Magic in Shakespeares Play The Tempest

Shakespeare draws heavily on magic in The Tempest—indeed, it is often described as the writer’s most magical play. Beyond plot points and themes, even the language in this play is particularly magical. As a major theme, magic in The Tempest takes many different forms and is used to achieve a number of goals throughout the play. Prospero’s Magic It’s clear from the start that Prospero is the powerful character in â€Å"The Tempest,† and that is because of his magic. The play opens with a theatrical demonstration of his abilities, and as we are introduced to other characters on the island, we learn that Prospero has used his magic as a way of establishing himself as a kind of ruler. Throughout the play, it is his spells and schemes that drive the overall plot. However, Prospero’s magic in â€Å"The Tempest† is not so simple as an indication of power. It was exactly Prospero’s eager pursuit of magical knowledge that gave his brother the opportunity to usurp him, taking away his power by taking his title. And as Prospero returns to Milan at the end of the play, he renounces the magic that has both given and taken away his power. Thus, magic is what complicates the character of Prospero. While it gives him some control, that power is false and misleading in the way that it leaves him weakest in the places that matter most. Mystical Noises and Magical Music Shakespeare often uses noises and music to create a magical tone for scenes for both characters and readers. The play opens with the deafening noise of thunder and lightning, creating anticipation for what is to come and displaying Prosperos powers. Meanwhile, the splitting ship inspires a â€Å"confused noise within. The island itself, Caliban observes, is full of noises, and the combination of mysterious music and sounds there paints it as a mystical place. Music is also the most frequent demonstration of magic in The Tempest, with Ariel constantly using it as a tool for manipulating the group of lords. By practically seducing them with sound, he is able to split them up and lead them to different places on the island, helping Prospero achieve his goals. The Tempest We know that the magical tempest that starts the play represents Prospero’s power. However, it also gives insight into his character. Through the storm, we see both vengeance and violence in Prospero. He sees an opportunity to both escape the island and exact some revenge on his brother, and he takes it, even if that means conjuring a dangerous storm. In an empathetic reading of Prospero, the tempest can also be a symbol of his internal pain, brought on by his brother Antonio. The feelings of betrayal and abandonment that make up Prosperos own emotional turmoil are reflected in the tumultuous thunder and lightning that ultimately take down the ship. In this way, Prosperos magic is used as a means of depicting his humanity.

William Shakespeare s Hamlet - 1441 Words

Renee James English Final Essay F. Rampello Due: May 9th 2016 In the beginning of Hamlet, Hamlet tells Horatio, â€Å"I perchance hereafter shall think meet / to put an antic disposition on† (Act I, Scene V, lines 190-192). Hamlet decides to fake his insanity, but does his insanity become his reality throughout the play? Hamlet s madness only manifests itself when he is in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he behaves irrationally. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, The Players and the Gravediggers, he behaves rationally. His mood and attitude changes abruptly throughout the play leading one to believe that his madness became a†¦show more content†¦Hamlet poses the problem of whether to commit suicide as a logical question: â€Å"To be, or not to be,† that is, to live or not to live. He then weighs the moral outcomes of living and dying. Is it nobler to suffer life, â€Å"the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,† passively or to actively seek to end one’s suffering? He compares death to sleep and thinks of sleep as the end to pain and suffering. Hamlet speaks of the uncertainty of the afterlife, which essentially prevents all of humanity from committing suicide to end a painful life. This soliloquy really expands the quality of Hamlet’s mind and what is really going on inside of it. Hamlet works furiously to find a solution to end his misery. Hamlet himself is more subject to apprehension than to action, which is why he delays so long before seeking his revenge on Claudius. Hamlet is mainly upset about his mother and uncle’s quick marriage. He constantly has violent outbursts towards his mother throughout the play. As Hamlet talks to his mother, Hamlet tells Gertrude that he is not crazy but he asks her to lie and tell Claudius that he is in fact mad. As we can see here, Gertrude tells the king that Hamlet s as mad as the sea and wind (Act IV, Scene I, Line 2). Why does she do this? Is she trying to protect her son or does she really think Hamlet has gone mad? Hamlet alone sees his father s ghost in his mother s chamber. Every other time the ghost appeared someone

Notes Essay Example For Students

Notes Essay December 4, 2001I)I.O Psychology-study of human behavior in the workplace. I.O Psychologist-They dont do therapy with people who work. They watch job interviews, they look at stress, anything that has to do with behavior at the job. a)The Hawthorne Project 1937-in Chicago at an electric company, this company mad telephones and other equipment. The hawthorne affect-the finding that workers who were observed increased their productivity regardless of what actual changes were made in the work state. II)Economic Decision-MakingThe escalation affect-the tendency for investors to remain commited to a losing course of action. -To minimize the escalation affect you remove who made the initial investment and get other people to asset the data. The sunk cost principle-the economic rule of the thumb that only future costs and benefits not past commitments should be considered in making a decision. III)Approaches to leadership-unite others to the pursuit of a common goal. The classic trait program-the identification of traits that characterize great leaders from the past. 8 Traits For Great Leadership1)strong cognative ability-basically meaning your intelligent2)drive, high-energy level, ambition, need for achievment3)Able to motivate4)they had technical expertise5)creative-generate original ideas6)self confidence7)Integrity-they are open, reliable, honest8)Flexible-able to adapt different situationsThe contingiousy model of leadership-that the theory of leadership affectiveness is determined both of personal characteristics of leader and the control afforded by the situation. Task oriented leaders-these people are single mindedly focused on the job, get the job done!!!Relations oreinted leaders-these people lead for their concern for their employees. Transactional leadership-its a leader who gains compliance and support from followers primarily through goal setting and the use of reports. This is a two exchange between the worker and the management. Transformational Leadership-this is a leader who inspires followers to transcend their own needs in the interest of a common cause. Words/ Pages : 285 / 24