How does Ariel interpret the tempest in his speech as the harpy? What effect is his speech meant to have on the “men of sin”? Is this an effective way of getting revenge? Why or why not? Incorporate quotations from the speech to support your answers.
English 220: Introduction to Writing about Literature
Nature and the Modern World
The miniature tempest that occurs as Ariel, in the form of a harpy, enters the scene is meant to fill Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastion with fear and shame as a punishment for casting out Prospero. Ariel calls himself, and possibly Prospero as well, “ministers of fate” who are there to judge these men for their unjust actions of casting out Prospero. Them being stranded on an island surrounded by chaos is a punishment that they cannot escape, and whatever action they do take is equal to them choosing to “wound the loud winds”. They can’t fight thin air, and they can not fight the inevitable. Alonso seems to be the only one affected by Ariel’s speech, claiming that he will join his allegedly dead son in the water where he ‘died’. This could be because he now blames himself for his son’s death. Sending Ariel is not an effective method of getting revenge because Sebastion and Antonio were not affected by it. They still want to go along with their original plan of killing the King and claiming more power for themselves.
Very nice close reading!
You say: “Sending Ariel is not an effective method of getting revenge because Sebastion and Antonio were not affected by it. They still want to go along with their original plan of killing the King and claiming more power for themselves.”
We don’t actually know whether Sebastian and Antonio still want to murder Prospero after they’ve heard the speech. We know they do before. You make a good point about Alonso’s reaction, though. We can talk more about what this might say about Sebastian and Antonio in class.
Ariel interprets the tempest in his speech by using figurative language that relates to the sinking of the ship and drawing. For example when he states, ” the never surfeited sea Hath caused to belch you up om this Island… And even with suchlike valor men hang and drown their proper selves.” He says this to demonstrate how even after the “Sea” and himself had mercy to let them survive and live on this island their actions just cause them deeper trouble and cause them to figuratively drown themselves with chaos. Ariel also refers back to how during the tempest Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio left Prospero and his daughter exposed onto the sea and this is why now they are being haunted and have “incensed the seas and shores, yeah all the creatures, against their peace.” This speech is meant to frighten them and let them know that they will be held accountable for their actions against Prospero also to let Alonso know that his son is a life but the reason why he was taken away from him was because of what he put prosper and his daughter through during the tempest. This wasn’t the most effective way of getting revenge because Sebastian and Antonio still had their mind set on following the plan regardless. Alonso however, was a little bit taken back because he heard that his son was alive which gave him hope to look for him as he stated, ” therefor my son I’ th’ ooze is bedded; and I’ll seek him deeper than e’er plummet…” This demonstrated that he was going to search for his son now that he knew he was alive.
You say: “Ariel interprets the tempest in his speech by using figurative language that relates to the sinking of the ship and drawing. For example when he states, ” the never surfeited sea Hath caused to belch you up om this Island… And even with suchlike valor men hang and drown their proper selves.” He says this to demonstrate how even after the “Sea” and himself had mercy to let them survive and live on this island their actions just cause them deeper trouble and cause them to figuratively drown themselves with chaos.”
You’ve called attention to a great quotation. What do you make of the use of the word “belch”?
I’d add that the drowning is actually very literal–Alonso is thinking of drowning himself when he says “therefor my son I’ th’ ooze is bedded; and I’ll seek him deeper than e’er plummet…” In fact, Alonso still thinks Ferdinand is dead, and plans to follow him to the bottom of the sea.