Magic

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White Magic

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

Prospero's good magic

Prospero is the hero. So the audience needs to like him. Shakespeare emphasises that Prospero uses white magic only, not black.
King James I hated magic - so Sycorax’s magic is presented as evil: 'for mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible.'
Prospero is different to the 'damned' and 'foul witch Sycorax'.
Prospero only uses white magic to bring about justice. Once this has been achieved, he gives it up.

Heroic Prospero

Prospero is presented as heroic for ridding the island of 'her most unmitigable rage.'
In Act 5, Scene 1, Prospero renounces (formally abandons) his magical powers because he has regained his power in Milan. He no longer needs these supernatural powers.

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).

Prospero and Sycorax - similarities

Shakespeare presents Prospero as a God-like figure instead of like the devil (like Sycorax).
But Miranda’s fears of the effects her father’s 'art' might have on those on the ship (Act 1, Scene 2) suggests some similarity between the protagonist and the evil Sycorax.

Irony

It is important here to remember that we only hear about Sycorax through Prospero's words.
- You could argue that this is ironic because Prospero uses his words in 'rage' (e.g the storm in Act 1, Scene 1 and the harpy in Act 3, Scene 3).

Control of Magic

Prospero seems totally in control of his magic, including when he decides to stop using it.

Magic for political power

You could argue that Prospero is controlled and driven by his desire for political power. Magic does not control him.
- But countering this, the way he summons and commands Ariel shows that he is full control of magic powers.
He is also able to give it up 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.'

Magic causing Prospero's downfall

Prospero's need for knowledge of magic led to the loss of his Dukedom and kingdom.
The illegal and unholy nature of Prospero's magic led to his banishment. Based on this, you could argue that this was a punishment from God. So the only way for him to return is to truly give up his powers.

Magic connected to isolation

The Tempest is set entirely on an unnamed island in the middle of the sea. The island is isolated from civilised society.
Magic thrives within this kind of isolated community. It is not until Prospero reaches it that his powers fully developed.
Sycorax was banished to the island for her involvement with magic and magical spirits, such as Ariel.

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

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