English the tempest and FBOFATIOI

Prospero’s revenge Justice is untimately carried out by Prospero, he has all the power. Everything in the play is his decsion as a result of him having authority over all other characters through his use and control ot magic and the spirits which he uses to apply his justice. He controls the fate of all other characters. Prospero wants justice for being wronged by Antonio and Alonso, he does this my implementing the tempest which is a recurring motif throught the play. The plot and 5-act structure emphasises the symbolic nature and importance of the tempest. Prosero uses the tempest as a way of equalising everyone on the island. He wants revenge but he never harms anyone (this is its own form of justice) ‘there’s no harm done’
Justice in not freeing Caliban Prospero wants Caliban to pay for attempting to violate his daughter, Miranda’s honour. ‘Thou didn’t prevent me, I had peopled else this isle with Calibans’. He sees what Caliban planned to do as an unforgivable act. His hatred for Caliban is emphasised by negative connotations ‘savage’, ‘brutish’, ‘hag-seed’, ‘got by the devil himself’
Ariel’s justice Prospero saved Ariel from the evil clutches of Sycorax, in return, he serves as Prospero’s servant. Prospero promises to set him free if Ariel does everything that he asks. Prospero uses Ariel as a way of implementing his justice. At the end of the play Prospero is please with Ariel, and so he sets him free. ‘Be free, and fare thee well’
Injustice Treating someone badly is likely to result in a bad reaction from the person in question. Prospero feels he has been wronged by Alonso and Antonio who exiled him from Milan for neglecting his duties as a duke in favour of learning about magic. Prospero feels cheated of what is rightfully his. ‘By foul play, as thou sayst, were we heaved thence’
Prospero’s forgiveness and morality Forgiveness is better than revenge, mercy rather than vengeance. ‘The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance’ (alliteration). Prospero wants to take back his political power, but this is expanse of his magical powers. This is emphasised further when Prospero destroys his magical possessions so he can no longer partake in magic/sorcery. ‘I’ll break my staff.. I’ll drown my book’ (metaphor). He generates the penitence of his enemies, and therefore, the necessary conditions for his own forgiveness and trust. At the end of the play, Prospero realised what it takes to be an honourable person. His morality can be seen in his decision to release Ariel. Prospero promised to release him if Ariel obeyed him. He decided to do the right thing and set him free as he said he would. ‘Thou shalt be free’
Morality Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour. Miranda is portrayed as innocent and pure. She shows her emotions and is an example of human fragility. ‘Oh the heavens!’ (Emotive language, apostrophe and exclamations). Gonzalo is an honest, good character. He is kind hearted, morally correct and always stands true. He sets an example for the other characters and is often referred to as ‘good lord’. Gonzalo’s good nature is juxtaposed to the irrational and cruel decisions made by the other men on the island.
Immorality Prospero sees his brothers action of removing him from power as immoral and unfair, yet he sees nothing wrong with keeping both Caliban and Ariel enslaved and ordering them what to do in this way, Prospero can be considered to be somewhat immoral. What people are willing to do to get what they want and in order to be in power. Antonio and Alonso ridding of Prospero, Trinculio/Stephano/Caliban plotting to kill Prospero ‘these three have robbed me.. plotted with them to take my life’, as well as exploiting Caliban for their own selfish gain (power and money) and Sebastian/Alonso conspiring to murder Alonso.
The treatment of people Amnesty International’s aim is to help people in need, fight on their behalf to get them rights and provide them with the same opportunities as everyone else. ‘Many of my coworkers were ex-political prisoners’ (contextual clue and statement)
Potential of humanity Amnesty International want to help people and give them justice for the mistreatment they have received. ‘Amnesty international mobilises thousands of people who have never been tortured or imprisoned for their beliefs to act on behalf of those who have’ (emotive language). It plays on people’s emotions such as human empathy and gets them to act so justice can be achieved for those who truly deserve and need it.
How far people are willing to go in order to get justice ‘… I read hastily scribbled letters smuggled out of totalitarian regimes by men and women who risked imprisonment to inform the outside world of what was happening to them’. Shows the desperation of those being treated by injustice and how much they are willing to risk in order to be treated fairly. However, not all individuals receive the justice they deserve ‘visitors to our office included those who had come to give information, or to try and find out what happened to those they had left behind’ (statement).
Potential of humanity Human empathy and their actions are what help those in desperate need. It gives people the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life ‘the power of human empathy leading to collective action, saves lives. And frees prisoners’ (optimism and positive connotations)
What we as humans deem as moral What is right vs what is wrong. Jk Rowling believes those not helping the situation are only a part of the problem ‘those who choose not to emphasise enable real monsters…’ (metaphor). Those who ignore the problem and don’t try and help are only helping to assist the bad people do more wrong. Close minded people who don’t imagine themselves into other people’s places don’t understand and therefore don’t act upon their sympathy ‘can think themselves into other people’s places… many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all’ (metaphor, imagination, negative connotations). Not helping = immoral
Human strength ‘He trembled uncontrollably as he spoke… seemed as fragile as a child… man whose life had been shattered by cruelty took my hand with exquisite courtesy, and wished me future happiness’ (imagery and simile). This man who has been emotionally damaged due to the wrong doings he has suffered through is still morally correct and a genuinely good person even after all the hardship he had to experience/endure. This give JK Rowling hope for humanity and shows that goodness can overcome evil.
Hope for the future The repeated use of personal pronouns constantly throughout Rowling’s speech gives us an insight into her emotions and the personal impact her work at Amnesty International had on her. ‘Everyday I saw more and more evidence about the evils humankind will inflict on their fellow humans… and yet I also learned more about human goodness’ (negative and positive connotations, optimism, hope for the future). Good overcoming evil.
July 19, 2019