80 likes | 181 Views
Act Two. Scene 1. The opening of the act presents what is supposed to be a comical exchange between the mocking Sebastian and Antonio, and Gonzalo. Note their anger at Alonso’s marriage of Claribel to the King of Tunis
E N D
Scene 1 • The opening of the act presents what is supposed to be a comical exchange between the mocking Sebastian and Antonio, and Gonzalo. • Note their anger at Alonso’s marriage of Claribel to the King of Tunis • Also alludes to “Widow Dido” a woman who killed herself when Aeneas left her to depart for home.
Gonzalo’s Utopia • The island has also long been place where dreamers imagine perfect worlds • Gonzalo imagines a world where people are entirely self-sufficient • Similar to Moore’s description • Dangerous thinking in a land ruled by King and Queen- thus the rest of the people in the group laugh him off.
Political Intrigue • Antonio advises Sebastian to kill his brother Antonio to gain control of the crown. • What is Shakespeare’s purpose in creating this breakdown in the political process following Gonzalo’s discussion on utopias? • Colonialism or Parallelism
Scene 2: THE FOOLS • Note the Dionysian nature of the group • Their relationship is based entirely off drunkenness • “He shall taste of my bottle.” • Slavery implication- “I will not take too much for him; he shall pay for him that hath him and that soundly.”
Language • Note the differing nature of speech from Trinculo and Stephano as opposed to that of Caliban.
New God • “I know it by thy trembling: now Prospero works upon thee” • “That’s a brave god, and bears celestial liquor: I will kneel to him.” • Despite fawning over his new masters they still refer to him as a monster • The men who plan to take over the island refer to Caliban as the monster • Note Caliban’s excitement at the prospect of “Freedom!” Was Prospero really that bad?