‘When No Man Was His Own’: Magic and Self-Discovery in The Tempest
‘When No Man Was His Own’: Magic and Self-Discovery in The Tempest
In the article, ‘When No Man Was His Own’: Magic and Self-Discovery in The Tempest, Ellen R. Belton explains, in detail, the way Prospero’s magic helps characters find their true identities (128). Belton writes that Prospero’s magic has two sides: manipulation of nature and spirits of nature; and the attempted manipulation of human beings (127). Prospero’s success in natural magic is considerable while, according to Belton, he is “deluded about his own accomplishments” with his manipulation of human beings (127-128). The magic Prospero has touches characters in three ways: physical coercion, control over his victims’ senses, and a type of hypnosis on his victims’ conscience (128). The last of which, according to Ellen, is the most important in Prospero’s task of testing all the inhabitants and visitors of the island. Belton goes on to list numerous other literary pieces and says none strike parallel with The Tempest (129). Belton suggests that, because of the sleep like trace Prospero puts his victims under, the characters compare their trances to dreams because it is the closest thing they can relate to (129). In her article, Belton includes a detailed story explaining instances where the power to paralyse, silence, or even induce sleep is used to overcome the magician’s victims (130). Prospero uses his ability to intoxicate his inhabitants, as stated before, to test the inhabitants of the island. Belton uses the example of Miranda’s trance and compares it to that of the charmed lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and writes that this trance like state proves Miranda and Ferdinand’s affection is from an intuitive force that recognizes their affinity for each other (131). Belton continues to describe other scenes in which Prospero tests each character and in turn, each character’s true nature is shown to the audience (131). Belton believes Prospero is saying that “sanity and reason, at
In the article, ‘When No Man Was His Own’: Magic and Self-Discovery in The Tempest, Ellen R. Belton explains, in detail, the way Prospero’s magic helps characters find their true identities (128). Belton writes that Prospero’s magic has two sides: manipulation of nature and spirits of nature; and the attempted manipulation of human beings (127). Prospero’s success in natural magic is considerable while, according to Belton, he is “deluded about his own accomplishments” with his manipulation of human beings (127-128). The magic Prospero has touches characters in three ways: physical coercion, control over his victims’ senses, and a type of hypnosis on his victims’ conscience (128). The last of which, according to Ellen, is the most important in Prospero’s task of testing all the inhabitants and visitors of the island. Belton goes on to list numerous other literary pieces and says none strike parallel with The Tempest (129). Belton suggests that, because of the sleep like trace Prospero puts his victims under, the characters compare their trances to dreams because it is the closest thing they can relate to (129). In her article, Belton includes a detailed story explaining instances where the power to paralyse, silence, or even induce sleep is used to overcome the magician’s victims (130). Prospero uses his ability to intoxicate his inhabitants, as stated before, to test the inhabitants of the island. Belton uses the example of Miranda’s trance and compares it to that of the charmed lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and writes that this trance like state proves Miranda and Ferdinand’s affection is from an intuitive force that recognizes their affinity for each other (131). Belton continues to describe other scenes in which Prospero tests each character and in turn, each character’s true nature is shown to the audience (131). Belton believes Prospero is saying that “sanity and reason, at