In Act 4 scene 1, lines 163-180, Prospero delivers his famous “our revels now are ended” speech after being reminded of Caliban’s plot.
Does the speech demonstrate Prospero’s vulnerability? How?
What does the speech suggest about the revels and about Prospero’s power more generally?
Why do you think this speech comes after the news of Caliban’s plot?
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In Act 4 scene 1, Prospero’s “our revels now are ended” speech clearly shows his vulnerable nature. Prospero just received the happy news that his daughter Miranda will be marrying Ferdinand, the prince of Milan which is something that he has been wanting for his daughter and because of this, Prospero summons spirits in order to join together in celebration. As the celebration continues, Prospero suddenly remembers that Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban are still conspiring to murder him in order to reign over the island “I forgot that foul conspiracy of the beast Caliban and his confederates against my life. The minute of their plot is almost come” (Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 139-144). He later came to the realization that he was too invested in happy matters and forgotten about reality. He states “As dreams are made on, our little life is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed” (Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 156-160). This is stating that for that short period of time, Prospero was just focusing on his ‘dream’ that he forgot about reality. This also implies, is the reason as to why Prospero lost his dukedom in the first place; he was so caught up in his dream of magic that he abandoned his duties in real life, leading to Antonio taking over his role. Due to this, he becomes extremely vulnerable because whenever he is in this ‘dream’ state, he becomes easy to take over just as he once had experienced.
Prospero’s “our revels now are ended speech” is different from his “rough magic” speech in Act 5 because, in Act 4, Prospero is upset that he allowed his dreams or happiness obtained from magic to take over his mind and his life. He could’ve easily been killed if he had not come to the actualization that he is still being conspired against. In the speech in Act 5, however; he says “I here abjure and when I have required some heavenly music- which even now I do to work mine end upon their senses that this airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and deeper than did ever plummet sound I’ll drown my book” (Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 51-56). In this speech, Prospero announces that the will no longer deal with magic. He says that magic has given him many things (happy things as well) but also things that aren’t humane. In theory, magic has lead him to become somewhat non-human as he has lost his sense of compassion (as seen which he asked Ariel what he should do with the men in Act 4) and has allowed him to “The pine and cedar; graves at my command have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ’em forth by my so potent art” (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 47-50). At this point, he wants to give up his magic for good, drowning his magic book in the ocean as well as breaking his staff. He has decided to not allow magic to influence him further and is setting himself free.
“He later came to the realization that he was too invested in happy matters and forgotten about reality…For that short period of time, Prospero was just focusing on his ‘dream’ that he forgot about reality.”
This this a good point! You seem to be claiming here that Caliban’s usurpation plot is “reality” while Prospero’s magic is only a “dream.” This is a powerful point. On this reading, the speech seems to overturn the very order of the play, which emphasizes Prospero’s authority and Caliban’s foolishness.
“In this speech, Prospero announces that the will no longer deal with magic. He says that magic has given him many things (happy things as well) but also things that aren’t humane.”
This is a good point! I would add that here we see for the first time the ways in which Prospero’s magic alters the order of nature. This portrayal contrasts with the other speech, which downplays magic as only a dream.
Throughout Prospero’s speech present in Act 4 Scene 1, he explains the ceremony between Ferdinand and Miranda as a fantasy, a make believe scenario. Using spirits that “melt into thin air” to represent the artificial nature of life and how majority of the celebration did not incorporate real elements symbolizes Prospero’s view on life. This belief held by Prospero seems to be creating this artificial life, as he has created on the island with his daughter and others, including Ariel and Caliban, as a way to conduct fictional skits.
This being said, he is pushed back into reality when the thought of Caliban appeared in his mind. The connection to Prospero’s speech and Caliban’s plot is the similarities between their speech using clouds and dreams to relate it to their experiences. Caliban describes how he “in dreaming, the clouds methought would open” and Prospero explaining “we are such stuff as dreams are made on.” The thought of life being a piece of our imaginations is similar to what Caliban fantasizes as he wants to kill Prospero since he believes it will bring him into a constant state of dreaming. The reasoning behind Prospero cutting the event short is due to his enemies being tied up in the distractions that are set in place but also expresses his annoyance with the scene of events that are unfolding as “strange hollow and confused noises” are heard. The ability for Prospero’s to shift between being in that state to Caliban’s plot shows how he is able to handle situations that shows him discomfort.
His aggressive and sternness in that speech is contrasted in Act 5 as it explores the final shift of Prospero’s character. He has forgiven the previous characters for their sins including Caliban who he refers to as semi-devil and not devil as he has in the beginning of the play. The decision to forgive his enemies is reasoning as to why he wants to get rid of “this rough magic.” Exemplified through his merciful spirit, he is willing to reconcile with his brother and the others, since his plan had been executed. He is also giving his book and his powers away for the happiness for Miranda and for his ability to reclaim the throne. The contrasting ideas and tone through these speeches shows that Prospero’s plan had initially been for the greater good and was determined to finish it.
“Throughout Prospero’s speech present in Act 4 Scene 1, he explains the ceremony between Ferdinand and Miranda as a fantasy, a make believe scenario. Using spirits that “melt into thin air” to represent the artificial nature of life.”
Very good observation. Now, why would Prospero, who wants his magic to have a *real* effect on people emphasize its artificiality? Does this suggest a crisis of confidence in his own efforts?
You offer a nice observation here that both Caliban and Prospero make reference the theme of “sleep and dream.” While Caliban celebrates dreaming as an escape from reality, Prospero seems to dismiss dreams as insubstantial, “airy” stuff. This difference of emphasis is important.
In Act 4 scene 1 of The Tempest, Prospero delivers a speech to Ferdinand explaining to him that everything he saw was just an illusion made by spirits. This is seen in the phrase “melted into air, into thin air,” that emphasis that his magic is just part of a dream like fantasy. Prospero prepared this display for the celebration of Miranda’s and Ferdinand’s marriage. In this speech the audience is introduced to a more vulnerable side of Prospero due to the fact that he is almost done executing his revenge and lets go of Miranda allowing her to become more independent. In the lines “Yea, all which it inherit – shall dissolve,” which shows Prospero showing the inevitable end that all humans shall face, even Prospero.
Prospero’s speech has a connection to Caliban’s plot because they both talk about dreams. Prospero states “as dreams are made on, and out little life is rounded with a sleep.” Prospero describe sleeping as a normalized part of life since it is an action that happens even if we are alive or dead. Meanwhile, Caliban’s view on dreaming contrast with Prospero because he believes that dreaming is a wonderful action that allows him to fantasize a better reality for himself. For example, Caliban said “in dreaming the clouds methough would open and show riches… when I waked I cried to dream again.” These two lines shows the difference between their perspectives of dreaming and sleeping, Prospero normalize the ability to dream meanwhile Caliban praises the ability to escape his cruel reality.
The speech in Act 4 differs from the speech in Act 5 because in Act 4 Prospero diminishes his magical power as illusions but in Act 5 he praises all the power that he gain from magic. Prospero lists all his power such as controlling “mutinous winds, and ‘twixt the green sea and the azured vault set roaring war… strong-based promontory have I made shake, graves at my command,” and etc. His speech that renounces his “rough magic” shows Prospero character development because he no longer needs magic since he was able to forgive everyone that wronged him. Magic was able to make Prospero do the impossible, but it also skewed his term of reality hence Prospero calling his magic as “airy charm.”
“In this speech the audience is introduced to a more vulnerable side of Prospero due to the fact that he is almost done executing his revenge and lets go of Miranda allowing her to become more independent. In the lines “Yea, all which it inherit – shall dissolve,” which shows Prospero showing the inevitable end that all humans shall face, even Prospero.”
Nice point–Prospero is thinking about his own mortality in this speech. You also make a very nice comparison between Prospero’s and Caliban’s treatments of the theme of sleep/dream. You are quite right that Caliban sees dreaming as a way of “escaping his cruel reality.”
“The speech in Act 4 differs from the speech in Act 5 because in Act 4 Prospero diminishes his magical power as illusions but in Act 5 he praises all the power that he gain from magic.” Quite right. Does Prospero’s renunciation of magic make us like him better?
When delivering his speech, I do believe it reveals Prospero’s vulnerability. After Prospero remembers Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo’s scheme to kill him, it is demonstrated through his tone and the reaction from Ferdinand and Miranda how frustrated and outraged he has become as he exclaims to the spirits, “Well done. Avoid, no more!”. Prospero shouts to the spirits instead of asking them calmly to show how urgent and problematic the situation is. Miranda’s judgement of Prospero also demonstrates how furious Prospero is, stating how she “Never till this day / Saw I him touched with anger so distempered.” On this day, Prospero hoped to hold a grand marriage for Ferdinand and Miranda. By doing so, this would aid in his plan for reconciliation. In addition, this is also simply an important time for Prospero as it’s his daughter’s marriage. However, because Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo’s plot to destroy him, this goes against his plan for reconciliation as not only are their plans act towards selfish desires but also interrupts the magnificent performance that takes place in the marriage. As described by Ferdinand, “This is a most majestic vision, / and Harmonious charmingly.” Prospero put on a very magnificent performance to the extent that interrupting it lead him to almost lose focus, demonstrating how much he cared and was hung up on the performance itself, and annoyed by the fact it had to be stopped so abruptly.
In the speech from Act 4, Prospero explains to Ferdinand the sudden end to the supposed “show” that Prospero orchestrated. He uses simile to compare the ending of the illusion to reality, “And like the baseless fabric of this vision, / The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, / The solemn temples, the great globe itself, / Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve, / And like this insubstantial pageant faded, / Leave not a rack behind.” Prospero establishes here how just like how the illusions disappeared, everything in life is fated to vanish as well, implying how all things must come to an end. Prospero makes another metaphor mentioning how, “We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep.” Since dreams don’t last forever, and people are responsible of making these dreams, Prospero also makes a profound claim that like all things must come to an end, people also come to their end, or death. In the speech from Act 5, Prospero decides to give up his magical powers. Because he has reached his goal, (as demonstrated in the speech from Act 4 and how all things end), he decides to give up his power, ending his reign with magic. Prospero uses imagery, such as “…the strong-based promontory / Have I made shake, and by the spurs plucked up / The pine and cedar; graves at my command / Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ’em forth / By my so potent art.” in order to demonstrate the colossal transition from possessing extraordinary power to possessing none because of completing his goal/desire, “To work mine end upon their senses that / This airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff, / Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, / And deeper than did ever plummet sound / I’ll drown my book.” While both these speeches are different in terms of context, they can be related as due to Prospero fulfilling his dream of reconciliation with the courtiers, this dream which involves Prospero’s control of magical power, and the manipulation and slavery of the spirits and people, must also come to an end.
“Miranda’s judgement of Prospero also demonstrates how furious Prospero is, stating how she “Never till this day / Saw I him touched with anger so distempered.”
Very nice point. Good use of evidence throughout this paragraph.
“Prospero establishes here how just like how the illusions disappeared, everything in life is fated to vanish as well, implying how all things must come to an end. Prospero makes another metaphor mentioning how, “We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep.” Since dreams don’t last forever, and people are responsible of making these dreams, Prospero also makes a profound claim that like all things must come to an end, people also come to their end, or death. ”
Good point! You are also quite right to connect the passages as separte stages of Prospero’s effort to reconcile the courtiers. Very fine work.