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    Act 1 Scene 1 Commentary

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    Jessica
    The opening scene of The Tempest is set during a fierce storm on a ship at sea. Shakespeare establishes the tense atmosphere through the frantic dialogue between the boatswain and master as they try to control the ship against the storm. There is conflict as the boatswain orders the nobles below deck for safety, angering them with his authority. Through this chaotic scene, Shakespeare engages the audience by posing questions about the characters and events that will drive the plot.

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    Act 1 Scene 1 Commentary

    Uploaded by

    Jessica
    274 views2 pages
    The opening scene of The Tempest is set during a fierce storm on a ship at sea. Shakespeare establishes the tense atmosphere through the frantic dialogue between the boatswain and master as they try to control the ship against the storm. There is conflict as the boatswain orders the nobles below deck for safety, angering them with his authority. Through this chaotic scene, Shakespeare engages the audience by posing questions about the characters and events that will drive the plot.

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    Commentary on Shakespeare's opening scene in the play, the Tempest

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    The opening scene of The Tempest is set during a fierce storm on a ship at sea. Shakespeare establishes the tense atmosphere through the frantic dialogue between the boatswain and master as they try to control the ship against the storm. There is conflict as the boatswain orders the nobles below deck for safety, angering them with his authority. Through this chaotic scene, Shakespeare engages the audience by posing questions about the characters and events that will drive the plot.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    274 views2 pages

    Act 1 Scene 1 Commentary

    Uploaded by

    Jessica
    The opening scene of The Tempest is set during a fierce storm on a ship at sea. Shakespeare establishes the tense atmosphere through the frantic dialogue between the boatswain and master as they try to control the ship against the storm. There is conflict as the boatswain orders the nobles below deck for safety, angering them with his authority. Through this chaotic scene, Shakespeare engages the audience by posing questions about the characters and events that will drive the plot.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    How does Shakespeare achieve desired effects in the opening scene

    through the setting, mood, atmosphere and


    language?
    In this essay, I will be commenting on how Shakespeare
    succeeds at creating such a dynamic opening to the play,
    the Tempest.

    The Tempests opening scene is set in the midst of a fierce


    storm. The audience learns that the scene is set on the
    deck of a ship when the first word Boatswain is
    exclaimed as the boatswain is the person who works on a
    ship, controlling the work of others.

    The immediate start of action in the first scene creates an


    exciting and tense opening. Unlike normal plays, there is no
    proper introduction of the main characters, instead a scene
    of upheaval.

    Shakespeare clearly desired the audience to sense the


    tension of the storm. In order to do so, he starts off the play
    with a frantic conversation between the shipmaster and the boatswain while they try to
    control the ship against the storm. MASTER: Boatswain!, BOATSWAIN: Here, master.
    What cheer? MASTER: Good, speak to th' mariners. Fall to t yarely, or we run ourselves
    aground. Bestir, bestir.

    The use of exclamation marks suggests that the people on board were shouting so as to
    be heard over the noise of the storm. A feeling of panic is sensed through the hurried
    dialogues: Sebastian- A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, incharitable dog!
    Boatswain- Work you, then., Antonio- Hang, cur! Hang, you whoreson insolent
    noisemaker! We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.

    Moreover, characters rush frantically in and out during the scene; this indicates a chaotic
    situation and shows the state of confusion in which the nobles are in. - Enter SEBASTIAN,
    ANTONIO, and GONZALO, -Enter Mariners, wet, - Exeunt ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN, etc.

    There is a conflict which arises between the Boatswain and the nobles where a matter of class and
    status is concerned. When the boatswain is confronted by members of the royal party, he orders that
    they return below deck. This was intended for the sole purpose of their survival against the storm
    however the nobles get furious about the Boatswains audacity in ordering them around. The
    Boatswain suggests that despite their power, they are still subject to the dangers of nature: What
    cares these roarers for the name of king? In this scene, the mortal danger they face creates an
    imbalance between the classes of nobles and servants. The characters in the scene are
    named according to their social statuses: Boatswain, Master, King, and Prince.

    Through this scene, the audience can perceive the authoritative attitude of the nobles.
    The dispute between the servants and masters reveals the different classes of people and
    their arrogances. Towards the end of the scene, the characters dispute less and begin to pray
    instead. GONZALO: The king and prince at prayers. Lets assist them, for our case is as theirs.

    Jessica Ramgolam Form 4


    At the end of the scene, the boat splits. Shakespeare does not yet reveal what happened consequent
    to the incident to keep the audience on their toes. The opening scene poses many questions to the
    audience: Who were these people?, Why were they at sea?, Will they all be able to survive?,
    consequently creating an element of curiosity.

    In conclusion, Shakespeare uses this scene of upheaval to engage interest in the audience by
    creating it in a vigorous way. This scene serves the purpose of an attention- grabbing device, as it
    draws the audience into the plot.

    References:

    http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=2860

    http://www.gradesaver.com/the-tempest/study-guide/section1/

    http://www.shmoop.com/tempest/tone.html

    http://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-tempest/act-1-scene-1

    http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/the-tempest/summary-and-analysis/act-i-scene-1

    Jessica Ramgolam Form 4

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