Discovery The Tempest

It is the nature of meaningful discoveries, that they challenge and shift one’s perceptions, whether in an unexpected and sudden, or planned and deliberate circumstances. The consequences of discovery may be positive or negative, yet the ability of discovery to empower through allowing changes in one’s ideals and self-evaluations is unparalleled. William Shakespeare’s Jacobean play, The Tempest (1600s) explore the discovery of mortality and fragility of humanity, which is mirrored by Adrienne Rich’s poem Diving into the Wreck (1973). Also, Patrick Ness’ novel, A Monster Calls showcases a child’s journey to discover his hidden desires and ideology, through the influence of an external power. Through the varying mediums and contextual backgrounds,

Through the play, The Tempest, Shakespeare showcases Prospero’s intellectual discovery of his limitations as a mortal and the consequential rediscovery of his human morals. Prospero showcases his initial hatred towards the royal crew, rooted from past betrayals, as he says “They now are in my power. And in these fits, I leave them”. The truncated sentence emphasises Prospero’s cruel and revengeful mindset, depicting his firm belief in “power” being the tool for vengeance. However, a dramatic change in Prospero’s attitude can be seen, as he makes an unexpected discovery of human mortality following Ariel’s monologue. He says,“We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep,”, the “sleep” symbolising death, and the metaphor of “dream” highlighting Prospero’s intellectual discovery of life’s fragility, where one’s memories and earthly possessions are temporary. Through the alliterative “such sleep” and “little life”, Prospero emphasises the insignificance of human life, and with it, the insignificance of his art. As he discovers the futility of his power in the face of mortality, Prospero rediscovers his humanity and gains a renewed understanding of the futility of vengeance. He says, “My charms I’ll break….They shall be themselves”, juxtaposing to his initial cruelty and will to revenge and hence portraying the change in his perception. Therefore, the renewal of

Rich’s depiction of human mortality and the fleeting nature of life mirrors that of Prospero’s discovery, expressing a sense of community gained through renewed understanding of the inevitability of death. Rich personifies a shipwreck in, “ribs of disaster” to represent humanity, the metaphorical “ribs” alluding to human bones which symbolise the basis of life, but also the imminent death that all of humanity faces. The persona’s intellectual discovery of mortality is further evident as she refers to “we” as “half-destroyed instruments… water eaten log, the fouled compass”, alluding to death and portraying the inescapable nature of mortality. As the persona gains a renewed understanding of life and death, she develops a spiritual connection with humanity, leading to a re-evaluation of her perceptions. Her initial depiction of her identity and values can be seen as the positive tone in “Cousteau with his assiduous team aboard the sun-flooded schooner…” directly juxtaposing to the grim tone in the recurring motif of loneliness; “but here alone… there is noone”. However her unexpected discovery of human mortality leads to a change in her self evaluation, as evident in “I am she: I am he… We are, I am, you are…” where the connection between first second and third perspectives is unify human beings under