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crushed outTopic: The Tempest
The Tempest (Act 2)
ACT 2: In this scene, Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo have escaped the shipwreck and stayed together to search for Ferdinand. Alonso is very sad that his son is dead, but others especially Gonzolo try to cheer him up. Suddenly, Ariel appears and sings, which makes Gonzolo and Alonso fall asleep. Antonio and Sebastian tries to kill Alonso, but Gonzolo wakes up just in time and Antonio an Sebastian lies and tells them that he heard a loud sound and he was just protecting the king. Without further discussion, they continue the search.
This picture is about when Ariel sings a song which makes Gonzalo, Adria, Francisco, and Alonso fall asleep.
Questions and Answers
1. What does Gonzalo say to the king about their circumstances after the ship wreck? What is Sebastian and Antonio’s reaction to Gonzalo’s speech and Gonzalo as a person? What do they hope to gain? Does Shakespeare allow the audience to compare this attitude toward Gonzolo with one presented earlier?
A: Gonzalo tries to cheer up the king about their circumstances by saying posivie things. Gonzalo says that Ferdinand is still alive, but Alonso is in great doubt. Sebastian and Antonio agrees with Gonzalo's speech. They hope to gain more power that Ferdinand is gone now.
2. Why do Sebastian and Antononio refer to the king and Gonzalo as “old cock” and “cockerel”? Is this their way to emphasize difference?
A: Sebastian and Antonio refer to the king and Gonzolo as "old cock" and "cockerel" because they are both the same, but the king is just older. This is their way to emphasize difference.
3. Shakespeare writes laughter into their speech: “Ha Ha Ha” (2.1.36), and so this must be important. What kind of qualities does Shakespeare want us to see in them (Antonio and Sebastian)?\
A: The laughter is very important because this tells us that Antonio is trying to be positive about the island, but he really wants power inside. Shakespeare wants us to see that Antonio and Sebastian are suck-ups.
4. Gonzalo certainly is preoccupied by his garments, and he says they are “new dyed” by the salt water. Why do Antonio and Sebastian keep trying to discredit Gonzalo? Why are their garments new?
A: Antonio and Sebastian keep trying to discredit Gonzalo because as Gonzalo is talking about his garments, Alonso gets more upset about his loss of Ferdinand. Their garments are new because of the salt.
5. Gonzalo compares Claribel to Dido, a classical woman in Virgil’s Aeneid . What do Classical references tell us about Gonzalo? Are these references to classical mythology supported by Antonio and Sebastian? What about Adrian? Who does Shakespeare suggest should have an interest in Classical mythology? (Greek and Roman).
A: The Classical references tell us that Gonzalo is a sophisticated guy in history.
6. In 106-113, Alonso starts to think about the marriage of his only daughter. What is his reaction to the marriage in hindsight, ie looking back? Does the fact that Ferdinand is now dead change his view of the marriage?A: His reaction to the marriage in hindsight is very sad. He concludes that he will no longer see his daughter and his son. The fact that Ferdinand is now dead changes his view of the marriage greatly because he no longer has a son and he is upset that no son of his will be the heir of Naples and Milan.
7. Francisco suggests that Ferdinand lives. What is your impression about Ferdinand and his ability to survive? How does Shakespeare hint that Ferdinand may have the abilities to lead his people?
A: My impression about Ferdinand and his ability to survive is that Ferdidnand will turn out to be a good king. Shakespeare hints that Ferdinand may have the abilities to lead his people because he is not cynical.
8. Unlike Gonzalo, Sebastian treats the shipwreck as someone else’s fault. Whose fault? According to Sebastian, was Claribel’s marriage a good or bad thing?
A: Sebastian treats the shipwreck as Alonso's fault. Sebastian does not think Claribe's marriage is a good thing.
9. When Claribel was considering her marriage to the “African” what was her thought process, according to Sebastian? Did he and the other nobles influence the king to reconsider the marriage? Is Shakespeare suggesting that there are risks to entering the Mediterranean?
A: Sebastian thinks that Claribel did not like the fact that she wsa going to marry an African man. He and the other nobles did not influence the king to reconsider the marriage.
10. Gonzalo suggests that Sebastian “You rub the sore / When you should bring the plaster.” What does he mean?
A: He means that he should try to say positive things, but Sebastian is only being cynical.
11. Gonzalo gives his Utopian vision of how he would rule the island if it was his “plantation.” What is this utopian vision like? Shakespeare is quoting a French philosopher in this passage. Can
you find out who?
A: If Gonzalo would rule the isalnd, the utopian vision would look like this. No name of magistrate, letters, riches, poverty should not be known, no weapons... He just wants everyone to be equal.
12. What is Sebastian and Antonio’s irreverent reaction? Is Gonzalo’s vision workable?
A: Sebastian and Antonio's irreverent reaction is that they think Gonzalo is still going to be the king. They believe Gonzalo's vision is not workable.
13. He would govern “To excel the Golden Age”. What is that? Is Gonzalo a man who considers many models of leadership?
A: Golden Age is _________. Gonzalo is a man who considers many models of leadership because he cares for others.
14. Why does Ariel only make some of the noblemen sleep? Alonso finds it difficult to sleep? why?A: So that the people who are not sleeping can try to slay the king. Alonso finds it difficult to sleep because of his loss son.
15. Antonio says his spirits fell together “as by a thunderstroke,” an image that relects the Tempest as a metaphor for change and power shifts. What image does he see in the future for Sebastian? Why does Antonio care if Sebastian is king?A: Antonio sees Sebastian as a king. Antonio cares if Sebastian is a king because than he would have more power than he is now.
16. Sebastian says he is awake and yet asleep. Why? Antonio says something else was asleep but it is now awake. What does Seb mean with “There’s meaning in thy snores?”
A: Because he seems as if he is sleeping with eyes wide open; standing, speaking, and moving.
17. Who is “this lord of weak remembrance” and why musty he be “earthed” or buried? Who do they believe is “undrowned”?
A: They belive that Ferdinand is undrowned.
18. If Ferdinand is drowned, who is the next heir of Naples? What is Claribel’s title now? What is Claribel’s greatest problem in claiming rulership of Naples if her father and brother are dead? Do you think that the king would have let her marry if he thought Ferdinand would die? Will the King of Tunis be a partial ruler of Naples if Claribel rules? Would that be desirable?
A: The next heir of Naples, is Ferdinand is drowned, is Sebastian. I do not think that the king would have let her marry if he thought Ferdinand would die because he cares about them so much.
19. Antonio says that Sebastian should “wake” and he argues in detail how the rulership of Naples should fall to Sebastian. Do you think it is significant that Ant says “Do you understand me?” IS Antonio the greater schemer of the two men?
A: I think that Antonio is greatly hoping that Sebastian becomes the heir of Naples. Antonio is the greater schemer of the two men.
20. Sebastian remembers that Antonio “did supplant” or usurp his brother’s throne. What visual proof of this can he show the audience of his success?
A: The fact that Antonio is trying to make Sebastian the king visually proves the success of Antonio.
21. “Here lies your brother/ No better than the earth he lies upon” Meaning? Who is Sir Prudence? Is Shakespeare telling us that good leaders are prudent or are not prudent?
A: Shakespeare is telling us that good leaders are prudent.
22. Sebastien says that “one stroke” of Antonio’s sword will free him of the tribute that he pays. What other advantage will Antonio enjoy? Antonio will kill Alonso. Who will Sebastian kill? Why does Sebastian not kill his brother?
A: Antonio will also enjoying being the duke of Milan and not having to pay taxes and respect to Alonso. Sebastian will kill Gonzalo. Sebastian will not kill his brother because he respects him.
23. Who intervenes at the last second? How is Gonzalo informed of the conspiracy? What excuse do Sebastian and Antonio give for their swords being drawn?A: Gonzalo wakes up at the last second catching Antonio and Sebastian with their swords. As soon as Gonzalo saw the swords, he was informed of the conspiracy. Sebastian and Antonio say that they heard a loud sound and they woke up to protect the king.
24. Gonzalo says, “Heaven keep him from these beasts/ For he is sure i’the’ island", what does he mean?
A: He means that Ferdinand is still alive.
Act 2, Scene 2: In this scene, Caliban gets most attention. Trinculo enters and Caliban thinks as a spirit that came to torture him. Towards the end, Caliban is referred to as a fish and a monster. Being drunk, Caliban shows Trinculo and Stefano around the island, just like he did to Prospero and Miranda.
This is when Caliban is kissing Stefano's shoes because Caliban was drunk from the alcohol that Stefano gave him. From this point on, Caliban's masters are Stefano and Trinculo.
Questions and Answers
1. Look down the page at the script. What changes do you see? Why does Shakespeare change his writing style here? Ie who is speaking in the scene?
A: The point of view is changed. Caliban is telling the story.
2.Why does Caliban says that “his spirits hear me”? Does Shakespeare conflate “the tempest” with Prospero?
A: Caliban says that "his spirits hear me" because he cursed and Prospero would use his spirits to torture him.
3. We did not meet Trinculo before. What occupation does he have?
A: He is a jester.
4. Trinculo says that he was in England once. What did he see there? What does Shakespeare say about the way his society treats “the other” from Trinculo’s story?
A: He says that he saw clowns there.
5. From Trunculo’s story, who did Trunculo really see in England? Do you think Shakespeare’s audience saw sights like Trunculo saw, or different ones? Can the audience believe Trunculo?
A:
6. Prospero’s “garment” is important, Antonio’s clothing is important. What clothing does Caliban have? (some critics think that Caliban is like an Irish peasant because Ireland was England’s first colony or “plantation”).
A: Caliban has old, worn out clothes and some sort of blanket.
7. Stefano is a butler but sings and drinks alcohol. What group of People in the play is Shakespeare identifying him with? Should Caliban beware?
A: Stefano is one of the sailors. Calin should be aware.
