The Tempest: Act 4 - 'All the World's A Stage...'
1. In what way does Prospero compare compare life to the masque or the stage? (Act 4 Scene 1, lines 147-158)
2. In Greek mythology, Ceres, who appears in the masque of Act 4, is associated with the concept of rebirth, a return to life, a theme that a number of the characters refer to in their closing speeches. In your opinion, has Shakespeare restored the characters to their former selves, or has he changed or developed them during the course of the play?
3. How does the island function as a laboratory for testing human nature? For Prospero? For Shakespeare?
4. At the Masque, Ceres makes a decree of Venus and Cupid. Why do you think that Venus, goddess of love, was absent from the young lovers' celebration? [SEE LINES 85 - 99 OF ACT 4 SCENE 1]
Good morning miss. I'm answering question number one in the first blog. In what way does Prospero compare life to the masque or the stage? (Act 4 Scene 1, lines 147-158)
ReplyDeleteProspero compares life to the masque by describing how one day the lives they have created will vanish as easily as the masque filled with spirits they observed. Breanna Pagon
Good morning, Breanna, and thank you for your response!
DeleteThe island functioned as a laboratory for testing human nature because the island was testing how the royal people would live out of their comfort zone. Prospero played with the minds of the royals as a means of getting back at them for stealing his dukedom.
ReplyDeleteAnaijha Powell
Excellent, Anaijha!
DeleteMs. Willie
Good Morning Miss. For number one, Prospero compares life to the masque because the masque that was performed for Ferdinand and Miranda, spirits were summoned who then vanished away quickly. Therefore, Prospero compares life to this by describing how one day the lives created will vanish away quickly like the masque filled with spirits. -KHAYLA HALL
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Khayla and that's very true. Life, like the Masque, is fleeting.
DeleteMs. Willie
The island functioned as a laboratory for testing human nature because the island was a form of punishment that Prospero gave to his royal men to test if and how they could live out of his comfort zone. He did this to try and get back at them for stealing his dukedom.
ReplyDeleteColleen Stuart
Good point, Colleen, and like a lab, experiments are conducted to assess successes and failures, which we are witnessing with the characters.
DeleteGood morning Miss
ReplyDeleteI am also answering question 1. Prospero compares life to that of the stage/masque in saying that all things must come to an end. Even the greatest things end up vanishing like spirits.— Denise Rose
Good morning, Denise and well written! Nothing lasts forever, even when it's a celebration AND note the 'play within a play' strategy. It's ironic that it is mentioned in Act 4, nearing the play's end, which ties in perfectly with this quote.
DeleteMs. Willie
Good morning miss, in responding to question two, I would say that Shakespare did reform the characters towards the end of the play, allowing them to them to develop some form of admittance and penitence for the evil they had done, Shakespare also craftily allowed the audience to see the characters(Trinculo, Stephano, Sebastian) for who they really were- cowards, evil, selfish and foolish.
ReplyDeleteDaniel
DeleteGood morning, Daniel and well said (or written)! I believe the ending (spoiler alert) indicates that there are some who, unfortunately, are irredeemable.
DeletePlease
ReplyDeleteThe island functioned as a laboratory for testing human nature for both Prospero and Shakespeare. For Prospero, it was through this island that he had manipulated the nobles and royalties using magic for a spot/seat of authority in Milan once more. He had also claimed this island as his and enslaved Caliban who was there prior to him. This shows that he was either greedy for power or simply loved to be in authority. For Shakespeare, it was through this little island that he portrayed the behaviours of men out of their comfort zones.
ReplyDeleteKARENA GAYLE
DeleteVery good, my little playwright analyst! Like a mad scientist, Prospero easily navigated his test tubes of tricks and observed the "lab rats' " reactions!
DeleteMs. Willie
Good morning Miss.
ReplyDeleteAmoya Lyttle response for question #2. Ceres as stated before is the Roman Goddess of rebirth and return to life but in this scene rebirth doesnt mean reincarnation but growth. Shakespeare used Ceres as a symbol to highlight the growth of the characters but Prospero's in particular(to me) as he showed the most character development during the play and he cleverly used this symbol during the falling action of the play.
Good morning, Amoya, and bravo! Prospero indeed showed the most improvement and isn't it funny how he was the one who set out to teach the others a lesson, yet he is the one who gained such wisdom and insight! The teacher, in other words, became the student.
DeleteMs. Willie
Good morning, Miss.
ReplyDeleteI will be answering question 4. In the Masque or the play within the play, it was said where Venus and Cupid made a plot for the god of the underworld (Hades) to steal Ceres' daughter. Ever since that incident, Ceres never spoke to them again, hence, there was already a feud between the two. However, in the masque, Iris points out that Venus and Cupid had actually tried to trick Miranda and Ferdinand, who had vowed not to sleep together until their wedding day. Because their trick had failed, Iris said that Venus had headed home along with her son, Cupid, who broke his arrows and vowed not to shoot them again.
~Teri-Lee Stubbs
DeleteGood morning, Teri-Lee and I must say, I am impressed! You connected the Greek mythology with Shakespeare and provided a substantial response. Well done!
DeleteMs. Willie
Good day miss I am reply to question 2. In my opinion I think that Shakespeare, had developed or changed the characters during the course of the play. In the masque that was help I see that as an something that signifies the change in Miranda as she is now growing up and her innocence is taking a leave of absence. She is now going to become a married woman and delve into new endeavours with her to-be husband. Not only this, but for her to be husband Ferdinand, there was some for of Character change as well. He had to completely change who he was and what he usually would stand for and do to get a female like Miranda, something as big and important to him as his pride was put aside, something that he usually doesn’t do, to get Miranda, and in my eyes that is a big form of change in the characters persona. As he redirects his actions and thoughts from what he usually does.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Minali and excellent response! At the heart of it all, we see characters ADJUSTING, developing, experiencing growth though not all characters undergo this development. I think it is safe to say that the examples you've given are representations of people who thrive and blossom in any environment.
DeleteMs. Willie
Miss, I am answering question 3. For Shakespeare, the island functioned as a laboratory for testing human nature because the island was testing how the royal people would live out of their comfort zone. While for Prospero, he was sig the island to play with the minds of the royal men as a punishment for stealing his dukedom. ~Shellane Shettleworth.
ReplyDeleteVery good, Shellane! I envision him as the mad scientist revelling in the fear of the unknown emanating from the stranded courtiers!
DeleteMs. Willie
Good morning miss I will be answering number 1. Prospero compares life to the masque by saying that just as quickly as life is given and can be filled with joy and entertainment, it can be taken away in a moments notice and vanish without a trace just as quickly as the masque filled with spirits
ReplyDeleteShanelle Earle
Good morning, Shanelle and well written! Life is fragile and like the Masque, can easily slip through your fingers.
DeleteMs. Willie
Natasha Myers
ReplyDeleteThe masque is compared to life as being insubstantial as is seen in the play. Prospero exploits all the necessary resources by summoning spirits to conduct the ceremony. However, as soon as he remembers the plot against him the masque is taken away. Through this we can see where the materialistic things of life which are considered as invaluable by many are easily taken away, giving them little to no significance in life.
I echo your sentiments, Natasha. Well done!
DeleteMs. Willie
Prospero compares life to the masque by saying one day the lives they have created will vanish just like the masque filled with spirits -Romique Leslie
ReplyDeleteThis means that all the things in life that we live to enjoy can disappear in the blink of an eye. -Romique Leslie
DeleteWonderfully expressed, Romique! Like Prospero's kingdom which was taken away, like the nobles being shipwrecked...all that they have and are familiar with can evaporate, like the Masque.
DeleteMs. Willie
Additionally miss, there was also change in próspero as when he delivers his soliloquy, he mentions giving up magic because he saw what harm it had brought the people he loved, even though they had wronged him. Not only this we can see where próspero grew in the sense that he had chosen to not use his magic and to forgive those that have wronged him and in my eyes it takes a lot of self growth to reconcile with those who have wronged you.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I believe he realized using magic as a crutch would only bring temporary satisfaction. Going forward, without this dependency, this safety net, he will opt to handle it the mortal way.
DeleteMs. Willie
The island serves as a laboratory for testing human nature, especially for Prospero, as this island experimented with human figures in the play, giving some power (Prospero now had power over man and nature) and stripping some of their power (eg. Antonio, Alonso). This newfound power, and loss of power served to reveal the true motives and character of the persons who encountered the island, and so prove the hypothesis that man looks out for himself. In the case of Prospero, it is quite ironic that he, a former duke, who had power over the people of Milan and neglected these duties, leading to his overthrow and demise, was quite power-hungry on the island as he asserted himself as leader. This island revealed that while he was stripped of his dukedom, he still longed for power, this time over both man and nature, and so his character was revealed.
ReplyDeleteA very thought-provoking response, Lindxee!
DeleteMs. Willie
#4. I believe they were absent because they were upset that the plan of making Ferdinand sleep with Miranda before the wedding failed. So they decided to not celebrate the day with them. -Josh-Ann Matheson
ReplyDeleteGood morning Miss,
ReplyDelete#4 - As Prospero said, if Ferdinand and Miranda can't wait until their marriage celebration to have intercourse, their marriage will be cursed. Venus, being the Goddess of love and sex, was absent from the celebration of the young lovers, as she would in some way influence them to break that promise of 'no sex till marriage'. In fact, in lines 94-97, the goddess Iris stated that she was planning to cast a spell on the young lover's to make them have sex, but it had failed.
- Sahel Hamilton
DeleteGood morning Miss.
ReplyDeleteNumber 3. How does the island function as a laboratory for testing human nature? For Prospero? For Shakespeare?
The island funstions as a laboratory for testing human nature as Prospero used it to see how well the royal men could function outside of their comfort zone in a place where their royalty didn't really matter. They couldn't do so as it is seen where they were easily distracted by the fancy clothes that Prospero and Ariel had set out to see if they would be distracted by them.
Good Morning Ms.
ReplyDeleteHow does the island function as a laboratory for testing human nature? For Prospero? For Shakespeare?
Prospero's aims of the experiment differs from Shakespeare. Prospero only staged the shipwreck in other to steal back what he lost - his dukedom while Shakespeare wanted to experiment of the behavioral changes of the royals/ their ability to adapt in an area they aren't familiar with or they are not comfortable being in.
Mikaela Clarke
Good Morning miss,
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1 : Seeing as though Prospero invented the masque for Ariel and Ferdinand to serve the purpose of entertainment and celebration, however he remembered that Caliban plotted against him and as a result, the masque ended. Prospero made a comparison to say that Life and all things in it will eventually come to an end just as they were created.
- Quala Clarke
3.) Miss The island served as a great laboratory because of its availability and wherewithal to be controlled in weather patterns and anyway it needed to be, it was easily bent to the will and whimsycl of its magical master because of it's own almost magic filled nature. This caused everything else and everyone else on the island to succumb to it's master aswell. With Prospero having so much help on hand (voluntarily or involuntarily) he was able to assess and aid when necessary as well as punish and watch. The Island could have been considered to be quite the vivarium. Amani Thelwell.
ReplyDeleteThere was a typing error it should just say Whimsy.
DeleteGood Morning Miss, I am answering number 3. Shakespeare evokes human’s capacity for both “virtue” and “evil” on an island. It explores human nature in a natural rather than socially imposed lens where the true natures of all characters can manifest. Prospero achieves a self-righteous state of control over all other characters, revealing his manipulative and tyrannical tendencies.-Britney Williams
ReplyDeleteDaniel
ReplyDeleteIn addition to question 1, time also stands as the basis of the comparison Shakespeare made between the masque and life, as in a play it has a time frame, meaning that there are times for different actors to take the stage, different events to take its course until it eventually gets to the end. Similarly it is the same with life, its just that it is a bit more spontaneous and there are not usually pre-planned/ selected events. However both have their rising and falling actions until the end.
The island functioned as a laboratory for testing human nature because Prospero used the island to examine how royalty and nobles would react to being in a foreign environment. Prospero put these royal people in various situations that assess their behaviours and morals.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare uses the play as a medium to depict basic human nature including conformity and humans' capacity to forgive. He goes on to show that people social barriers can be broken and humans can compromise. - Indi Walker