Art and Nature in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay -- Tempest essays

Shakespeare is one of the greatest artists the human race has ever produced. In the tempest, he decides to determine which is more powerful art or constitution? He symbolizes art by dint of civilization and nature through man and his natural infinite on Earth. through and through the plot, Shakespeare reveals his own beliefs concerning which force is greater. The Tempest shows the respectable differences between art and nature, but eventu bothy concedes that art is weaker and must bend itself to nature. In The Tempest, Shakespeares Prospero has gotten himself into trouble by entertaining an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Prosperos downfall was brought about because he valued knowledge and art over pure power. Through Prospero, Shakespeare questions the validity of mans quest for art and beauty. However, the question is resolved in the end of the play when Prospero once again becomes a Duke, doing so through art. In this, Shakespeare shows that art is in fact useful. In the b eginning, art is questioned, but in the end it proves to be Prosperos most powerful saving grace, all the while ultimately bowing to nature. Shakespeare presents the influences of both nature and art throughout the play, ultimately with nature prevailing. The tempest he creates in the first act, the anchor that sets into transaction the events of the play, is wholly dependent on natures own capacities. Ariel stirs up the winds and sea to fr... ...ween nature and art. He is careful not to dismiss art as unworthy evidently by being the weaker force, but rather regards it as a unique force that must succumb to that which is superior. Shakespeares stance on the subject of art versus nature is aesthetic, allowing both forces to compete equally, yet ending with the ultimate success of nature. Bibliography Meller, A., Moon, G.T. Literary Shakespeare Sydney Canon Publications 1993. Lecture on The Tempest C. Holmes 1988. Shakespeare, W. The Tempest. Ed. Sutherland, J.R. 1990. Mikhail M. Morozor, The Individualization of Shakespeares Characters through Imagery, Shakespeare Survey. 1989. Tempest & Court Masques By H. C. Sherwood