English 4371: Cultural Encounters

Householder, fall 2005

10/25/05: The Tempest

1. A Critical Controversy: Old World vs. New World.

1. Claims for relevance to the Americas.

i. Textual references and echoes. Performed 1611, after Strachey’s account had been circulating privately

ii. Cannibalism/Caliban

iii. Utopian rhetoric.

iv. Some readers go so far as to say that the play is a critique of colonialism

2. Claims for limitation to Old World concerns.

i. Few textual references and echoes.

ii. Classical “Old World” allusions. [Mediterranean map]

iii. Caliban as clown.

iv. Some readers go so far as to say that the play has nothing to do with colonialism

3. “Fantasy Island”

2. The struggle for authority

1. Usurpations of political legitimacy

i. By Antonio of Prospero

ii. By Prospero of Sycorax/Caliban

iii. By Sebastian of Alonso (King of Naples)

iv. By Stephano and Trinculo of Alonso/Prospero

v. [By Tunisia of Alonso/Naples]

2. Proper government

i. The ship of state (1.1)

ii. Domestic governance (Prospero and Miranda, 1.2).

iii. Political governance (Prospero on how he lost Milan, 1.2).

iv. Contractual responsibility (Prospero and Ariel, 1.2)

v. Master over slave (Prospero and Caliban, 1.2).

3. Caliban as colonized Other

1. Caliban’s counter-speech. 1.2.330-350. Two ways to interpret.

2. Caliban’s conspiracy 3.2.50-60; 3.2.84-103

3. Caliban’s poetry 3.2.132-141

Conclusion:

Next time: The Tempest, acts 4-5. Consider carefully the relationship between the political plot and the love plot.