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Prospero
http://www.ffa.ucalgary.ca/stratford/syntmp.ssi
William Hutt, Xuan Fraser from The Tempest
Directed by Richard Monette
Banished from his homeland, Prospero rules an island somewhere in the Caribbean. With
his own magic and the magic of his enslaved servant Ariel, Prospero controls the day to
day activities of the island. Some critics say The Tempestdepicts a utopian vision
of the ideal ruler.
Essay Topics
- What is your vision of an ideal ruler? Does Prospero meet your requirements, or do you
think he fails somewhere? Citing from the text, write an essay arguing for or against
Prospero's form of rule.
- Consider the need for forgiveness in this play. Who does Prospero need to forgive, and
do you think he succeeds? Support your discussion with citations from the text.
Prospero claims the island as his. Does the island belong to anyone, and if so, who do
you think has rights to it? You will need to consider whether you think things belong to
people because they are more powerful or because they were there first. You may decide
against the whole idea of ownership. Regardless, work closely with the text to support
your argument.
- Critics often suggest that Prospero as magician and creator of art represents
Shakespeare himself. Do you agree? Are there any particular passages in the play that
support these claims?
Creative Writing
- Imagine you are stranded on a deserted island with Prospero's powers of magic. In ten
years, what would your island look like? Write a story about your island.
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