Jungian Analysis

1. What justification is there in the text for interpreting The Tempest as a dream?

2. What is the following quote so incredibly important to intepreting the play as dream (see pp. 317-318)?

    PROSPERO	         I pray thee, mark me.
   	I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
   	To closeness and the bettering of my mind
   	With that which, but by being so retired,
   	O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
   	Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
   	Like a good parent, did beget of him
   	A falsehood in its contrary as great
   	As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
   	A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
   	Not only with what my revenue yielded,
   	But what my power might else exact, like one
   	Who having into truth, by telling of it,
   	Made such a sinner of his memory,
   	To credit his own lie, he did believe
   	He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution
   	And executing the outward face of royalty,
   	With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing--
   

3. When we did a production of The Tempest at WSU, Propero and the Dreamer were played by two different people. Keeping in mind that all characters in a dream are reflections and refractions of the dreamer, what justification is there in casting in this way? Looked at from this casting perspective, what kind of dream figure does Prospero become?

4. Location in dreams can be very important. What is the significance of the island?

5. What is the significance of the photograph on p. 324?

6. What is significance of the Sycorax? Consider that we are told that "with age and envy (she was) grown into a hoop" (p. 320)?

7. How does Caliban parallel the other characters? Consider parallels with:
   • Ferdinand
   • Antonio
   • Miranda
   • Prospero
   • Gonzalo

8. Explain the significance of Ariel and Caliban? How do they help explain Prospero's past behavior?

9. We learn that Ariel has previously been trapped in a tree (p. 321), and that were it not for Prospero, he would still be there. How does Ariel's trapped in a tree background parallel Prospero's background?

10. What is the parallel between the Prospero-Caliban relationship and Prospero's bamishment with Milan?

11. What is the significance of Ariel putting the court to sleep?

12. What is the significance of the feast? How might the feast be related to the Jungian idea of the shadow?

    Caliban and his drunken cohorts discover cheap but glittering apparel and, to Caliban's disgust forget all about their plot to overthrow Prospero. The clowns seize the clothing and are accosted by spirits in the shape of hunting dogs sent out by Ariel and Prospero. What is the significance of this scene, and how does it relate to Prospero and the dreamer?

13. If everything Prospero does is meant to make a point to the dreamer, what is the basic idea of his giving up his magic (see p. 349)?

14. What is the significance of Prospero toward the end of the play saying, "This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine?"

15. What is the significance of the lovers playing chess at the end of the play?

16. Prospero's epilogue, which is traditionally interpreted simply as an actor begging for applause, was in our production delivered directly to the dreamer and his daughter. Remembering that this production emphasized the dreamplay concept, what do you imagine was the overall effect of final moment?

17. What is the significance of Prospero's name? How does this relate to the end of the play, when Prospero is begging to be "set free"?