Word of the Day:
O·rig·i·nal·i·ty
- The quality or state of being original.
- Ability to think or express oneself in an independent
and individual manner; creative ability.
- Freshness or novelty, as of an idea,
method, or performance.
Shakespeare is a household name in
which resembles great literature and tales of the theatre. And although he is
known throughout the pages of history books all across the world: many
historians suggest that his works were unoriginal. Spanning from Romeo and Juliet (based on a “The Tragical
History of Romeus and Juliet” written originally by Arthur Brooke), to Midsummer
Nights Dream (A play within a play. The play that Bottom and his workingmen
perform is that of “Pyramus and Thisbe” written by Ovid): Shakespeare has been
known to be a bit of a… copycat. (Many theories believe that he did indeed
plagiarize, yet it cannot be proven…technically.)
Yet many historians still wonder
that if his last play, The Tempest, was a true original?
Where Did The Tempest Come
From?
The Tempest follows the venture of noblemen (Alonso, Gonzalo,
Sebastian, Ferdinand, Antonio….and their underlining Triniculo & Stephano)
as they attempt to survive in the revenge plot of their exiled ex-duke of
Milan: Prospero. They have all landed on his island (Shipwreck, actually. The
storm was caused by Prospero and his spirit servant: Ariel). The play sees
through the eyes of the bewildered and bewitched men as they fall easily under
Prospero’s spells, leading them to see phenomenon’s that the human brain was
simply not ready to comprehend.
Men with mouths in their stomachs:
Trees that grew fruit from the trunk instead of the leaves.
CANNIBALS of Monstrous physicality
that conspire with spirits to hex the intruders.
Cannibals? Hexes? These sound like
exaggerations--- where are you going with this?
True, they do sound like
exaggerations: but I can assure you that this is no fib.
Back in the era of
Shakespeare, 1600’s: sea venturing was quite common. It was only a few
centuries ago that the “new brave world” was discovered. “Brave”, not in the
tense of courage, but “brave” as in undiscovered.
As sailors took off in their
fleets of ships: they would return back with the wildest of tales. Sometimes
they would not come back at all.
Many conspiracy theories on where
the Tempest originates, are based on the periodical time. Perhaps Shakespeare
based The Tempest on real0life accounts that sailors had witnessed
throughout their travels.
One account that stands out to me was that of
a small venture into the Bahamas in 1609. The Sea Venture a main ship
for the powerful Virginia Company, left port in June for the New World,
carrying settlers to the new town of Jamestown in Virginia.
Nearly two months into the trip, the ship was caught in a hurricane, leading
the captain to ground it on the reefs of an island. By crash landing on
Bermuda, 150 people and a dog were saved from the storm. Survivors talked about
their experiences on the island and the tales began to form from there.
Once the
news of the wreck hit London, several accounts of the shipwreck and the events
that followed it were published in pamphlet form by an eyewitness, William
Strachey. Many believe that Shakespeare not only had access to Strachey’s
tales, but drew on them extensively to write The Tempest. The timing
certainly matches, as the play was first performed in 1611 and is believed to
have been written no more than a year before.
Some scholars
suggest that the island of The Tempest may not be in the New World at
all, but considerably closer to England. Ireland has been suggested as a
possible setting for the play, which deals at least partially with concepts of
colonization and home rule. Many of the mystic creatures that appear in the
play have a Celtic origin or Irish counterpart to which parallels may be drawn.
A controversial
theory is that the island is actually a metaphor for London, and the morally
obtuse figure of Prospero is a version of Shakespeare himself. Prospero is a
man of great power and prestige on the island, the ruler of all creatures, yet
he chooses to leave his domain behind and return to a life of peaceful, family
rule. Similarly, Shakespeare quit the stage after The Tempest
returning to his family estates in Stratford to live his few remaining years in
relative peace. Experts cite the epilogue of the play as strangely direct, and
have even suggested that it may be Shakespeare bidding farewell to the theater
and asking forgiveness and love from his audience.
(taken from an
article I read on www.WiseGeeks.com)
Interesting Theories: but What is The Truth?
The truth is what we choose to
believe in. No one can concretely say that The Tempest was based on a
specific story or event. The truth is in the eye of the beholder, as corny as
it sounds.
So will we ever know? Perhaps not.
Yet, I have my own theories in which
the play is based off. I believe that if you want to form your own opinion, you
need to go out and experience your argument and answer.
Perhaps seeing really is
believing.
Form your own opinions, your own
theories: discuss them, further them: share them.
“Mercy
itself, and frees all faults.
As
you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free” ---Prospero,
Epilogue Sincerely,
Hayley Michelle & The Students of MCVYS School of Art
The Students of MCVTS School of the Arts
Performance Dates: March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22
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