Point When? Who is speaking Evidence/Quote What the quote means Explanation Caliban resents Prospero Act 1 Scene 2 Caliban You taught me language, and my profit on’t Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you For learning me your language I’m glad you taught me to speak because it means I can curse you. Although in some ways Prospero has helped Caliban, he is resentful and does not serve him willingly Ferdinand seems happy to work hard in order to gain Prospero’s approval Act 3 Scene 1 Ferdinand be some sports are painful, and their labour Delight in them sets off. Some kinds of baseness Are nobly undergone, and most poor matters Point to rich ends. Things that are hard to do may be painful but they will be worth it in the end. Ferdinand is very much in love with Miranda and willing to do whatever work is required in order to win her Miranda is very much in love with Ferdinand Act 3 1 Miranda I am your wife, if you will me. If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow You may deny me, but I’ll be your servant Whether you will or no. If you me I will be your wife. If you won’t I will be your servant. Miranda proposes marriage to Ferdinand, saying that if he does not want to she will not go away, but stay as his servant Caliban loves the island Act 3 Scene 2 Caliban Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears. This island makes beautiful sounds that give me great pleasure. Caliban was born on the island, the son of the previous ruler, Sycorax, and describes it in poetic language.
Prospero is able to call on and control spirits to help him Act 4 Scene 1 Prospero Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air; The celebrations are over now and the spirits taking part have all disappeared. Prospero had asked Ariel to summon the spirits for the celebration and now sends them away Ferdinand and Miranda are truly in love with each other Act 4 Scene 1 Iris Come temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love. Come on nymphs, help celebrate this marriage of two people who are in love. The spirit in the form of Iris, the Roman goddess of the rainbow, organises the celebration Prospero is a powerful magician and he tries not to misuse this power Act 1 Scene 2 Prospero I have with such provision in mine art So safely ordered that there is no soul – No, not so much perdition as an hair, Betid to any creature in the vessel. Although I caused the shipwreck I made sure that no-one came to any harm. Prospero ordered to cause the storm (or tempest), but is careful to ensure is harmed Ariel works hard for Prospero, who has promised to set him free Act 1 Scene 2 Ariel Pardon, master. I will be correspondent to command, And do my spiriting gently. I will submit to your commands and do what you say without complaining Prospero rescued Ariel from the tree in which Sycorax had imprisoned him, and is making him serve him for a year
Ariel is a spirit with magical powers Act 5 1 Ariel Where the bee sucks there suck I; In a cowslip’s bell I lie; There I couch when owls do cry, On the bat’s back I fly. When I am a free spirit I will nectar like a bee, sleep in a cowslip flower and ride on the back of a bat. This song demonstrates that Ariel is a free spirit of the air, close to nature, with magical powers – a kind of fairy or sprite. At the end of the play, Prospero decides to give up his magic powers Act 5 Scene 1 Prospero I’ll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did every plummet sound I’ll drown my book. I will away my magic staff and books (not use my magic powers any more) Breaking his staff and throwing his books in the sea shows that Prospero is giving up magic and returning to the real world Stephano and Trinculo are comic characters Act 3 Scene 2 Stephano He that dies pays all debts If I die, I won’t have to worry about money any more This attitude shows that Stephano is an irresponsible character Trinculo’s treatment of Caliban is less harsh than Prospero’s Act 4 Scene 2 Stephano Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head; if you prove a mutineer – the next tree! The poor monster’s my subject and he shall not suffer indignity. Treat Caliban kindly and be nice to him or I’ll hang you from a tree! I’m his master and I don’t want him disrespected. There is a contrast between the way Caliban is treated by Stephano and by Prospero The other characters often call Caliban a ‘monster’ Act 2 Scene 2 Trinculo I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him. I could die laughing at this monster! I’d like to beat him. Trinculo insults Caliban and treats him scornfully
Point When? Who is speaking Evidence/Quote What the quote means Explanation Ariel serves Prospero faithfully, doing everything that he commands him to do Act 2 Scene 1 Ariel While you here do snoring lie, Open-eyed conspiracy His time doth take. If of life you keep a care, Shake off slumber and beware. While you’re asleep people are plotting against you! Wake up and watch out! is carrying out Prospero’s orders to look after Alonso and Gonzalo by waking them up before Antonio and Sebastian kill them When Caliban is drunk he celebrates having a new master Act 2 Scene 2 Caliban ‘Ban, Ban, Cacaliban Has a new master: get a new man. Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! Freedom! (Singing drunkenly) I’ve got a new master! I’m free! Caliban celebrates free, but he is not really because he has just exchanged one master for another Miranda idealises Ferdinand Act 1 Scene 2 Miranda There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple: If the ill spirit have so fair a Good things will strive to dwell with’t. He has such a beautiful body that he must be good inside because nothing bad could exist inside him Miranda assumes here that Ferdinand’s outward appearance is so beautiful that his character must also be perfect