Major Themes in the Tempest by Shakespeare: Slides

Lesson Slider Slide 1: Introduction to Themes in The Tempest Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. In The Tempest, several themes are explored through the characters and their actions. Justice and its illusions The difficulty of distinguishing "men" from "monsters" The allure of ruling a colony Obedience and disobedience Prospero’s threats The theme of treason Feelings of wonder and admiration Understanding monstrosity Slide 2: The Illusion of Justice The Tempest tells a straightforward story involving an unjust act—the usurpation of Prospero’s throne by his brother—and Prospero’s quest to re-establish justice by restoring himself to power. However, the idea of justice is subjective and largely represents Prospero’s view. He presents himself as a victim but shows hypocritical behavior by enslaving Ariel and Caliban. Justice: Prospero’s subjective view Hypocrisy: Enslaving Ariel and Caliban Moral Ambiguity: No higher order of justice Crea…