Shakespeare, a Hidden Philosopher
By Ajeng Shabrina
Philosophy helps us to understand Shakespeare's last play: The Tempest. Going over the character’s name, we can find evidence of Plato's “The Republic.” To be precise, the evidence of philosophy in this play is not in doubt. Nevertheless, all of them are implicitly delivered. Shakespeare does not want to declare that he is a philosopher. We know what happened to Socrates at the end of his life. He was accused of corrupting the youth and not believing in God. If we go to Shakespeare’s play “King Lear,” we can find it more clearly. Lear: “First let me talk with this philosopher. What is the cause of thunder?” (3,4,147-148) Even though it might be clear to him that God causes thunder, he wants to ask if God really causes it. His curiosity about nature leads him to ask a philosopher. Lear: “Let me ask you one word in private.” (3,4,147-148) It is not safe to be skeptical in public. He fears committing blasphemy by asking about the existence of God.
Shakespeare plays with words and names. “Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” (Socrates) It is also one of the names of the character in The Tempest. Miranda (Prospero’s daughter) is Wonder in Latin. Prospero is a powerful magician and a former duke of Milan. Just like Prospero, everything in the play will prosper. This is a play about masters; it will prosper under a wise leader (philosopher). A king must have a guardian (spirit); the analogy of spirit is a lion. It is not a coincidence that Ariel (Prospero’s servant) means the Lion of God in the Old Testament. It also means Prospero is Godlike. Prospero’s slave is a monster named Caliban. His name is from a mix of two words: Kalos (Noble) and Banausos (Manual laborer).
The Tempest appropriately starts with a storm. It tears apart a big ship that contains masters. Boatswain and monarchs from the king’s party are Alonso (king of Naples), Antonio (duke of Milan), Gonzalo (Alonso’s councilor), and Sebastian (Alonso’s brother). This big ship sails from Tunis after the wedding of Claribel (Alonso’s daughter) to the king of Tunis. A quarrel starts when the king’s party goes out of the cabin. They are complaining and arguing, bos’n. Cheerful and brave bos’n orders the king’s party to cooperate. Boatswain: “When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin! Silence! Trouble us not!” (1,1,38) His experience and knowledge are the basis of his leadership. On the contrary, heredity is the basis for the king to lead his people. We found two masters, Bos’n and Alonso. We can even decide which one is better to rule.
Miranda watches this accident. Her naïve and fragile heart makes her ask Prospero to stop the storm. Just like her mother, who is “a piece of virtue” (1,2,42), she is too compassionate. Prospero reassures her that there is no harm done. He tells Miranda a story about how they came to the island twelve years ago. His brother, Antonio, kicked him and Miranda from Milan and put them in a leaky boat that even rats will jump from. A kind councilor named Gonzalo equipped them with fabric, food, and most importantly, Prospero’s books. Antonio got help from Alonso to kick them. As a consequence, he gives Milan independence to Alonso. When Alonso must think of uniting Italy, it reminds us of The Prince by Machiavelli. Prospero gives his dukedom to his brother and chooses the liberal arts.
Ariel says to Prospero, “All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail!” (1,2,48) Ariel reports that the passengers of the ship are safely in the harbor and leads Ferdinand to meet Miranda. Ariel is the spirit that Prospero released from a pine tree. Ariel was chained by Sycorax, an evil witch who lived on the island. Sycorax abused her power to control the island. The juxtaposition is Sycorax and the story of the “Ring of Gyges.” When a tyrant or an unjust person has power, he abuses it. Sycorax has a son named Caliban, a monster creature who is a slave of Prospero. Prospero teaches and helps him. But he returns his favor by trying to harm Miranda’s honor. Thus, we get three pieces of evidence of the Republic. Prospero is the philosopher ruler (the third ruler). A Godlike being who rules with his reason. Ariel, a lion of God, is also a guardian who has a spirit. Caliban, a monster, resembles the people who have uncontrolled desires.
Prospero’s project is to test and teach all the characters. He makes Alonso think that Ferdinand died and vice versa. His first project is to test Ferdinand, an entitled and arrogant prince of Naples. He already addressed himself as the king of Naples, knowing his father had died. Prospero wants him to be more compassionate and gentler. In contrast, he wants Miranda to be tougher. Philosophy is to be in the middle, neither too tough nor too compassionate. He asks Ferdinand to move the log back and forth and warns Miranda not to tell anything about herself. Eventually, Ferdinand passes his test, but Prospero still draws the line that he cannot do anything to Miranda before they marry. No fooling around. Prospero makes Ariel oversee their movements.
Prospero's second project is to test the king’s party. While Alonso and Gonzalo are sleeping, Antonio and Sebastian try to kill them. It fails when Ariel whispers in Alonso's and Gonzalo’s ears to wake them up. Antonio and Sebastian have already failed their test. Alonso shows his sorrow and guilt. Then, they try to find Ferdinand on Temperance Island. Adrian: “It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate temperance” (2,1,63). They are served by some creatures a big feast. But then it disappears. It hints at The Republic, where food for the soul is more important than food for the body.
The other project starts when Caliban meets Trinculo and Stephano. Caliban makes drunken Stephano his new king after he “Kiss[es] the book” (2,2,79) (drinks the alcohol). This scene shows the fourth master, who is Stephano. Unfortunately, when Prospero is busy with Ferdinand and Miranda, he almost forgets that Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo are planning a murder plot against him. He is genuinely angry and says that Caliban is a “born devil.” (4,1,105) When the three of them go to Prospero’s cell, they try to take his books (art). Stephano and Trinculo are attracted to ‘fancy clothes’ instead of doing their plan. Here, Caliban realizes how foolish his new king is. Caliban shows how he understands everything that Prospero taught him. He even shows that he is a philosopher by saying those ‘fancy clothes’ are trash. He does not care about the ruling. Prospero gives three of them a lesson, spirits in the shape of dogs and hounds attacking them.
Prospero gathers all the characters and gives them a speech. Prospero: “In this last tempest. I perceive these lords. At this encounter do so much admire. That they devour their reason, and scarce think. Their eyes do offices of truth, their words are natural breath…” (5,1,114) This is the first time Prospero wears his duke clothes and appears in front of the king’s party. When Alonso recognizes Prospero, he shows his guilt and sorrow. Then, Prospero teases him by saying that he also lost his daughter. Not long after that, Prospero shows Miranda and Ferdinand playing chess. It symbolizes how they are now wiser, playing an intelligence and strategy game. It shows how ready they are to be the future king and queen. At the end of the play, Stephano admits himself a tyrant. Prospero: “You’d be king o’ the isle, sirrah?” Stephano: “I should have been a sore one then.” (5,1,119) Eventually, Caliban promises to be wiser and obey Prospero.
Everyone goes back to Naples, and Ariel is free. Although the epilogue is spoken by Prospero, it is also spoken by Shakespeare. The similarity between the two of them shows the fifth master. “Now my charms are all o’erthrown…” (Epilogue), both give up their art. This is the last play of Shakespeare. “But release me from my bands. With the help of your good hands. Gentle breath of yours my sails Must fill, or else my project fails, which was to please.” (Epilogue) Prospero’s project is to teach not to please anyone. We might assume the fifth master is the audience since Shakespeare asks to be released by appreciation and a good review from the audience. He apologizes that the whole play is a “crime.” Shakespeare delivers philosophy through his plays. He teaches the audience, just like Prospero. In fact, Shakespeare is the fifth master. He is even greater. His art cannot vanish. It is immortalized in his book “The Tempest.”