Prospero's Isle

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Art vs. Nature: "... the natural man functions like the virtuous shepherd of normal pastoral, to indicate corruption and degeneracy in the civilized world; if the natural man is a brute, so much more terrible is the sin of the nobleman who abases below the natural." Consider the debate between Art and Nature in the play The Tempest.
[Ng E-Ching's essay] or [Sia Rouh Phin's essay]
Prospero as Ruler: "In the character of Prospero in The Tempest Shakespeare presents the ideal ruler: one who reconciles power over the outer world with power over the self." How far do you agree?
Prospero vs. Caliban: "Prospero represents the world of the mind, Caliban that of the senses." How adequately does this comment describe the roles of these two characters in The Tempest?
The Colonial Discourse of Robert Browning's Caliban: Subversive Articulations or Method of Containment. [NOT WORKING AT LAST CHECK] [off Chao Mugger]: This is more Browning than Shakespeare, but if you're an 'S' paper type interested in Caliban and colonisation, consider taking a look.

The Tempest as Masque: Discuss the elements of Masque present in The Tempest and the extent to which the play might be considered to be a Masque.
Apparitions and Stage Spectacle: Write an essay on the relevance of apparitions and stage spectacle to the central concerns of The Tempest.
Ideas vs. Dramatic Principle: "The play is constructed on a framework of ideas rather than on any dramatic principle. Even the characters are symbolic." Discuss.
Island of Echoes & Suggestions: "Prospero's island is full of echoes and suggestions." Discuss the importance of the environment in The Tempest.
Comic Resolution: "At the end of The Tempest reconciliation and harmony are severely qualified by Shakespeare's awareness of the imperfections of human nature." How far do you agree?
Prospero Context [new!]: Paying close attention to tone & imagery, comment on the presentation of Prospero and important ideas in the play raised here.

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This site most desperately needs new essays!

Contributions dealing with these texts are very welcome indeed.

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