Magic - Quotes

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Quotations About Magic

Prospero's magic is presented as good and productive, unlike the black magic of Sycorax.

Sycorax's black magic

'For mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible.'
'Damned' and 'foul witch Sycorax'.

Heroic Prospero

Prospero is presented as heroic for ridding the island of 'her most unmitigable rage.'

Punishments for using magic

Prospero states he will 'bury' and 'drown' the three items that symbolise his powers: his 'magic garment'; his 'book'; and his 'staff'.
- The verbs 'bury' and 'drown' are reminiscent of (recall) the punishments for practicing witchcraft after King James I became King of England (1590).

Giving up magic

Prospero is also able to give up his magic without much hesitation in Act 5, Scene 1. This shows that it was a temporary way to get political power back: 'But this rough magic / I here abjure.'

1Key Words

1.1Key Words

1.1.1Key Words 1

1.1.2Key Words 2

1.1.3Key Words 3

1.1.4Key Words 4

2Context & Overview

2.1Context & Overview

2.1.1Overview

2.1.2Context

3Act 1

3.1Act 1 Analysis

3.1.1Overview

3.1.2Scene 1

3.1.3Scene 2

4Act 2

4.1Act 2 Analysis

4.1.1Overview

4.1.2Scene 1

4.1.3Scene 2

5Act 3

5.1Act 3 Analysis

5.1.1Overview

5.1.2Scene 1

5.1.3Scene 2

5.1.4Scene 3

6Act 4

6.1Act 4 Analysis

6.1.1Overview

6.1.2Scene 1

7Act 5

7.1Act 5 Analysis

7.1.1Overview

7.1.2Scene 1

7.1.3The Epilogue

8Key Characters

8.1Major Characters

8.1.1Prospero

8.1.2Miranda

8.1.3Caliban

8.1.4Ariel

8.1.5Ferdinand

8.1.6Alonso

8.2Minor Characters

8.2.1Antonio

8.2.2Stephano

8.2.3Sebastian

8.2.4Gonzalo

8.2.5Trinculo

9Themes

9.1Major Themes

9.1.1Power

9.1.2Magic

9.1.3Status, Race & Pronouns

9.1.4Comedy

9.1.5Freedom vs Servitude

9.1.6Revenge

10Authorial Method

10.1Authorial Method

10.1.1Genre & Time

10.1.2Music & Illusion

11Recap: Main Quotes

11.1Characters Quotes

11.1.1Prospero - Quotes

11.1.2Miranda - Quotes

11.1.3Caliban - Quotes

11.1.4Ariel - Quotes

11.1.5Ferdinand - Quotes

11.1.6Alonso - Quotes

11.1.7Antonio - Quotes

11.1.8Stephano - Quotes

11.1.9Sebastian - Quotes

11.1.10Gonzalo - Quotes

11.1.11Trinculo - Quotes

11.2Text Structure - Quotes

11.2.1Power - Quotes

11.2.2Magic - Quotes

11.2.3Race & Pronouns - Quotes

11.2.4Comedy - Quotes

11.2.5Servitude - Quotes

11.2.6Reconciliation & Revenge - Quotes

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