Arturo Archuleta

English 10; period 3

10/ 6 /2020

Journal: ​The Tempest

Journal Entry 1: Act I / scene ii (pp. 3-21)

In Ariel’s first line, he is addressing his master Prospero. The way Ariel addresses Prospero

immediately informs us that he is very loyal to his master and is willing to do anything for him.

The tone of this line also reveals that he is eager to aid Prospero.

“​All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail! I come

To answer thy best pleasure, be ’t to fly, To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride

On the curled clouds. To thy strong bidding, task Ariel and all his quality.” (p.10 lines

189- 193)

​In Caliban's first line he addresses Prospero. However, he rather than a greeting, Caliban

denounces him and wishes that pain and suffering would inflict him. It is understood that Caliban

has a deep hatred for Prospero and is seen as a slave rather than a servant. Caliban has a different

perspective of Prospero than Ariel does.

“​As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed

With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen

Drop on you both! A southwest blow on ye

And blister you all o'er!” (pg. 14 lines 321-324)

Ferdinand is addressing the audience in general as he is searching for the source of the music

being sung by Ariel. Ferdinand becomes enticed with the song and its lyrics which act as a
tribute to his supposedly dead father. He becomes obsessed with this song as he realizes that it is

not something human but rather magical. This leads him to be attracted to Miranda.

“​Where should this music be? I' th' air or th' earth?

It sounds no more, and sure, it waits upon

Some god o' th' island.” (pg. 17 lines 387 - 390)

Discussion Notes: Act 1

Ariel/Prospero Interactions:

● Ariel asks to be set free, Prospero gains power over the discussion

● Makes Ariel feel guilty by bringing up how he saved him

● Argues that Ariel owes him

● Emphasizes his magical powers during discussion, and uses it to make himself dominant

and seem more powerful.

Miranda/Prospero Interactions:

● Father-daughter relationship

● Prospero dismissive but protective

● Uses his parental power

● Prospero tells her his life story of being expelled from Milan so that she feels sympathy

for him.

Caliban/Prospero Interactions:

● Slave to master relationship

● Prospero has political power and authority over Caliban

● Prospero has magical power over him (inflicts pain on Caliban)

Ferdinand/Prospero

● Magical Power to restrain Ferdinand

● Prospero asserts his dominance quickly after meeting Ferdinand

Journal Entry 2: Act II scene i - ii (pp. 31-41)

Antonio demonstrates the Machiovallian behavior of not worrying about living up to a moral

standard or being affected by the condemnations of other men.

“Ay, sir. Where lies that? If ’twere a kibe,

'Twould put me to my slipper. But I feel not

This deity in my bosom.” (pp. 33 line 277)

Sebastian democrats the behavior of deciding when and where one wants to be given advice for

the benefit of himself politically. This is shown when he takes Antonio’s advice to kill his father

in order to take the throne.

“Thy case, dear friend,

Shall be my precedent. As thou got’st Milan,

I’ll come by Naples.” (pp. 33 line 292)

Stephano pleases Caliban by giving him wine and convinces Caliban that he is a powerful

god-like being when really he is a drunk butler. This demonstrates the Machiavellian behavior of

only needing to appear virtuous even when in reality you are not.

“Come, swear to that, kiss the book. I will furnish it

anon with new contents, swear.” (pp. 39 line 142)

Caliban demonstrates the example of a subject who is supportive of his master (Stephano) and is

idealized.

“I’ll kiss thy foot. I’ll swear myself thy

subject.” (pp. 39 line 153)

Trinculo mentions one of the main behavioral warnings Machiavelli states by waring Stephano

that he might be quick to turn against them

“By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster.

When ’s god’s asleep, he’ll rob his bottle.” (pp. 39 line 144)

Discussion Notes: Act 2

Antonio and Sebastian:

● Plot to kill in order to gain power, Greedy for power

● Reasons to why they now decide to do this

- New circumstances of being on island

- All believe Ferdinand is dead

- Alonso in misery, vulnerable

● Alonso emotionally distraught, shows no leadership in the situation

● Machiavellian moral: Not just the person who is taking power from someone, but the

person who is allowing for his power to be taken

● Prospero did not follow Machiavellian values as duke, resulted in his downfall

Stephano, Trinculo. Caliban:

● Caliban more Machiavellian than Stephano and Trinculo

● Caliban wishes to serve them for his own benefit

 ● Would rather serve them then serve Prospero

● Irony that Caliban (uncivilized, brute) more cunning than the other two

● Shakespeare's message: Does not matter one's position in society, humans have a natural

tendency to gain power and forward self interests.

Journal Entry 3: Act III scene i - iii

The purpose of Ariel’s maque was to manipulate and humiliate the men, causing them to

take separate courses of action based on their attitudes towards their past actions against

Prospero. This masque also caused the group to separate, which means that Prospero most likely

has separate plans for Antonio and Sebastian then he does Alonso. Prospero is allowing himself

to gain power over the group by remaining out of the scene and allowing Ariel to use his magic,

so that he may manipulate them while they are confused and remorseful.

Discussion Notes: Act 3

Prospero’s Masque:

● Lines 60 - 61: Ariel tells the nobles that they have landed on the island because of their

bad deeds

● Line 62 - 68: Magic makes the nobles drop their swords. Makes the nobles seem

powerless.

● Line 69 - 75: Ariel states that the specific wrongdoing they committed is their acts

against Prospero. Condemns them for their actions

● Line 76 - 79: Ariel addresses Alonso. States that Alonso is responsible for the death of

his son and that he will live in suffering.

 ● Line 80 - 83: States that eventually the nobles will regret what they did and truly feel

sorry.

● Ariel acts as a judge who is condemning the nobles for their crimes.

Journal Entry 4: Act IV scene i

In this scene, Prospero uses his own magic to put on a celebratory masque for Ferdinand

and Miranda. The ultimate purpose of this masque is for Prospero to amaze Ferdinand with his

powers and make him admire and gain respect for his soon to be father-in-law. Prospero is

following the Machiavellian strategy of making others admire and look highly of you, in order to

maintain one's high power status.

Discussion Notes : Act 4

● Prospero allows Ferdinand and Miranda to fall in love with each other through their own

emotions.

● However, Prospero did use his magic to bring the two together.

● Prospero uses the two’s marriage for political purposes

● In Renaissance Europe, marriage is always for politics.

Journal Entry 5: Act V scene i

In this Act, Prospero begins to feel remorseful for his actions and realizes the wrong he

has committed by tormenting the other characters who he stranded on the island. Prospero

believes it is better to maintain virtues rather than enact revenge. Prospero’s behavior in this act

actually goes against Machiavellian ideas. Rather than ignoring the impact of others and focusing
on the benefit of oneself, Prospero is distraught by the suffering of the others and would rather

help them than benefiting himself by completing his scheme for revenge.

Discussion Notes: Act 5 and Epilogue

● Prospero begins to regret his decisions after hearing Ariels report.

● Prospero tries to work against his own emotions of hatred and be forgiving.

● The less popular action is virtue rather than revenge.

● Prospero had to go through the hatred before he could find forgiveness.

Is forgiveness a Machiavellian trait?

● Forgiveness is Machiavellian in this instance as it avoided potential hatred/hostility

toward Prospero

● Forgiveness is a political act.

● Prospero was already satisfied with his act of revenge, forgiving after already proving his

point.

● Prospero does not reveal himself as magical or admits he was the one to cause their

suffering.

● Nobles felt sorry and were repentful for their actions.

● Prospero puts himself in a higher position by forgiving them.

● Forgiveness = higher moral standard

Journal Rubric:

On-time Completion: Journal entries 1-5 were 4​ /4 pts

done on time

Completion & Organization: All entries and 5​ /6 pts

notes are properly titled and

formatted, and in this order:​ Character

Inferences, Historical Context

Outline missing​, JE 1, JE 1 discussion notes,

JE 2, JE 2 discussion notes etc. etc.

Content: Entries demonstrate analytical 10​ /10 pts ​excellent.

thinking (not summarizing).

19​ out of 20