Week 4 Essay – Play Analysis: The Tempest-Nursing Essay Examples

Staging, Lighting, Costumes, and Characters 

William Shakespeare wrote the play, The Tempest between 1610 and 1611 to depict injustices occurring in a shipwreck on the coast of Bermuda (Holm, 2019). It constitutes several themes, including colonization, power, magic, loss, and restoration. Based on staging, Holm (2019) explains that the play depicts a contemporary style with an un-curtained main stage extending into the auditorium (Play Analysis).

Besides, the modern version of the play consists of staircases stacked with books to enhance visibility and help maintain eyes on the cast. It begins with a dark background and a dim stage. The sun is also dim, with shifting of the island and ship settings achieved through lighting (Holm, 2019). In contrast, the island and ship settings of the written version are separated through clear transitions, with light illuminating the background throughout the play.

Consequently, the characters are wearing stylish costumes. Spirit Ariel also wears shimmery makeup with flowing costumes to signify air (Escolme, 2020). On the other hand, the costumes depicted in the written version are less stylish, and Spirit Ariel does not wear the shimmery makeup indicated in the modern version. Lastly, the roles of characters are similar in the written and modern versions of the play. For instance, both versions depict Prospero as knowledgeable, while Miranda appears to have limited knowledge. Prospero says, “I have been nourished on letters since my childhood, and because I was convinced that by utilizing them, one could acquire a clear and assured knowledge of everything useful in life,” indicating that the character is extensively knowledgeable (Holm, 2019).

Mood and Tone

The performance creates a threatening mood at the beginning and ends with a hopeful mood. Matković (2022) observes that the play opens with a storm that results in chaos and conflicts but ends with a hopeful tone when Prospero decides to seek reconciliation from other characters. The chaotic storm is accompanied by magic and sorcery, resulting in conflicts and betrayal among the characters.

Parts that are easier to Understand

I believe that performing the first part of the play comprising the storm, is much easier since the storyline develops and the characters appear lively. They create an imaginative perspective for the readers, enhancing the ability to follow through with the written excerpts. The other parts of the story are more involving since they constitute mixed feelings of threats, magic, and hope, including incorporating different storylines, making them challenging to understand.

Feelings

I learned forgiveness’s importance and its role in societal prosperity from the Tempest. Prospero forgave various characters in the play, including Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian, resulting in happiness (Matković, 2022). Also, I learned the dangers associated with the quest for power. Prospero’s use of sorcery resulted in betrayals from different characters, including his brother, Antonio. The dangers compelled Prospero to reconcile with all the people who had betrayed him (Play Analysis).

References

Escolme, B. (2020). Shakespeare and Costume in Practice. Springer Nature. ISBN: 978-3-030-57149-8

Holm, B. (2019). Shakespeare’s ambiguous magic in The Tempest. In The Renaissance Theatre Texts, Performance, Design (pp. 1–11). Routledge. ISBN: 9780429433023

Matković, S. (2022). Magic, Conversion, and Prayer in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Diacovensia: teološki prilozi, 30(4), 531-552. https://hrcak.srce.hr/294707