For Monday, October 3, read
Act 2 of The Tempest and write a response paper on one
of the following topics:
What does Caliban look like? (In place of
a description, a drawing may be substituted.)
Why does Prospero set seemingly arbitrary
tasks for Ferdinand as obstacles to his wooing of Miranda? Does he want
Miranda to marry Ferdinance, or not? Is he being a good father, or not?
In a speech beginning, “Had I plantation
of this isle…” (2.1.127-47), Gonzalo praises Prospero’s
island as a kind of potential Utopia. Antonio and Sebastian, a couple of
cynics, mock him for his pretensions. Who’s right? What, if anything,
is wrong with Gonzalo’s vision?
Stephano is drunk and stupid. Why does
Caliban serve him? What does this reveal about Caliban? What is revealed
by the way in which Stephano rules?