. I will not hurt the people I love as Midas had when he turned his daughter to gold.Simile: The character played refers to Midas turning his daughter to gold in the chase for wealth.

Mother, please forgive me, had it not been for your illness, I would not have gone to such measures as I am now. But it's alright now. Gods, have mercy for these ill deeds were not made with ill intentions. Comment by Tram Nguyen: Can it be considered repetition if the character asks for forgiveness from the mother, then asks for God's mercy? ( I feel like he's asking for forgiveness twice).Comment by PI123Luu: You can explain that after your monologueComment by PI123Luu: "... [for they] were not made with ill intentions."Forgiveness: This character wishes for his mothers forgiveness for his actions, which he had justified were made with good intentions, and also asks for Gods mercy to let him start over and return to the light, which symbolizes a crime-free, good life.Repetition: The character emphasizes his need of forgiveness by asking his mother for forgiveness, then begging for mercy from the gods.

I will release the reins of my rule of this city's underworld and return to the light to start anew again.Desire to Return to More Preferable Times: The character shows his desire to return to the light by admitting his rueful actions were done for the sole purpose of his mothers well being. To return to the light would mean the character had once been in the light and wishes to return. The Allure of Ruling a Colony: The character is willing to give up his control of his henchmen/partners in crime, and to withdraw from performing any further crimes or heists, showing the fade of desire to rule.Metaphor: To release the reins would symbolize the loss or giving up of power. Underworld which can mean hell in this case, is a metaphor to the dark aspects of a city, like robbery, gangs, and anything else criminal related. Returning to the light would be an analogy to leaving the criminal world.

My men, tonight shall be our last heist together. After this we shall depart forever.You shall each have your share as I've promised. Now go prepare yourselves and leave me be.Comment by Tram Nguyen: this is the only rhyme i can think of

[the henchmen exit the stage]

This feeling again.

I no longer wish to seek the touch of Midas anymore. I fear that chasing this path, entrenched in the gold and glory that is wrongfully mine, will lead me to my ultimate downfall. The riches I have hoarded over the years will be worth less than fools gold. Had I not been careful, the sinewy metal tendons of the wealth I sought would have corroded and consumed my heart long ago. But I am not Midas. I will not hurt the people I love as Midas had when he turned his daughter to gold.

Mother, please forgive me, had it not been for your illness, I would not have gone to such measures as I am now. But it's alright now. Gods, have mercy for these ill deeds were not made with ill intentions. I will release the reins of my rule of this city's underworld and return to the light to start anew again. But this is all up to you, mother. For if you can't take me as I am, I will have to retreat back to the shadows where darkness and corruption welcome me. It's up to you to decide where I go after this.Comment by Tram Nguyen: Can it be considered repetition if the character asks for forgiveness from the mother, then asks for God's mercy? ( I feel like he's asking for forgiveness twice).Comment by PI123Luu: You can explain that after your monologueComment by PI123Luu: "... [for they] were not made with ill intentions."

Men, its time.

Staging Directions and Explanations for PerformancesPerformance 1Performance 2

Since the play is set on a deserted island and Prospero has not left the island, we decided that the background would be a picture of a deserted island. The background is bright to establish the mood of the epilogue. Prospero wants to leave the island and has hopes for the future, so the mood would be hopeful and optimistic.

The sound effect of tides is used to make the background more realistic since there is water in the background. We envisioned that Prospero would be near the beach in the epilogue, where the ship of Alonso and his company would have been docked after Ariel reversed her spells. Since the ship is in water, we added sound effects for the water. We also chose this particular background to suit our vision.

The music chosen is calming in order to supplement the sound effect of the tides. It also hints at some sadness, which reflects Prosperos need to leave the island.

In order to put emphasis on Prosperos strong desire to leave the island, we decided to incorporate some rocks for him to stand on. As he stands and looks into the distance, his need to return to more favourable times is conveyed.

Prospero, having been exiled for twelve years, would not have many belongings. The urgency of his leave of Naples would not have allowed him much time to bring many personal items. Having only a sling would be appropriate for carrying his items.To modernise the speech, we decided to change the setting for the modern translation. Prospero is now at an airport. He had been living in a deserted and uninhabited area of an island and has travelled from that area to the island airport. In the original setting of the play, the most common mode of transportation was by ship. Contemporary ships do not have sails, and the most common way of travelling across oceans or seas is by airplane. This was the reason behind the choosing of the background and setting.

The sound effects of indistinct chatter are used to make the setting appear more realistic.

Similar to the type of music used in the first music, the music for this performance conveys sadness and solemness, which is similar to Prosperos emotions during this speech.

Similar to the brightness of the first background, this background is illuminated with sunlight in order to convey an optimistic mood

Prospero is carrying an old duffel bag. In the contemporary setting, a duffel bag is more preferable and appropriate to a sling. The bag also makes the setting be more realistic.

The duffel bag is also used to take advantage of the space on stage. It provides a Prospero an opportunity to travel from one side of the stage to another in order to carry his bag.