It all ends

Kyle Petras

12/20/15

Gubanich

English

It All Ends

In the final act, act five, everything comes to a close. Prospero finally reveals himself to his brother, Miranda and Ferdinand are married, Alonso finds his son and Caliban and his two blithering morons are caught. This blog will focus mainly on Caliban and who he is. After having a couple classes discussing who Caliban was, I have decided that he is a victim. It can be seen throughout the book that Prospero treats him poorly. He is a victim to his words and what he has done to Caliban.

When Caliban is first introduced to the audience, Prospero and Miranda summon him from his abode. “Though poisonous slave, got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam, come forth!” (1.2.383-384). This is Prospero greeting Caliban. He says that the devil brought him up. Prospero is really bullying him and accusing him of so many things. He then goes on to threaten him by saying, “For this, be sure, tonight though shalt have cramps”(1.2.389). Prospero has magical powers and can control things with them, one being torturing people.

Later on, Caliban is bringing wood back when he sees a figure in the distance. He thinks it is one of Prospero’s spirits to come to torture him. He then hides under his cloak hoping that the spirit won't see him. “Do not torment me, prithee. I’ll bring my wood home faster”(2.2.56-57). Caliban is scared that the spirit has come for him when in reality, it is just Trinculo wandering the island after being shipwrecked. Trinculo is running away from what seems to be a tempest and is scared that there is going to be another storm. He them finds Caliban with the cloak and hides under it. Caliban says to Trinculo unknowingly “This spirit torments me. Oh!” (2.2.49). Caliban is still fearful that Prospero has sent spirits to torture him with cramps and aches.

After discovering that Trinculo and Stephano are not spirits, Caliban goes with them and makes a plan to murder Prospero. Unbeknownst to Caliban and his two other idiots, Prospero and Ariel are watching their every move.



The island where Prospero and his slaves reside was originally Caliban and his mother Sycorax’s. Prospero beached on the island and killed her leaving Caliban. Caliban Showed Prospero the island and then Prospero betrayed him. He tortured him and deprived him of everything he had, the island. I don’t feel bad for Prospero and the plan to kill him. I believe that he should have been killed or gotten some form of payback. In these findings, I believe that Caliban is a victim to his reign.

Appearance vs. Reality

Kyle Petras

13/12/15

Gubanich

Blog #4

Appearance vs. Reality

In act four, things start to go a bit astray. Prospero gives permission to Ferdinand to marry Miranda and Ariel and Prospero trick Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban. All of this has led from believing the appearance of something and not seeing the reality. Ariel leads the trio to Prospero’s closet of clothes and makes them think that they are theirs. Prospero gives the couple a wedding “show” which includes goddesses and summoning magic. Prospero changes the appearance of all things to direct things the way he wants it to be done.

After talking to Ferdinand about not taking Miranda’s “virgin-knot”, Prospero calls upon Ariel to fetch the spirits of Juno, the queen of the gods, Ceres, the goddess of Agriculture, and Iris, the goddess of the Rainbow. As a wedding gift, Prospero has the three goddess’ put on a masque or a play for Ferdinand and Miranda. During the play, Prospero remembers the plot that Stephano, Caliban and Trinculo have to kill him. He then stops the masque suddenly. Everything disappears as if nothing even happened. This is an example of something appearing and then showing the true reality.

Prospero realizes that he has people plotting his death, so he has Miranda and Ferdinand leave. He consults Ariel to take care of Caliban and his group. The trio is wandering for Prospero’s chamber through a swamp. Ariel has been leading them through swamps and prickly bushes. He then leads them to the entrance to Prospero’s wardrobe. They enter and see clothes galore. Stephano and Trinculo begin to try them on, but Caliban reminds them that that is not what they are here for. The two still try on clothes while Caliban is trying to get them to move on. It gets to the point where they are having Caliban carry more and more clothes. All of this is what Prospero wanted to happen. It appears that the clothes have been laid out for them to take. When everything seems great for them, Prospero sends hounds after them.

Now, of course, they are only spirits, but it looks like there are dogs running after them. Prospero also gives cramps to them all. He is only putting a magic incantation over them, so really none of that is happening. He did this to really scare the three off so he wouldn’t be killed.



Prospero is really directing this who play. He controls what the characters do and where they go. He can do whatever he wants. He plays with their minds and makes them think what they are seeing is real, but really it is just an illusion.

Love

Kyle Petras

5/12/15

Blog #3

Love

In act three, romance and love ensue. After being split from the tempest, Ferdinand is brought to Prospero by Ariel. At first sight, Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love. In the thick of it, Prospero wants them to get married but worries that he and his daughter will be separated from the island.

After being brought over by Ariel to Prospero and Miranda, Ferdinand beings to take a liking for Miranda. Prospero gives him the job of moving logs, the job Caliban used to have. Miranda shows ups to see Ferdinand. She sees that he is working hard and wants to help. “If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while. Pray, give me that. I’ll carry it to the pile”(3.1.27-29). Miranda refuses to let him take the logs, so she demands that she do it for him in love. Ferdinand does not allow it to happen. He says, ”No, precious creature, I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonor undergo while I sit lazyby”(3.1.30-33). Ferdinand tells Miranda that she shouldn’t do his work because of how beautiful a creature she is. Ferdinand continues to admire her with, “But you, O you, So perfect and so peerless, are created of every creature’s best”(3.1.56-58). He is continuously bombarding her with his “enraged affection” and wanting to get married. As they talk, Prospero is observing from a ridge. Towards the end of scene one, it is the turning point for their marriage and love. Miranda asks, “Do you love me?”(3.1.80), and Ferdinand responds, “I, beyond all limit of all else i’ th’ world, do love, prize, honor you”(3.1.84-86). This now locks in the deed that they do love each other. Miranda tells Ferdinand “ I am your wife if you will marry me. If not, I’ll die your maid”(3.1.100-101). Ferdinand replies “Ay, with a heart as willing as bondage e’er of freedom. Here’s my hand”(3.1.106-107). Now this is stating that Miranda will marry if he agrees, if not, she will become his servant so she can be with him. Ferdinand is saying that he is will as someone willing to be free from being bound. It is official that they both love each other. After talking, they decide to be married. “So glad of this as they I cannot be, who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing at nothing can be more. I’ll to my book, for yet ere suppertime must I perform much business appertaining”(3.1.111-115). Prospero wants her to be married because if she is to Ferdinand, she will become Queen of Naples. He also fears that if she becomes Queen, He will lose his daughter who grew up on the island with him.



Even though love is nice, it can have some consequences. Miranda and Ferdinand have decided that they love each other and that they are going to get married. Prospero wants his daughter to be happy with Ferdinand, but their marriage brings Prospero loneliness.