Two Characters Add Mystery In The Tempest

Two Characters Add Mystery In The Tempest Essay, Research Paper The enchanted, isolated island in Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest provides mystery to the community of habitants of the island. The island throughout the play adds mystery to the lives of Miranda, and the people of Naples. Through Miranda lack of knowledge of the real world and the magical inspiration of Prospero, both Miranda and those of Naples find mysterious aspects in this island which they are on. Prospero living on the island for twelve years with his daughter, Miranda, and two servants Ariel and Caliban, has master the art of magic. Living on the deserted island gives Prospero nothing but time in which he uses to the best of his ability, in doing so he is able to add mystery to lives of King of

Naples, Alonso, and others. Prospero power is demonstrate through the tempest he creates to bring Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, and Ferdinand to this island which he resides. It becomes apparent that Prospero is in charge of this great storm when Miranda, his daughter, states “If by your art, my dearest father, you have/ Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.” (I, ii, l 1-2). Although unsure of whether the tempest is actually an act of Prospero, Miranda knowing only what her father is capable of naturally assumes that the storm is his doing. By being on the island for most of her life Prospero is all that is known to her, because, of this she is curious of why he wishes to bring harm to others. The mysteriousness of what is this island stand for becomes alive

for Miranda as her love for Ferdinand grows. All of her life the island has brought her nothing but loneness, however, now as she has learned all that there is to know the island has brought her a gentleman whom at first sight is thought to be “A spirit?/ Lord, how it looks about! Believes me, sir,/ It carries a brave form. But tis a spirit.” (I, ii, l 414-416). Knowing no better Miranda looks at this foreign figure before her as being a spirit. For in her mind he could simple be a gift from this island which she has spent twelve years. The island indirectly add mystery to Miranda in what life outside of the island would be like. In talking to Ferdinand he speaks of this world outside of the Island which is foreign to Miranda and in speaking of other woman Miranda with a

sense of curiosity says ” I do not know/ One of my sex; no woman’s face remember,/ Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen/ More that I may call men than you, good friend,/ And my dear father; how features are abroad,/ I am skilless of; but, my modesty,/ The jewel in my dower, I would not wish/ Any companion in the world but you;/ Nor can imagination form a shape,/ Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle/ Something too wildly, and my father’s precepts/ I therein do forget.”(III, I, l48-59). In spending most of her life on such an enchanted island Miranda knowing nothing of the real world continues to view the island as a mystery as new events come forth in her life. Having landed on what appears to be a deserted island Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, and Gonzalo

are extremely conscience of what is happening while they are on the island. While attempting to console Alonso about the misfortune of his son not having landed on the island with them brings it to the others attention of how mysterious it is that they all have survived such a trepid storm, saying “Beseech you, Sir, be merry; you have cause,/ So have we all of joy; for our escape.”(II, I, l 1-2). Having Gonzalo already bring it their attention that something suspicious is going on, on this enchanted isolated island Antonio and Sebastian become extremely conscience after Gonzalo and Alonso together become drowsy. In speaking with Antonio Sebastian remarks “What a strange drowsiness posses them!” (II, I, l 194). This mystery becomes intense as the plays continues and Ariel