The Tempest as a comedy

“I might call him a thing divine for nothing natural I ever saw so noble” Evidence of Miranda falling in love with Ferdinand, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a Comedy.
“I’ll make you Queen of Naples” Ferdinand suggesting that he will marry Miranda, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“They have changed eyes” Prospero suggesting that Miranda and Ferdinand have fallen in love, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together” Evidence of Prospero being a blocking agent between the young lovers, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“Sir have pity, I’ll be his surity” Miranda defending Ferdinand from her father, suggesting that Prospero is being authoritative and tyrannical, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“It goes on I see as my soul prompts it” Talking about the love between Ferdinand and Miranda as an aside to the audience, this suggests that Prospero has planned their love and is therefore a fake blocking agent, against the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“This swift business I must uneasy make” Prospero suggests that he cannot let Ferdinand and Miranda fall in love without having tested Ferdinand. Because this is an aside to the audience, it seems human and the audience accepts this and he does not come across as tyrannical, against the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance” Prospero shows his ability for compassion which makes him seem human as opposed to tyrannical, against the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“Then as my gift and thine own acquisition worthily purchased take my daughter” Prospero gives parental blessing to Ferdinand and Miranda’s engagement, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“I am hers” Alonso gives Ferdinand and Miranda parental blessing to their engagement, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“One dear son who I shall twice lose” Alonso upon first hearing about Ferdinand’s engagement, suggesting that he is unhappy with the idea, against the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“The Devil speaks in him” Sebastian talking about Prospero when Prospero is blackmailing him, portraying how there are dark themes in The Tempest, against the idea that it is a comedy
“What strength I have is mine own” Prospero claims now that he is just human and will one day die. Darker themes in The Tempest suggest that it is not a comedy
“Four legs and two voices” Stephano upon seeing Trinculo and Caliban hidden under a sheet, portraying how he is drunk and is part of a sub-plot which contains comic clowning, supporting the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“Knock a nail into his head” Caliban talking about how he wishes to kill Prospero with Trinculo and Stephano, conveying that the sub-plot is actually quite dark which is against the idea that The Tempest is a comedy
“Bite him to death” Caliban talking about what he wants to do to Prospero. Darker themes in The Tempest suggest that it is not a comedy
“batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, or cit his wezand with a knife” Caliban talking about what he wants to do to Prospero. Darker themes in The Tempest suggest that it is not a comedy
“A tragi-comedy is not so called in respect of mirth and killing[…] it wants deaths which is enough to make no tragedy yet brings some near it which is enough to make it no comedy” Critical quote by Fletcher in a pre-face to his play ‘The Faithful Shakespearian’
“My dukedom I resign” Alonso talking to Prospero. Suggests redemptive plot line and reuniting of long lost family members and forgiveness which supports the idea that The Tempest is a Romance
“I do forgive thy rankest fault – all of them” Prospero forgives Alonso, suggesting that The Tempest is a comedy. However, the fact that he says ‘all of them’ shows that he is still spiteful, which is against the idea that The Tempest is a Romance
“Dramatic categories are useful though are not essential” Critical quote by Vaughan & Vaughan
July 6, 2019