Practice IOC Act 4 Scene 1

IOC Script:

For my IOC, i will be analyzing Act IV Scene I (Lines 25-59)

Context and the major events leading up to this play include:

- A huge storm rages upon a ship carrying the King of Naples, his brother, his son, and other characters

- The shipwreck survivors wake up on the island, They are surprised that there clothes smell and feel fresh

- Ariel's song puts them all to sleep except for Sebastian and Antonio. Antonio, (who replaced his brother his brother Prospero as Duke of Milan), manipulates and brainwashes Sebastian (Brother of the King) into doing the same thing Antonio did in the past by replacing King Alonso. As the two were about to kill the king in his sleep, Ariel awakens everyone and the two men quickly make an excuse for drawing their swords.

- Trinculo, a jester on the ship discovers Caliban and quickly realizes that such a monster would earn a fortune for him in England. Stephano, trinculo's friend eventually finds Trinculo under Caliban's huge frame. Stephano gives Caliban alcohol, causing Caliban to believe Stephano to be more powerful than Prospero. The three men set off together, later deciding to kill Propspero

- Prospero who is now invisible to Ferdinand and Miranda, witnesses Ferdinand and Miranda expressing their deep love for one another. Propsero, realizing he is witnessing a truly rare meeting of hearts, approves of Ferdinand for his daughter. The scene ends with Ferdinand taking Miranda for his wife. Prospero is pleased but must now leave to attend to matters before supper

- Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian and Francisco and others witness a banquet on the island but it is an illusion. Ariel returns and verbally punishes Alonso (King of Naples), Antonio and Sebastian for their roles in exiling Prospero,

Summary Of The Lines

- In these specific lines, Prospero orders to gather his band of spirits to put on a celebratory masque, or performance, for the new couple

Plot/Purpose:

- These lines are strategically placed in this Scene because The Tempest is filled with Prospero's magic and illusions. The play begins with Prospero's magic and end with it as well. Therefore Shakespeare intended to show that Propspero was always in charge, and not just in the initial and concluding scenes of the play, but throughout the entirety of the text. Strategically placing these lines in the middle of the play contributes to proving that Propsero was always in charge and always one step ahead.

- Also, the organization of the court masque played a crucial role in the way the Renaissance monarchs chose to think about themselves. Masques served essentially as images of Order, Peace, and Harmony brought about by the ruler's mere presence

Style and Language:

- The repetition of the word "servant" by Prospero when speaking to Ariel throughout these lines underlines the Propsero's power over Ariel and the fact the she owes him for freeing her from Sycorax.

- And at the beginning of the lines, the transfer of power is being shown by Propspero when he grants "1/3" of his life to Ferdinand when he approves of Ferdinand and Miranda's marriage.

- By Propspero telling Ferdinand to keep off Miranda till after the wedding largely highlights the importance of Miranda's virginity and innocence, and that her virginity is a thing that's treated like a "Treasure" and to be guarded well in the hands of her father from Caliban's attempts to rape her and Ferdinand (Till after the wedding)