Theater, Authority, and Conversion in The Tempest (1611)

I have bedimm'd The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds, And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder Have I given fire and rifted Jove's stout oak With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory Have I made shake and by the spurs pluck'd up The pine and cedar: graves at my command Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth By my so potent art.( )

But this rough magic I here abjure, and, when I have required Some heavenly music, which even now I do, To work mine end upon their senses that This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet sound I'll drown my book. ( )

WHITE MAGIC

Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! I’ll burn my books— ah, Mephastophilis!

Natural Magic Technology Control of Nature Science of Causes and Effects Linguistic “Knowledge is power” – Francis Bacon

John Dee’s Magic Balls

JAMES I

God and Sovereignty “Therefore my son, first of all things, learn to know and love that God to whom you have a double obligation: first, for that he made you a man; and next, for that he made you a little GOD to sit on his Throne, and rule over other men.” James I, Basilicon Doron (1599)

False Authority “[The Antichrist] opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” – King James Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2.4

The Sovereign Poet just as God “made all the world of nought, nor also by any pattern or mold.... Even so the very poet makes and contrives out of his own brain both the verse and matter of his poem” – George Puttenham, Art of English Poesy 1589

Boatswain and Gonzalo Boatswain You are a counsellor; if you can command these elements to silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more; use your authority: if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. ( )

The Romance Genre Based on ancient and early modern “novels” Usually involve magic of some kind Take place over wise stretches of time and place Usually include dark undertones and the occasional death, despite having “happy endings” Fairy-tale plots

Caliban’s Bottled Gods

VALDES: Faustus, these books, thy wit, and our experience, Shall make all nations to canonize us. As Indian Moors obey their Spanish lords, So shall the spirits of every element Be always serviceable to us three [...] From Venice shall they drag huge argosies, And from America the golden fleece. Doctor Faustus

I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated To closeness and the bettering of my mind With that which, but by being so retired, O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother Awaked an evil nature ( )

Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them, who to advance and who To trash for over-topping, [Antonio] new created The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em, Or else new form'd 'em; having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state To what tune pleased his ear; ( )

PROSPERO Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! CALIBAN As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd With raven's feather from unwholesome fen Drop on you both! ( )

CALIBAN This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first, Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me Water with berries in't, […] and then I loved thee And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle, […] Cursed be I that did so! All the charms Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! For I am all the subjects that you have, Which first was mine own king […] PROSPERO Thou most lying slave, Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee, Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate The honour of my child. CALIBAN O ho, O ho! would't had been done! Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else This isle with Calibans.