The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-28
THE TEMPEST As AN ALLEGORY, A
STUDY.
For the Times.l


Besides lover and above the truths and
beauties. the Jewels of wisdom, the pictures
of life and nature, the presentations OF
character, and general and special illus
iratiOns of man and men that make up
the riches of Shakespeare's plays, each
of them has one grand genera, lesson
the great purpose and meaning OF the
play. Strange, too, this great one gene
raj idea impresses different minds differ
ently-iust according TO the tone, tenn
per, character and texture Of the mind
that is impressed. Few are aware how
far the way they look at things is de-
pendent on themselves; how far they
imprison their minds and souls within the
prison bars and murky dungeon walls OF
their own providing; or make for them
selves large scope, tree hearts, seeing
eyes and hearing ears. II is very true
"ns Of ourselves that we are thus and thus. -
But to our tale The Tempest suggests
an allegory, that one might take as very
picture of religious truth. 1t will not do
TO press the analogy too closely. Bat,
| Just as the Heavens seem 10 show cloud
capped towers. gorgeous palaces, splen-
did psgeants. Goreons and Hydros, and
hosts marshalled for battle-and some
times at the close Of day-almost the
very throne of God and as great rocks
and mountains and forests offer like
panoramas, our imaginations giving them
| life and meaning, go The features and
| leading ideas of the Tempest seem 20 sug.
| oo.t N oraot fdaa onA {lIpctrotiot,
Suppose then, the shipwreck lightly to
stand for The fall of man. The race is all
wrecked and hopeless on adesert island
the wilderness of the woodland yet in
the wilderness there are spirits and agen-
cies good and bad enough. The expert
ences of the wrecked party are full Of in.
struction, each incident teeming with
suggestions, richly repaying gentle
leisurely, coDtemplative study. ProsperO
clothed with mystery, often invisible
full Of knowledge, power, and tenderness
may well, in our allegory, stand for the
Father and King, wise and merciful
Miranda his daughter, is the fair form OF
truth itself, in all its loveliness
made up Of every creatures best
Ferdinand, the Prince, may be man
hood, pure and simple, The high
type OF man ia his best aspect, soon in
love with Truth, ready to endure all la.
Dor and drudgery for her dear sake, who
makes his labOrs pleasures Caliban Il
grOssness aud sensuality, brutishness, the
world, the flesh and the devil. Trenoulo
and Stephano, idle, trihing, drunken sci.
fishness. ready under the guidance of bru
tai ayariee and lust TO storm the sanctuary
OF the Almighty, and prostitute Truth
and Beauiy's self to their vile purposes
caught with q bait OF snowy, glislening
yanities-an at last bounded into q
morass and mre OF filth and muck. Ariel
the pure spirit ut Prospero's command
suggest her own oflice-the Spirit OF
Heaven. The shipwrecked party are
saved from further crime by Prospero'-
power. Within the charmed circle OF
his influence, his magicfold-ihe party
stands to co his bidding. Slowly reason
returns fulfilling the poets promise.
In your harmony sublime
read the doom OF distant time,
That mans degenerate soul from crime
Shall yet be drawn,
And reason DER this mortal cline
In mortal dawn"
They being penitent, the sole drift OF
his purpose doth extend not frown far
Their. High manhood and truth are mar.
ried-s marriage typical of the grand
consummation-a great scripiural idea
A vision OF all that makes up human
happiness passes before the eyes of the
disenthralled, and the rightiul king re
sumes his dominion.
We do not mean to propose theory
only we MAKE suggestions which seem tC
us pleasant. All naturaltruth Is like the
tabled tent that could be hid In the hand
or spread over an army. $500.