In “The Mirror of Analogy: The Tempest” by Reuben A. Brower, examines the play through the juxtaposition of concepts such as “sleep-and-dream”, “sea-tempest”, “earth-air”, “noise-music”, “strange-wonderous”, “slavery-freedom”, and “sovereignty-conspiracy” as they are the thread that connects the narratives of Prospero’s magical island to a grand metaphor of change.
In exploring the connection between “strange” and “wonderous”, Brower shows how the characters’ descriptions of the island creates an air of magic and mysteriousness, as though the island itself is something of a dream. Moreover, while analyzing the analogies of “sleep” and “dream”, Brower finds that these concepts are used to distinguish between reality and desire. Shakespeare also uses the recurrent image of “sea and tempest” as a descriptor for true events of the play and as a symbolic metaphor for fate whose interpretation varies with each character. Also going along with the duality of the play’s imagery, Brower points out that the whimsical descriptions of the clouds vary in intensity in alignment with the mood of the play’s story arc. On the other hand, Brower notices that the spirits’ music and strange noises are more consistent in the sense that these magical beings highlight the wrong doings and misconceptions of mundane characters. Also, what Brower calls the “earth-air or Caliban-Ariel Antithesis” serves to highlight the fluidity and eventual freedom of Ariel whereas the adamant and stubborn Caliban receives punishments. Additionally, the continuity of “sovereignty and conspiracy” is evident in that both Alonso and Prospero were both targets conspiracy but everyone ultimately retained their rightful statuses in the end. Therefore, by forcing the characters to reflect on themselves with respect to their decisions and future actions in the midst of the island’s magical madness they are better able to transform themselves and their frame of mind when leaving as new and improved beings.
All of Brower’s analogies ultimately augment to the idea that Prospero’s island is a magical place meant to incite what Brower calls a “sea change”– a moral change in its visitors that allows them to not only reconciliate with one another, but also with reality.
Really excellent work, Madison. You are quite right to say that “by forcing the characters to reflect on themselves with respect to their decisions and future actions in the midst of the island’s magical madness they are better able to transform themselves and their frame of mind when leaving as new and improved beings.” This is why the speech in which Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian regain their reason is so important to Brower’s reading. It connects the figures of speech that he argues are important with the “dramatic action.”
Now, if you choose to write about this essay, you will want to think about how what YOU have to say about the play relates to what HE says. How would you have approached the role of “transformation,” or of the other “dualities” he mentions in the play, before reading this? Is one of the continuities more important than another in your view? Alternatively, what about the play gets lost in Brower’s analysis? Is it important to prove that the play is unified in its conception? These are some questions you might address in your paper.
In Brower’s essay, “The Mirror of Analogy ”, he mentions six continuities that hold the most significance. These include “strange-wondrous,” “sleep-and-dream,” “sea-tempest,” “music-and-noise,” “earth-air,” “slavery-freedom,” and lastly “sovereignty-conspiracy“. Brower begins by explaining how two of these continuities merge, “strange-wondrous,” with “sleep-and-dream.” The linkage occurs in the dialogue directly, specifically when Prospero begins to explain to Miranda about his past as duke. As he begins to tell his past, Miranda states “The strangeness of your story put heaviness in me” (1 .2 .309-10). This is where Brower begins to explain the many words said throughout the play where although standing alone, they can mean one thing, in a certain context it means something completely different. Words like “wondrous,” “monstrous,” and “divine” tie with “strange,” “strangely,” and “strangeness.”. The unnaturalness of events causes things to be deemed strange that it must be something straight out of a dream, hence the “sleep-dream” continuities. Around this part is where it almost seems Browser is implying that all events occurring after Prospero’s telling of his past is a figment of Miranda’s dream. As Brower continues to move through the rest of the continuities, readers can notice that the six ideas come down to just two big ideas, strangeness and dream. Being “sea-swallowed” as mentioned in the “sea-tempest” section, reoccurring mentions of clouds, music, and earth are followed by the “strange” and “magical” characteristics nature contains. How things around them are both living and coming to life with human characteristics, personifying them simultaneously, it’s a dream-like situation. Another connection made is between “slave” and “earth”. Brower mentions how both Ariel and Caliban are tied down by a master, unable to break free. Since Ariel is a spirit, an airy spirit to be exact, that’s where the earth connections ties in. It almost sends the message that earth is enslaved to the humans who inhabit it, its offerings being abused in every way, shape, and form. Brower demonstrates the ideas that tie not only one idea to the next, but also those ideas to the real world and haow they have been very much applicable throughout humankind’s history.
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In “The Mirror of Analogy: The Tempest” by Reuben A. Brower, examines the play through the juxtaposition of concepts such as “sleep-and-dream”, “sea-tempest”, “earth-air”, “noise-music”, “strange-wonderous”, “slavery-freedom”, and “sovereignty-conspiracy” as they are the thread that connects the narratives of Prospero’s magical island to a grand metaphor of change.
In exploring the connection between “strange” and “wonderous”, Brower shows how the characters’ descriptions of the island creates an air of magic and mysteriousness, as though the island itself is something of a dream. Moreover, while analyzing the analogies of “sleep” and “dream”, Brower finds that these concepts are used to distinguish between reality and desire. Shakespeare also uses the recurrent image of “sea and tempest” as a descriptor for true events of the play and as a symbolic metaphor for fate whose interpretation varies with each character. Also going along with the duality of the play’s imagery, Brower points out that the whimsical descriptions of the clouds vary in intensity in alignment with the mood of the play’s story arc. On the other hand, Brower notices that the spirits’ music and strange noises are more consistent in the sense that these magical beings highlight the wrong doings and misconceptions of mundane characters. Also, what Brower calls the “earth-air or Caliban-Ariel Antithesis” serves to highlight the fluidity and eventual freedom of Ariel whereas the adamant and stubborn Caliban receives punishments. Additionally, the continuity of “sovereignty and conspiracy” is evident in that both Alonso and Prospero were both targets conspiracy but everyone ultimately retained their rightful statuses in the end. Therefore, by forcing the characters to reflect on themselves with respect to their decisions and future actions in the midst of the island’s magical madness they are better able to transform themselves and their frame of mind when leaving as new and improved beings.
All of Brower’s analogies ultimately augment to the idea that Prospero’s island is a magical place meant to incite what Brower calls a “sea change”– a moral change in its visitors that allows them to not only reconciliate with one another, but also with reality.
Really excellent work, Madison. You are quite right to say that “by forcing the characters to reflect on themselves with respect to their decisions and future actions in the midst of the island’s magical madness they are better able to transform themselves and their frame of mind when leaving as new and improved beings.” This is why the speech in which Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian regain their reason is so important to Brower’s reading. It connects the figures of speech that he argues are important with the “dramatic action.”
Now, if you choose to write about this essay, you will want to think about how what YOU have to say about the play relates to what HE says. How would you have approached the role of “transformation,” or of the other “dualities” he mentions in the play, before reading this? Is one of the continuities more important than another in your view? Alternatively, what about the play gets lost in Brower’s analysis? Is it important to prove that the play is unified in its conception? These are some questions you might address in your paper.
In Brower’s essay, “The Mirror of Analogy ”, he mentions six continuities that hold the most significance. These include “strange-wondrous,” “sleep-and-dream,” “sea-tempest,” “music-and-noise,” “earth-air,” “slavery-freedom,” and lastly “sovereignty-conspiracy“. Brower begins by explaining how two of these continuities merge, “strange-wondrous,” with “sleep-and-dream.” The linkage occurs in the dialogue directly, specifically when Prospero begins to explain to Miranda about his past as duke. As he begins to tell his past, Miranda states “The strangeness of your story put heaviness in me” (1 .2 .309-10). This is where Brower begins to explain the many words said throughout the play where although standing alone, they can mean one thing, in a certain context it means something completely different. Words like “wondrous,” “monstrous,” and “divine” tie with “strange,” “strangely,” and “strangeness.”. The unnaturalness of events causes things to be deemed strange that it must be something straight out of a dream, hence the “sleep-dream” continuities. Around this part is where it almost seems Browser is implying that all events occurring after Prospero’s telling of his past is a figment of Miranda’s dream. As Brower continues to move through the rest of the continuities, readers can notice that the six ideas come down to just two big ideas, strangeness and dream. Being “sea-swallowed” as mentioned in the “sea-tempest” section, reoccurring mentions of clouds, music, and earth are followed by the “strange” and “magical” characteristics nature contains. How things around them are both living and coming to life with human characteristics, personifying them simultaneously, it’s a dream-like situation. Another connection made is between “slave” and “earth”. Brower mentions how both Ariel and Caliban are tied down by a master, unable to break free. Since Ariel is a spirit, an airy spirit to be exact, that’s where the earth connections ties in. It almost sends the message that earth is enslaved to the humans who inhabit it, its offerings being abused in every way, shape, and form. Brower demonstrates the ideas that tie not only one idea to the next, but also those ideas to the real world and haow they have been very much applicable throughout humankind’s history.
Hi Veronica, Thanks for posting! Just so you know, however, this will not count towards your blog post since you posted it after the day it was due.