Overview
English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest, topic 3.1.1
Overview of Act 1
Here is an overview of the key ideas and themes of Act 1:
Exposition
- Shakespeare knows that the exposition (giving the audience background information) of the play is incredibly important.
- He needed to grab the audience’s attention and hook them - particularly the groundlings (the part of the audience who stand in the pit, just in front of the stage) who will become bored very quickly.
Kings and treason
- The monarch in The Tempest is good. We really dislike Antonio who not only usurps his brother (illegally takes his position) but also threatens the King’s life.
- The idea of regicide (killing a king) was a hot topic when The Tempest was first performed. This is because Guy Fawkes and other Catholics tried to assassinate King James I in 1605 whilst opening Parliament.
Colonies and discovery
- During this period of colonisation, men such as Christopher Columbus were exploring the seas and finding New Worlds - much like Sycorax and Caliban’s island in The Tempest.
- In Act 1, Scene 2, Caliban describes how he welcomed the newcomers onto his island ('And showed thee all the qualities o’th’isle') but was ultimately exploited. This reflects the colonisers of the era.
Test yourself on Overview
Who does the island belong to?
What are the key ideas of Act 1?