How Does Shakespeare Use Language In A Midsummer Night's Dream
“And though she be but little, she is fierce.” This quotation from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is not only one of his more famous quotations, but is also an accurate representation of Shakespeare’s last play: The Tempest. It is neither close to the length of some of his more famous plays, nor close to as well known; nevertheless, it is a delightfully engaging and amusing play containing valuable universal truths. In any good story or play, there has to be a sound introduction so the audience has he knowledge to fully appreciate the story. In The Tempest, Shakespeare uses Act I and II effectively to provide the audience with this knowledge and comprehension. Shakespeare does this through a variety of different, critical forms. Shakespeare
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Shakespeare executes this well in The Tempest; he ensures that there is building intrigue in the plot. In act II there is a developing conspiracy against the king which ends in suspense. This suspense leaves the audience wanting, and expecting more. An often confusing line in the play occurs Gonzalo says “heavens keep him from these beasts, for he is sure i’ th’ island” (II.i.373-374). Gonzalo says this about Ferdinand. However, it is unsure whether the beasts he spoke of are Antonio and Sebastian, or simply the animals they lied about hearing. It eludes to a possible murder attempt at Ferdinand, and creates growing intrigue in the plot. The audience is left hanging, not knowing whether Antonio and Sebastian are going to attempt another murder, or if Gonzalo knows they were about to commit one. Moments like these are essential to plot development in any story or play, as they guarantee the attention of the audience, and create increasing intrigue in the plot. The point of a play is to entertain the audience, and an introduction can not be truly effective if the minds of the audience wander off and are as a result not fully engrossed in the rest of the play. Shakespeare’s fascinating introduction does this and effectively sets up the next acts, with the audience left intrigued and hungry for
Shakespeare executes this well in The Tempest; he ensures that there is building intrigue in the plot. In act II there is a developing conspiracy against the king which ends in suspense. This suspense leaves the audience wanting, and expecting more. An often confusing line in the play occurs Gonzalo says “heavens keep him from these beasts, for he is sure i’ th’ island” (II.i.373-374). Gonzalo says this about Ferdinand. However, it is unsure whether the beasts he spoke of are Antonio and Sebastian, or simply the animals they lied about hearing. It eludes to a possible murder attempt at Ferdinand, and creates growing intrigue in the plot. The audience is left hanging, not knowing whether Antonio and Sebastian are going to attempt another murder, or if Gonzalo knows they were about to commit one. Moments like these are essential to plot development in any story or play, as they guarantee the attention of the audience, and create increasing intrigue in the plot. The point of a play is to entertain the audience, and an introduction can not be truly effective if the minds of the audience wander off and are as a result not fully engrossed in the rest of the play. Shakespeare’s fascinating introduction does this and effectively sets up the next acts, with the audience left intrigued and hungry for