Looking to the Past

In Act IV of the The Tempest, Prospero decided to put on a masque to celebrate Miranda and Ferdinand's new union and to honor and bless them with fertility and happiness through the goddesses he has Ariel conjure. This masque involves Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, and Juno, the goddess of marriage. Especially in reference to everything we have learned and discussed in class, it is interesting that, at this time period when religion was such a big influence on peoples' lives and could result in their death, goddesses would be invoked in order to leave blessings on people, even if it was just for entertainment. It seems like a risky thing to do, but it also just seems out of place in this play. Similar to the appearance of Helen in Doctor Faustus, where this mythical figure of beauty is conjured in a similar way for entertainment, and then later on to give Faustus some comfort in his last days. Like in Doctor Faustus, this play already involves magical elements that definitely do not go along with what is believed in the Christian religion, but The Tempest also includes conjured goddesses giving marriage blessings to Miranda and Ferdinand for entertainment. I can't help but wonder at what point did using references to ancient gods and goddesses stop being blasphemous and start being accepted in forms of entertainment or works of literature?

All that was Prologue is now Past

Like a dream, the sea
roils and twists into whirlwinds
that clash against sky.

Helpless figures drown
and gasp, sodden from vengeance's
sour coil. Ships crumble

and tremble; death's shroud
slices through blood; slaves ponder
the wonder chainless

limbs would promise. He,
Prospero, master of the
isle, stares forlorn

at his construction.
The end is forecast, a dance-
dalliance of love

applauded, arranged
by design. The fools of drink                             
and scheming plots meet

feasts and familiar
faces. Magic's slithery
touch pervades the bright-

dark journey of man's
lost and regained valor. Sleep
is found, kept close, and

cradled - conjures fan-
tastical visions of storms
untempered and stern -

of books shimmering
with a desire to know the
unknowable earth.

Man makes false monsters.
Brother moves against brother,
lovers find love, and

the ache of broken
hearts are mended, made true, soft,
free; and like a dream

the peril has passed by -
nefarious pages packed
away; trickery

grows heavy with peace.
The wind tucks itself into
nooks and crannies, still

and satisfied, in
tree shades. The spirits' bodies
contort into wings

when Ariel's acts
of fancy are retired.
Kings, princes, dukes, slaves

are joined in shared awe
of a victory won-made-
held by a man whose

magic shapes them all.
An unseen crowd crows its glee,
and all fades - complete.

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Spirits and Fairies

In the wedding between Ferdinand and Miranda, Prospero calls Ariel to summons spirits. Three spirits appear; Iris, Juno, and Ceres. These beings end up blessing the happy couple. This immediately made me think of the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty. They also gave gifts to Aurora, like beauty, musical talent, and for true loves kiss to break Maleficent's curse. 

Prospero the Puppet Master

"Dance Puppets, Dance!"

Keepeth My Daughter a PURE Virgin OR ELSE Fer-boy

Okay this is how this whole discussion of marriage in Act IV would have happened in modern times:

PROSPERO: So my daughter? Yeah, she's a virgin--mainly because we've been stuck on this island since she was 3-years-old. But also, I'm really controlling and focused on the idea of keeping her "pure" or whatever that means, so can you like...just not hook up? Until you're married? You know like us good ol' Christian and law-abiding folks do?
FERDINAND: I don't know man, er--I mean sir...I love her and so I really like, respect her, and if she wants to hook up then...I'm not gonna argue with that to be honest.
MIRANDA: Life! Love! So many possibilities I had never even dreamed of! Let me just live life to the fullest and experience everything!
PROSPERO: MIRANDA, NO! PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE! I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU TOUCH HER VIRGINAL KNOT--
FERDINAND: Hey man...you need to cool it. She isn't your property, and you need to stop acting like this marriage is you passing your property onto me. I love her, and she loves me, and that's totally cool, so we're just gonna ride that totally tubular wave.
PROSPERO: She IS my property and everything needs to go HOW! I! AM! PICTURING! IT! It's my way or the highway so you just need to deal with it or I'll cause another storm and kill your surviving family and friends!
MIRANDA: Wait...what did you say Dad?
PROSPERO: What? Nothing? *casts an illusion spell to make them forget the last ten seconds* What I mean to say is...I care about you, and don't you want to be the best wife you can be to him? To a prince?
MIRANDA: How does what we do in the bedroom make any sort of difference though, father? Won't I still be the person that I am? The person that he fell in love with? How will I be any sort of changed?
PROSPERO: Your...body will be different. And that's what's not okay. You just like...*need* to be a virgin okay?
FERDINAND: *whispers to Miranda* If you had been outside of the island...these are really dated conceptions your father is speaking of. Women used to be seen as property, and that's *totally* not how it is anymore. You can do whatever you want with your body! We'll discuss this alone later tonight.
PROSPERO: I HEARD that--what? Oh. I need to go take care of something. Don't come within two feet of each other until I get back! *runs away*

Same Energy

I feel like if Prospero lived in the 2000's this song would be what he would have listened to when he and Miranda were set adrift. The song is about someone who's friend ditches them so they could be cool and being told they're an idiot. Similar to how Antonio took power from Prospero so that Antonio could be Duke of Milan and become more powerfull.

Prospero Just Can't Wait to be K̶i̶n̶g̶ Duke!

OK so I know this is ironic but bear (ha) with me. This song reminds me of Prospero because he wants to be king duke again and uses and abuses Ariel and to an extent his daughter to get his revenge. Scar wants to be king and plots revenge with the hyenas (what could go wrong?). And for those who don't get it, Lion King is the poor man's Hamlet so...connections connections. Anyway this song is what Prospero sings in the shower when he's getting ready to kill Antonio or whatever. This can also apply to Antonio and his plan to become king through assassination (sorry for the last minute addition).

Ariel = Big Smoke Monster from Lost?

Ariel is sorta like the big smoke monster from the show Lost, but in a more convenient way for the people on the island. Like the smoke monster, Ariel was on the island before everyone showed up and possesses magical powers. Even though Ariel isn't going around dragging people and killing them like the smoke monster, he still has a big impact on the island. Like the smoke monster he uses his power to control the people on the island. The smoke monster would take form of dead people to manipulate people on Lost or just take the form of smoke and drag people around, but the smoke monster wasn't a slave to anyone. Ariel takes the form of the harpy he calls out all the people and their wrong doings, giving them a chance to seek some help or do something instead of just killing them. Which makes me think that if Ariel was not a slave to Prospero he might've acted in the way the smoke monster did, possibly just killing all the people plotting to kill and betray one another, or just killing everyone when they got on the island. But Ariel could've been super chill without Prospero and just helped people off of the island if they ever got stuck. 

Breaking the News to Prospero

Ariel appears to Prospero who is just sitting around

Ariel: Hey, so I may have heard some things.

Prospero: What do you mean?

Ariel: So I put the king and his men to sleep but left his brother, Sebastian, and your brother, Antonio, awake. It seems like Antonio is trying to murder the king and blame Gonzalo...basically he is trying to get Sebastian the throne.

Prospero: Looking at the ground and shaking his head Ugh my brother is up to his old habits. Has he not learned his lesson yet? Quick go awaken Gonzalo with whispers of the threat that is against the king.

Ariel disappears again.

Prospero: This day cannot get any worse they are going to ruin my plan.

A few minutes later Ariel reappears with a look of nervousness on his face

Ariel: So ugh got more bad news. Heard some more stuff. Seems like someone is planning to murder YOU now.

Prospero: HOW? I have shipwrecked them here using a storm. No one is aware that I live here or that anyone lives here for that matter. Who? Who is trying to kill me?

Ariel: Not anymore. There are two men who shipwrecked with the king on their way to murder you while you sleep. They found Caliban and he recommitted himself to be the ones servant if he murders you and takes control of the island.

Prospero: Can a man not just take his afternoon nap!? Its tiring sinking a ship and conducting a master plan. I am going to be cranky for the rest of the day now.