The Tempest Quotes
Prospero:
“If thou neglect’st or dost unwillingly”
“What I command, I’ll rack thee with old cramps” - Propero to Caliban
“remember I have done thee worthy service” - Ariel to Prospero
“Told thee no lies” - Ariel to Prospero
“Thou most lying slave” “Whom stripes may move not kindness” - Prospero to
Caliban
“I will plague them all, / Even to roaring” - Prospero to himself
“They are now in my power” as they are “knit up” in distractions
“Living trolly” Sebastian refers to beginning of feast as a puppet show.
“My high charms work” (Ariel’s actually )
“His art is of such power, / It would control my dam's God” - Caliban about
Prospero
Miranda is “induced to sleep” she “canst not choose”
Was duke of Milan, “prince of power”
Prospero, through Ariel’s magic, visits the other spirits of the island in the shape of
hunting dogs on Stephano and Trinculo
Prospero’s supreme moment of power has arrived: “At this hour lies at [his] mercy
all [his] enemies”
In the final lines of this scene Prospero reminds Ariel of his promise to free him soon.
The question arises, however: is he only freeing Ariel because he is leaving the
island and will not need him any longer?
“I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my God” - Caliban > Stephano & Trinculo
Antonio, who enjoys greatly the power he has had since “he did supplant [his]
brother Prospero”, persuades Sebastian to join him in killing Gonzalo and Alonso .
Prospero introduces the scene in his magic robes, in the role of magician, explaining
that his “project gather[s] to a head”. Indeed, it has worked out exactly according
to plan – “on the sixth hour” exactly as Prospero had predicted. This can be
compared to a play which has a specific time limit.
He accentuates this by personifying his magic and its “death” – he will “drown
[his] book”
The stage directions place Prospero “on the top, invisible” – he is not directly
involved in the action but acts as director (of Ariel) and co-ordinator of the spectacle,
like a puppet master pulling strings to create a story. To strengthen this concept,
Sebastian refers to the bringing of the feast by spirits as a “living drollery” (22) – a
puppet show.
Prospero, still invisible, addresses the audience and praises Ariel. However, he
claims that “My high charms work” (89) and that “They are now in my power”
(91)
Like a director or playwright, other characters have to perform their magic according
to his specifications. The magic is not his, but his power lies in manipulating how
others use their magic. Therefore, true power is not only about ability and knowledge
but it lies in how ability and knowledge are used to manipulate.
Now does my project gather to a head./My charms crack not, my spirits obey,
and time/Goes upright with his carriage."
Now he can "retire me to my Milan, where/Every third thought shall be my
grave." The magician has grown old, and he is eager to re-embrace a more normal,
human condition.
“Were but trials of thy love”
“I’ll break my staff... I’ll drown my book” retires from magic
“The rarer action is... in virtue than in vengeance” Forgives ultimately
, “I do forgive” and “as you from your crimes would pardoned be”
“trials of [his] love” (5) and being deserving of his “rich gift” - Prospero to
Ferdinand ( used his power to make Ferdinand work to ‘earn’ Miranda’s love
when he finds Miranda and Ferdinand too close to each other for his liking, he warns:
“Be more abstemious, or else good night your vow”
Ariel calls Prospero his “potent master”
“But as sot as [he is] ” without his books
“Never till this day saw I him touched with anger” (144-145). This could be
because Prospero is in genuine distress or this is the longest she has ever been
awake to be part of her father’s plans and machinations.
Prospero learns from Ariel. He lets his “nobler reason” triumph “’gainst [his] fury”.
His purpose has been served, he says, because his enemies are “penitent” (27-29).
Here Prospero has triumphed by letting go of his “fury” and embracing his “nobler”
humanity.
“This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine”
Caliban:
Noble savage
“thing of darkness” - Prospero
“Violate the honour of my child” - Caliban to Prospero
He is a subject of a “tyrant” who by “sorcery got this isle”
“would this monster make a man” - Trinculo speaking about if he took
Caliban to England
Stephano plans to “tame” Caliban with his wine and sell him
Europeans commonly desired to exploit the “exotic” people living in colonised
lands.
Trinculo calls Caliban a “most poor credulous monster” (114) for believing
Stephano’s story
that they come from the moon.
“Ca-caliban, Has a new master – get a new man!” - Caliban equates
having a new master with freedom, attempts to escape slavery by getting a
new master
“brave monster” - Stephano calls Caliban this
Caliban calls Stephano a “brave god”
Stephano sees himself as Caliban’s protector: “The poor monster’s my
subject, and he shall not suffer indignity,” yet he commands Caliban to
“kneel”
A “born devil, on whose nature nurture can never stick” (189-190).
Prospero laments that no amount of education could possibly make Caliban
‘good’
“by his cunning hath cheated [him] of the island” (32-33) and “sorcery
he got this isle from [him]” - Caliban explaining what Prospero did to him
“ their manners are more gentle, kind” - than human generation, said by
Gonzalo
“I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject” - Caliban > Stephano &
Trinculo
Caliban continues to speak in verse and shows his power over Trinculo when
he threatens that “he shall drink naught but brine, for [he’ll] not show him
where the quick freshes are” (55-56). Without Caliban, Trinculo and
Stephano would not survive on the island.
Caliban entices Stephano further into his plan – with Prospero’s death, not
only will he become the master of the island but the beautiful Miranda “will
become [his] bed”
Prospero:
“If thou neglect’st or dost unwillingly”
“What I command, I’ll rack thee with old cramps” - Propero to Caliban
“remember I have done thee worthy service” - Ariel to Prospero
“Told thee no lies” - Ariel to Prospero
“Thou most lying slave” “Whom stripes may move not kindness” - Prospero to
Caliban
“I will plague them all, / Even to roaring” - Prospero to himself
“They are now in my power” as they are “knit up” in distractions
“Living trolly” Sebastian refers to beginning of feast as a puppet show.
“My high charms work” (Ariel’s actually )
“His art is of such power, / It would control my dam's God” - Caliban about
Prospero
Miranda is “induced to sleep” she “canst not choose”
Was duke of Milan, “prince of power”
Prospero, through Ariel’s magic, visits the other spirits of the island in the shape of
hunting dogs on Stephano and Trinculo
Prospero’s supreme moment of power has arrived: “At this hour lies at [his] mercy
all [his] enemies”
In the final lines of this scene Prospero reminds Ariel of his promise to free him soon.
The question arises, however: is he only freeing Ariel because he is leaving the
island and will not need him any longer?
“I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my God” - Caliban > Stephano & Trinculo
Antonio, who enjoys greatly the power he has had since “he did supplant [his]
brother Prospero”, persuades Sebastian to join him in killing Gonzalo and Alonso .
Prospero introduces the scene in his magic robes, in the role of magician, explaining
that his “project gather[s] to a head”. Indeed, it has worked out exactly according
to plan – “on the sixth hour” exactly as Prospero had predicted. This can be
compared to a play which has a specific time limit.
He accentuates this by personifying his magic and its “death” – he will “drown
[his] book”
The stage directions place Prospero “on the top, invisible” – he is not directly
involved in the action but acts as director (of Ariel) and co-ordinator of the spectacle,
like a puppet master pulling strings to create a story. To strengthen this concept,
Sebastian refers to the bringing of the feast by spirits as a “living drollery” (22) – a
puppet show.
Prospero, still invisible, addresses the audience and praises Ariel. However, he
claims that “My high charms work” (89) and that “They are now in my power”
(91)
Like a director or playwright, other characters have to perform their magic according
to his specifications. The magic is not his, but his power lies in manipulating how
others use their magic. Therefore, true power is not only about ability and knowledge
but it lies in how ability and knowledge are used to manipulate.
Now does my project gather to a head./My charms crack not, my spirits obey,
and time/Goes upright with his carriage."
Now he can "retire me to my Milan, where/Every third thought shall be my
grave." The magician has grown old, and he is eager to re-embrace a more normal,
human condition.
“Were but trials of thy love”
“I’ll break my staff... I’ll drown my book” retires from magic
“The rarer action is... in virtue than in vengeance” Forgives ultimately
, “I do forgive” and “as you from your crimes would pardoned be”
“trials of [his] love” (5) and being deserving of his “rich gift” - Prospero to
Ferdinand ( used his power to make Ferdinand work to ‘earn’ Miranda’s love
when he finds Miranda and Ferdinand too close to each other for his liking, he warns:
“Be more abstemious, or else good night your vow”
Ariel calls Prospero his “potent master”
“But as sot as [he is] ” without his books
“Never till this day saw I him touched with anger” (144-145). This could be
because Prospero is in genuine distress or this is the longest she has ever been
awake to be part of her father’s plans and machinations.
Prospero learns from Ariel. He lets his “nobler reason” triumph “’gainst [his] fury”.
His purpose has been served, he says, because his enemies are “penitent” (27-29).
Here Prospero has triumphed by letting go of his “fury” and embracing his “nobler”
humanity.
“This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine”
Caliban:
Noble savage
“thing of darkness” - Prospero
“Violate the honour of my child” - Caliban to Prospero
He is a subject of a “tyrant” who by “sorcery got this isle”
“would this monster make a man” - Trinculo speaking about if he took
Caliban to England
Stephano plans to “tame” Caliban with his wine and sell him
Europeans commonly desired to exploit the “exotic” people living in colonised
lands.
Trinculo calls Caliban a “most poor credulous monster” (114) for believing
Stephano’s story
that they come from the moon.
“Ca-caliban, Has a new master – get a new man!” - Caliban equates
having a new master with freedom, attempts to escape slavery by getting a
new master
“brave monster” - Stephano calls Caliban this
Caliban calls Stephano a “brave god”
Stephano sees himself as Caliban’s protector: “The poor monster’s my
subject, and he shall not suffer indignity,” yet he commands Caliban to
“kneel”
A “born devil, on whose nature nurture can never stick” (189-190).
Prospero laments that no amount of education could possibly make Caliban
‘good’
“by his cunning hath cheated [him] of the island” (32-33) and “sorcery
he got this isle from [him]” - Caliban explaining what Prospero did to him
“ their manners are more gentle, kind” - than human generation, said by
Gonzalo
“I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject” - Caliban > Stephano &
Trinculo
Caliban continues to speak in verse and shows his power over Trinculo when
he threatens that “he shall drink naught but brine, for [he’ll] not show him
where the quick freshes are” (55-56). Without Caliban, Trinculo and
Stephano would not survive on the island.
Caliban entices Stephano further into his plan – with Prospero’s death, not
only will he become the master of the island but the beautiful Miranda “will
become [his] bed”
