The Tempest

Supernatural and Magical Elements Present in The Tempest William Shakespeare incorporated the underlying themes and symbols of magic and supernatural elements throughout his popular play The Tempest. There are many arguments that critics have made as to why he chose to include these recurring themes as well as where the ideas originated. When one thinks of magic, you might immediately associate this term with adolescence, juvenile fantasies or the imagination. The Merriam- Webster dictionary defines magic as “the use of means (as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces”. Although Shakespeare’s perception of magic is not too far off from the contemporary definition, he uses it to present a different message. However there is much more substance and reason behind this element than someone may actually envision. During Shakespearean times, we closely connect magic and manipulation. Manipulation is a substantial component of The Tempest and is exemplified strongly through Shakespeare’s magic elements. William Shakespeare’s The Tempest not only encompasses the themes of magic and supernatural forces throughout, but has also influenced a vast number of novelists to create their own interpretation and versions of the play. It has been said that The Tempest is one of the most magical pieces of Shakespeare’s literary career. Using magic as a theme can be argued to have an ulterior motive. As it appears in the play, the way in which magic is used, as a manipulation mechanism by the protagonist and it can also be used in the same manner for the relationship between the author and the audience or the reader. This became apparent when analyzing the definition of magic and how it was projected in The Tempest. Shakespeare used magic to control circumstances and the reactions of the reader. Magic is a skill, which could be also viewed as a literary technique. You could say that literary technique is analogous to the way that the central

Bibliography: Web. 25 Mar. 2013. Shakespeare, William, Gerald Graff, and James Phelan. The Tempest: A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2000. Print. Woodman, David. "Prospero as the White Magician." White Magic and English Renaissance Drama. Rutherford [N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson UP, 1973. 73-86. Print.