Literature

These our actors,  As I foretold you, were all spirits and  Are melted into air, into thin air Prospero

This tale of The Tempest by William Shakespeare deals about the staging and orchestration. Just like all the other works of William Shakespeare, The Tempest was able to receive positive critical regard since the time it was first published. The Tempest talks about one of the most wondrous association ever tackled in a romantic play. The aforementioned passage from the play speaks of the main protagonist, Prosperos thoughts about actors. In this story, it can be recalled that Prospero once has to stage a mock tragedy so as to save his life from his assassinators. At this point, Prospero regarded the people involved as actors.

Majority of the play consisted of fantasy and elements of magic. In fantasy novels, magic has been a common element as it involved supernatural and bizarre phenomena. In this story, Prospero as the main protagonist also served as the main object of fantasy and supernaturality. In this play, Prospero was depicted as a man with extra-ordinary and magical capabilities. This can be specifically observed in these lines

Of whence I am nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,
And thy no greater father
Tis time
I should inform thee father. Lend thy hand,
And pluck my magic garment from me. Prospero (Shakespeare 11)

Magic appears to be a fundamental element in this play. Since the main protagonist held some supernatural capabilities that altered some of the events in the play, the play was actually made up inter-woven supernaturalities and bizarre phenomenon such as a man turning into an invisible nymph, ship men surviving a ship wreck, and two individuals suddenly falling in love through a mystic tune. Apart from this, the significance of magic as an element of this play also appears very evident with how Prospero creates an identity through his relationship with his magic. It can be observed that most of Prosperos relationships have been implicated by his supernatural abilities. For one, he has always put his daughter Miranda to sleep, through a spell since ever since she was a little girl. As Miranda grew up, Prospero used to meddle with Mirandas dealings still, through his magical capabilities. Moreover, his relationship with the invisible sea nymph, Ariel was also bound by magic. Prospero once saved Ariel from a miserable fate, and as a deed in return, Ariel submitted to most of Prosperos demands that usually involved. Considering these, it can be inferred that indeed magic and supernaturality played an elemental role in this play. The main protagonists relation to magic made the impact of fantasy more perceivable in the plot. Dymkowski, a critique of Shakespeares plays even remarked

Prosperos relationship to his magic often plays a crucial role in our perceptions of the characters humanity its importance is neatly highlighted by the different approaches taken by Michael Redgrave, who played Prospero in Michael Benthalls 1951 Stratford Production  (Shakespeare and Dymkowski 24)
Apparently, every depiction of this story goes with the element of magic in it. It is evident that whoever plays the role of Prospero will always be connected to fantasy and supernaturality as Prosperos character has been deeply intertwined with it. The strong impact of magic in this play can also be observed in Prosperos language. During Shakespeares time, a lot of plays about sorcery and fantasy have been produced however, not all of them made lasting impacts to the audience through the characters dialogues. In this play however, it was observed that Prosperos dialogues appear to be some of the most stirring forces that strengthened the role and implications of magic in the entire plot.

Prospero also uses language as a weapon against his slave, the monstrous Caliban. He constantly threatens to torture Caliban, but the audience does not witness these events. Instead, Prospero describes them in exact detail Tonight, thou shall have cramps, he tells the man-beast in Act 1, Scene 2. In both of these cases, Prospero holds power over other characters onstage because of his mastery over language.

Apparently, through spells and captivating dialogues that relate to magic and sorcery, the story directed the audience to an amusing world of fantasy. The story was filled with characters that all had connections to supernaturality, and this connection moved the plot forward.

Obviously, magic played a fundamental role in this story by Shakespeare as what the abovementioned proof show. However, as what the introductory quote entails, there is still one elemental feature which made this story fascinating. In the introductory quote, it can be recalled that Prospero, the main protagonist, mentions about actors. Literally, by actors, he meant the individuals who participated in the tragedy he had to stage in order to save the life of his and his daughters life. In this story, these two elemental aspects appear to have a significant relationship and connection to each other. Considering the aforementioned quote, what could the author meant when he associated magic to actors And how could these two elements be related when it comes to the plot These issues shall be addressed in the succeeding parts of this discussion

Aside from magic, it could be observed that Prospero made a meaningful mention of actors. Although Prospero literally pin points the persons who contributed to the staged tragedy, in consideration of the story, it could be observed that this symbol may hold a deeper explication. If a reader would observe the story in a deeper and a more critical perspective, he or she will see that the story was actually made up of actors who stages different kinds of orchestrated or directed situations. In this story, almost all these situations were directed by Prospero himself. One specific example is when Prospero planned the meeting of Miranda and her supposed love interest, Ferdinand. In order to arrange a pleasant marriage for her daughter, Prospero was forced to command Ariel to use his music spell to enchant the Miranda and Ferdinand into falling in love with each other. At first, Miranda and Ferdinand were greatly puzzled as they wonder where the music goes on. However, it was evident that Ariels enchantment worked as Ferdinand immediately sought Mirandas attention.

Most sure, the goddess
On whom these airs attend  Vouchsafe, my prayer
May know if you remain upon this island
And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here my prime request,
Which I do last pronounce is  O you wonder
If you be maid or no Ferdinand, The Tempest (Shakespeare 37)

At this point, the two strangers started becoming acquainted, and Prosperos plan was again working toward his will. In this situation, the role of Ariel was that of an actor which also serve as an accessory to a secret plan which has to be done. Ariel played as an actor who guised himself as the music in the wind as to enchant the supposed lovers through his mystical music. Aside from this, there are also several instances where Prospero had to stage situations in order to achieve something which is supposed to work for his advantage. One of the most observable is the staged tragedy at sea where Prospero and Miranda had to appear like they died. In this situation, Prospero had to fix a plan with several shipmen which will show his assassinators that he and his daughter died in a tragedy at sea. A ship was set sail consisting Ferdinand, Antonio, Alonso, Gonzalo, Sebastian, Stephano, and Trinculo. They were on their route to the wedding of Alonsos daughter when the ship was destroyed by a horrible storm. It was made to appear like everybody on board died so as to make the people from Milan believe that Prospero died from the accident too and that there was no need to assassinate him anymore. Just like the previous situation where Prospero staged the meeting of Miranda and Ferdinand, this situation is again another depiction of actors staging a situation which actually changes the course of the plot. Apparently, just like magic, actors also appear to elemental aspects of this play. Most of the situations in this story were staged, which also means that such situations involved characters that had to play as actors. It appears that without this role, some of the protagonists plans would not have been achieved.

Magic and actors appear to have a contributing relationship in this story. Considering the persona of Propero, it could be assumed that making magic and acting cannot are essential elements that make up his identity. Without these elements, most of his ventures would not have been successful. Hence, considering the introductory quote, it could be inferred that Prospero actually meant that actors are like music which blends into the air in order to enchant people. However, without magic this would not be possible. This also appears to imply that manipulating destiny and fate can oftentimes be effective in working toward ones impossible goal however, again without actors and magic, this may never be feasible as well.