The Tempest

The Tempest

Act 1 scene 1(the storm): The opening scene of the Tempest I think is

brilliant. There is an instant unsuspecting panic, which quickly gains

ones attention. Usually in a play there is a build up to a dramatic

moment but The Tempest opens with this and the dramatic moment is when

there is the inevitability of death. One can see the last instant

panic and hear the words of lost hope, and people preparing for the

final moment, "give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself

ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap.

Cheerily good hearts out of our way I say". This was said by the

boatswain, and it is an example of how Shakespeare used a great

climatic moment like a shipwreck, in the beginning scene. This had a

brilliant effect, as it shows the flare of emotion and the intensity

of the situation, which grabs ones, attention, and then holds it

throughout the play.

This scene is also interesting, as even at the supposed final moment

of Anthonio's life, he still holds himself above others, "Hang cur

hang you whoresen, insolent noise maker, we are less afraid to be

drown'd than thou art." This is a great example of the insolence of

man, and how one lets out his anger to another as to relieve it from

themselves. Shakespeare has created an art of depicting ones emotions

and in this scene, he portrays emotion at its highest point, the final

fear of death and the anger and hopelessness of the situation, and how

each of them reacts to this.

Also what is interesting in this scene is the philosophy, or lack of

philosophy. The only talk of God is that the king is praying in his

cabin. There are no...

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...and is at first amazed and scared by

seeing the four-legged slave talking to another man. He then realizes

that it is his good friend Stephano although when Stephano first hears

the voice of Trinculo he is also scared and they have a very humorous

drunken meeting. Stephano and Trinculo are very happy to see each

other, as they both thought the other was dead. Caliban is also very

happy about the meeting as he is given wine, and he is finally given

company. "These be fine things, and if they be not spirits: that's a

brave God, and bears celestial liquor: I will kneel to him." This

scene shows how happy each of them is to see each other and they form

an alliance with each other as they continue to get drunk and better

aquatinted with each other. Caliban becomes the slave of Stephano and

they decide to inherit the island!