Is the love of Ferdinand and Miranda an enchantment caused by Prospero, or an emotion he can help, but not cause?  If not caused by him, does Shakespeare depart from magic to the detriment of the play?  Would it be better, for example, if a love philter was introduced for consistency’s sake? (For literary use of the love philter, see Tennyson’s ‘Lucretius.’) Does it reflect against Ferdinand’s courage that he was first to quit the ship?  Are Miranda’s speeches about her grandmother (I, ii, 140) and to Caliban inconsistent with the maidenly innocence assumed to be characteristic of her?  Do you consider her talk with Ferdinand (III, i) in character?  Is she undutiful to her father?  Unmaidenly in her speedy declaration of love (III, i, 67, 89, 94-106, 110)?  Should she be represented as ignorant or innocent of the world, or as in love?  Describe the characters and relations to each other of the lovers from all that is given about them.  Compare with Florizel and Perdita in ‘The Winter’s Tale.’

QUERIES FOR DISCUSSION

Are Miranda and Ferdinand undeveloped characters whose relation to each other is more important to the play than they themselves are?

3.  THE MINOR CHARACTERS

Which is the most important of the lesser characters and why?  Is Gonzalo blamable at all under the circumstances for following the command to turn Prospero and Miranda adrift?  Why is Gonzalo of better cheer than his companions?  What do you think of his philosophy in itself and as an index to his character?  Is his knowledge superior to that of his companions?  Does he suspect the evil intent of Antonio and Sebastian?  Show how his frankness and loyalty came out in Act III, and how his uprightness is rewarded in Act V. Do you think it significant that he closes the play?  Francisco considered as the least important personage in the play:  should his speech describing Ferdinand’s swimming be given to Gonzalo?  The sailors considered as examples of Shakespeare’s skill in outline portraits.  Are Stephano and Trinculo more highly developed types than Caliban?  Would the play be better if they were left out?

QUERIES FOR DISCUSSION

Is Gonzalo more like Polonius in ‘Hamlet’ or Rent in ‘Lear’?

VII

A STUDY OF ARTISTIC DESIGN

THE SYMBOLISM OF ‘THE TEMPEST’

Did Shakespeare typify himself as Prospero?  Prospero (says Montegut) alludes to his own age, and intimates that the time has come for retirement to private life.  What indications can you find that Prospero images Shakespeare?  If he is so interpreted, what parts may Ariel and Caliban be supposed to play?  Is the history of the Enchanted Island and the transformation wrought a parallel with the history of the Stage and the transformation Shakespeare wrought?  According