The Tempest Freedom Analysis

Confinement and it’s Effect on Character’s Freedom in The Tempest

Judith Joshi, Anthony Ejike, Ramanesan Arunan, Isaiah Khokhar

Characters are confined throughout the Shakespearean play The Tempest as a result of physical barriers and internal emotions and this will be proven through this presentation.

(1.1.56-8)

Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground: long heath, brown furze, anything. The wills above be done, but I would fain die a dry death.

The characters confine themselves to their internal emotion and barrier of desperation as seen through the soliloquy by Gonzalo in Act 1 Scene 1. Moreover, this is the excerpt happens when all the Nobles exit the scene and Gonzalo is left on stage. Through this,

Afterwards, he sets down the log and begins to reflect on his hard labour and how it’s pleasurable because of the thoughts about Miranda. Through this excerpt, Shakespeare demonstrates the theme of confinement due to superficial love through the devices of hyperbole, antithesis, and juxtaposition. Ferdinand hyperbolically states that he must remove some “thousands of these logs, and pile them up,” which shows how he is willing to do anything for the sake a of Miranda. Shakespeare expresses the use of antithesis when Ferdinand talks about sports being painful and their “labour delight” in them sets off. This antithesis shows how he feels about Prospero and Miranda. Ferdinand feels intimidated by Prospero’s commands to do labour and delight through Miranda’s love. Lastly, Shakespeare uses juxtaposition to compare the rudeness of Prospero to the kindness of Miranda. He says she is “ten times more gentle than her father’s crabbed.” This shows superficial love and the effects it has on Ferdinand, while he is imprisoned by Prospero. He has not even fully known Miranda and he already compares her gentleness to her father who has imprisoned him by telling him to do these harsh works. In conclusion, through the use of hyperbole, antithesis, and juxtaposition, he expresses the theme of confinement through superficial

But chiefly

Him that you termed, sir, “the good old Lord Gonzalo,”

His tears run down his beard like winter’s drops

From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em

That if you now beheld them, your affections

Would become tender.

Finally, in Act 5 Scene 1, Ariel is talking to Prospero and explaining how the men Gonzalo, Antonio, Sebastian, and Alonso are faring. In this excerpt, Shakespeare portrays the theme of sorrow due to confinement through his use of imagery, simile, and symbolism. Shakespeare uses the symbol of a “cell” to bring out the prison-like qualities of the island which shows us the anger and sorrow of a prisoner locked in prison. Furthermore, Shakespeare shows an image of a cup filled to the brim with tears which shows them lamenting. This is something people do when they have lost something. In this case, the men are lamenting due to their loss of freedom. Shakespeare shows Gonzalo’s sorrow through the simile of him crying like winter drops from the branches. This shows his “wet” sorrow and shows how truly miserable he is. Hence, through the use of imagery, simile, and symbolism, Shakespeare shows the theme of sorrow and dismay due to