"The Tempest"

Paper Summary:

The essay begins with a discussion of the theme of social instability in Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest," reviewing the opening scene in the boat, and Miranda and Prospero's first dialogue. The essay then goes on to explore the twin themes of slavery and freedom and their interplay with the concepts of order and disorder. Finally, the essay looks at the theme of sleep and shows how all the themes are connected.

From the Paper:

"In Shakespeare's "The Tempest," the first image the audience is confronted with is that of a group of mariners and King and his court upon a boat that seems to be rapidly sinking. This was quite a common occurrence in an age where travel by sea was particularly dangerous. However, what is so extraordinary is the relationship that the storm creates between the inhabitants upon the ship. Sebastian, the brother of the King of Naples, says to the Boatswain: "A pox o" your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, uncharitable dog!? Under most circumstances, a man of the Boatswain's class would be forced to bow down before such a man. However, the Boatswain replies, "Work you, then." (1.1.36-38) The radical nature of this statement cannot be underestimated, a commoner telling the king to work. One must not forget that even the theatres themselves were under royal censorship, and a performance of one of Shakespeare's own plays, Richard II, had been stopped, because it was thought the subject matter had too close a parallel with the Earl of Essex's rebellion. (Epstien 177) But the ship is the boatswain's territory; the King is no longer in his country. All accepted social order is turned upside-down."

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