The Tempest Art and Culture Quotes
How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the 2008 Norton edition.
Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda,
playing at chess (5.1.Stage Direction).
Wait a minute. At this point, Prospero has already promised to give up his "art," so why is he still running around acting like a magician/playwright by pulling back curtains and making dramatic revelations to his audience?
Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have 's mine own (Epilogue.1-2)
Hmm. Is it just us or does Prospero's final speech sound like Shakespeare (who retired shortly after completing The Tempest) is trying to tell us something? Is this Shakespeare's way of saying goodbye?
[...] Now 'tis true
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell, (Epilogue.3-8)
This is pretty strange. Why the heck does Prospero need the audience's help if he wants to leave the island and return to Italy? Keep reading...