Act II of Shakespeare's The Tempest: Politics Corrupt

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In Act II of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Antonio reveals that politicians are persuasive and corrupt. Through a cleverly worded dialogue between Antonio and Sebastian, Antonio convinces him to kill his brother, the king of Naples, in order to attain the throne. “O” (2.1.252) laments Antonio beginning the passage with an informal introduction. Through this one syllable, Shakespeare uses diction to convey how Antonio views Sebastian as intellectually inferior to him. To reinforce this Shakespeare begins Antonio’s next sentence with “O”(2.1.274) “By their own fear or sloth” (2.1.257) Antonio continues using a biblical allusion to one of the seven deadly sins, sloth, to convey how evil it is not to seize this opportunity. He uses the bible, which was a very revered text at the time to all, to persuade Sebastian that even God believes men should seize opportunities when they present themselves. In the following few lines the juxtaposition and repetition of “great hope” (2.1.274) and “no hope” (2.1.274) is a means of confusing Sebastian. Antonio cleverly jumbles his words together...

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