The Dramatic Uses of Intoxication in Shakespeare's Play "The Tempest"
The Tempest' is thought to be Shakespeare's last play, written in approximately 1611. The Tempest' belongs to the Romance Genre. Generally, the following features are found in a Romance: - a trial and test, a dynastic marriage, magic and the supernatural. The Tempest' includes the above features, in at least one of the three main plots.
These plots are the romance between Ferdinand and Miranda; the comedy of Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo and finally, the tragedy planned by Antonio and Sebastian. All three plots, however, follow a strict structure in the form of a shipwreck, a meeting, a temptation/test, a reward/ punishment and lastly the reconciliation. In each of these plots, there is a recurrent motif, which is intoxication.
Intoxication is a state wherein a person's physical and mental control is diminished through alcohol or the cause of lack of self control through elation or excitement.
The romance between Ferdinand and Miranda appears to be a typical fairy tale wherein Miranda is destined to become a princess' and Ferdinand is Prince Charming.' The motif of intoxication plays upon Ferdinand's position in life during Ferdinand's soliloquy at the start of Act 3, scene 1.
In Ferdinand's soliloquy, he refers to his task of carrying logs as a kind of baseness' which is poor', mean' and odious'. These are terms which are usually associated with menial labour and in reality a prince would not undertake these tasks, due to their ownership' of servants. In contrast to these terms, Ferdinand states that he does his task nobly' and shall be rich' with his reward, which makes his labours seem like pleasures.' These are terms associated more so with a prince or a King due to their standing in life and the time they have for their own pleasures.'
There is also reference to the sore injunction', he will receive if he does not complete the task set to him by Prospero. This indicates that Prospero is willing to treat him as a slave despite
These plots are the romance between Ferdinand and Miranda; the comedy of Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo and finally, the tragedy planned by Antonio and Sebastian. All three plots, however, follow a strict structure in the form of a shipwreck, a meeting, a temptation/test, a reward/ punishment and lastly the reconciliation. In each of these plots, there is a recurrent motif, which is intoxication.
Intoxication is a state wherein a person's physical and mental control is diminished through alcohol or the cause of lack of self control through elation or excitement.
The romance between Ferdinand and Miranda appears to be a typical fairy tale wherein Miranda is destined to become a princess' and Ferdinand is Prince Charming.' The motif of intoxication plays upon Ferdinand's position in life during Ferdinand's soliloquy at the start of Act 3, scene 1.
In Ferdinand's soliloquy, he refers to his task of carrying logs as a kind of baseness' which is poor', mean' and odious'. These are terms which are usually associated with menial labour and in reality a prince would not undertake these tasks, due to their ownership' of servants. In contrast to these terms, Ferdinand states that he does his task nobly' and shall be rich' with his reward, which makes his labours seem like pleasures.' These are terms associated more so with a prince or a King due to their standing in life and the time they have for their own pleasures.'
There is also reference to the sore injunction', he will receive if he does not complete the task set to him by Prospero. This indicates that Prospero is willing to treat him as a slave despite