Explore the theme of rebellion in the first 3 acts of 'The Tempest'
Explore the theme of rebellion in the first three acts of The Tempest
Rebellion is definitely an important theme throughout the play. Every character has committed an act of rebellion at some point in The Tempest. The subject of rebellion was very important to the audience at the time because of the risk of rebellion at the time against James I, who was the monarch.
There is a lot of rebelling against masters, as shown by both Ariel and Caliban. In act 1 scene 2, Ariel asks Prospero for his freedom from the magician's service, but is declined, and Prospero reminds him of what he freed Ariel from ("I must once in a month recount what thou hast been, which thou forget'st." I.ii.262-264). Prospero tells that the reason Sycorax imprisoned Ariel, was because the spirit refused to carry out her orders, rebelling against her authority. Caliban, on the other hand, displays his rebellious stripes by agreeing to serve Trinculo and Stephano instead of Prospero ("A plague upon the tyrant that I serve! I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee, thou wondrous man." II.2.162-164).
Sebastian and Antonio are first rebellious in Act I scene 2, when they refused to obey the Boatswains orders ("Hang cur, hang, you whoreson insolent noise-maker! We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art." I.i.43-44). But in Act II scene 1, the two characters rebel against their king, Alonso, by planning to kill him ("Draw thy sword. One stroke shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest, and I the king shall love thee" II.i.292-294). But rebellion is not only present in these completely power-driven characters, but also in those characters who are powered by love, such as Miranda and Ferdinand. Ferdinand, a prince, rebels against social order and agrees to serve Prospero in order to see Miranda ("To whom I am subdued, are but light to me, might I but through my prison once a day behold this maid" I.2.489-491). Not being raised in Milan in the modern society, Miranda is not
Rebellion is definitely an important theme throughout the play. Every character has committed an act of rebellion at some point in The Tempest. The subject of rebellion was very important to the audience at the time because of the risk of rebellion at the time against James I, who was the monarch.
There is a lot of rebelling against masters, as shown by both Ariel and Caliban. In act 1 scene 2, Ariel asks Prospero for his freedom from the magician's service, but is declined, and Prospero reminds him of what he freed Ariel from ("I must once in a month recount what thou hast been, which thou forget'st." I.ii.262-264). Prospero tells that the reason Sycorax imprisoned Ariel, was because the spirit refused to carry out her orders, rebelling against her authority. Caliban, on the other hand, displays his rebellious stripes by agreeing to serve Trinculo and Stephano instead of Prospero ("A plague upon the tyrant that I serve! I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee, thou wondrous man." II.2.162-164).
Sebastian and Antonio are first rebellious in Act I scene 2, when they refused to obey the Boatswains orders ("Hang cur, hang, you whoreson insolent noise-maker! We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art." I.i.43-44). But in Act II scene 1, the two characters rebel against their king, Alonso, by planning to kill him ("Draw thy sword. One stroke shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest, and I the king shall love thee" II.i.292-294). But rebellion is not only present in these completely power-driven characters, but also in those characters who are powered by love, such as Miranda and Ferdinand. Ferdinand, a prince, rebels against social order and agrees to serve Prospero in order to see Miranda ("To whom I am subdued, are but light to me, might I but through my prison once a day behold this maid" I.2.489-491). Not being raised in Milan in the modern society, Miranda is not