Comments on: Grace and The Gospel in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:27:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Carmella Decesare http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-115208 Carmella Decesare Sun, 15 Jul 2007 02:03:28 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-115208 <strong>shakespeare's play...</strong> I Googled for something completely different, but found your page...and have to say thanks. nice read.... shakespeare’s play…

I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….

]]> By: mistercenac http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-13342 mistercenac Fri, 09 Feb 2007 06:15:59 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-13342 I appreciate your analysis, I also, however, have certain problems with it. I am not entirely certain whether or not there is much if any textual evidence to support the idea that Prospero realized that forgiveness was neccessary on his own. After re-reading the areas in question of 'The Tempest' and doing a bit of research, I now think that Ariel's statements in Act 5 Scene 1 lines 17-20 show how Ariel was actually the reason why Prospero changed his ways. I think that this point is critical in proving or disproving the parrallel you draw between 'The Tempest' and the Gospels. For it it is true that Ariel is impetus for Prospero's change, then it becomes unlikely that anyone can forgive since not everyone has an Ariel. Also, I question whether or not Caliban was truly forgiven or if Caliban ever truly forgave Prospero. It is true that Prospero seems to forgive Caliban, however he says it in such a way that Caliban must still submit to Prospero's will in order to achieve forgivness. That is a limiting factor that would again disprove the idea that everyone can be forgived no matter what (Prospero makes it so that only those whom are subservient are forgiven. This may go in-line with notions that you must accept God and believe in him in order to be forgiven, however I think such a standard devalues the magnitude of the forgiveness). On the issue if Caliban forgives Prospero, it simply seems odd that Caliban would forgive Prospero for no apparent reason. It could be said that the kindness Prospero showed Caliban gave him reason to return the favor, however, the possibility that Prospero did not forgive Caliban and the simple lack of justification for forgiveness makes it unlikely that Caliban truely forgave Prospero. Your opinions on this would be greatly appreciated I appreciate your analysis, I also, however, have certain problems with it. I am not entirely certain whether or not there is much if any textual evidence to support the idea that Prospero realized that forgiveness was neccessary on his own. After re-reading the areas in question of ‘The Tempest’ and doing a bit of research, I now think that Ariel’s statements in Act 5 Scene 1 lines 17-20 show how Ariel was actually the reason why Prospero changed his ways. I think that this point is critical in proving or disproving the parrallel you draw between ‘The Tempest’ and the Gospels. For it it is true that Ariel is impetus for Prospero’s change, then it becomes unlikely that anyone can forgive since not everyone has an Ariel.

Also, I question whether or not Caliban was truly forgiven or if Caliban ever truly forgave Prospero. It is true that Prospero seems to forgive Caliban, however he says it in such a way that Caliban must still submit to Prospero’s will in order to achieve forgivness. That is a limiting factor that would again disprove the idea that everyone can be forgived no matter what (Prospero makes it so that only those whom are subservient are forgiven. This may go in-line with notions that you must accept God and believe in him in order to be forgiven, however I think such a standard devalues the magnitude of the forgiveness). On the issue if Caliban forgives Prospero, it simply seems odd that Caliban would forgive Prospero for no apparent reason. It could be said that the kindness Prospero showed Caliban gave him reason to return the favor, however, the possibility that Prospero did not forgive Caliban and the simple lack of justification for forgiveness makes it unlikely that Caliban truely forgave Prospero.

Your opinions on this would be greatly appreciated

]]> By: Rasselas http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12222 Rasselas Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:00:26 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12222 really enjoyed this post...more please! :) really enjoyed this post…more please! :)

]]> By: Michael Spencer http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12135 Michael Spencer Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:22:04 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12135 Oh my. Don't get me started. Harold Bloom derides these people properly: Having read Shakespeare, they apparently didn't read him. Oh my. Don’t get me started. Harold Bloom derides these people properly: Having read Shakespeare, they apparently didn’t read him.

]]> By: steve yates http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12134 steve yates Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:57:15 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12134 but seriously, i like it too. just for discussion, in your studies have you encountered the colonial critique of the tempest...the idea that prospero can be interpreted as the colonizing opperessor coming into and dominating an already existing culture (prospero does take over the island from caliban's mom)...just a thought. i'm not sure i buy it (my shakespeare classes never spoke of it) but my studies of post-colonial literature always seem to use it as an example of said's western orientalism, an inherint oppressive nature in our texts that is accepted rather than offensive. for glory... steve but seriously, i like it too. just for discussion, in your studies have you encountered the colonial critique of the tempest…the idea that prospero can be interpreted as the colonizing opperessor coming into and dominating an already existing culture (prospero does take over the island from caliban’s mom)…just a thought. i’m not sure i buy it (my shakespeare classes never spoke of it) but my studies of post-colonial literature always seem to use it as an example of said’s western orientalism, an inherint oppressive nature in our texts that is accepted rather than offensive.

for glory…
steve

]]> By: steve yates http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12133 steve yates Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:52:05 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-12133 hey michael nice dodge... hey michael nice dodge…

]]> By: Heather http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-11970 Heather Fri, 02 Feb 2007 17:13:52 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/grace-and-the-gospel-in-shakespeares-the-tempest#comment-11970 The Tempest is my favorite Shakespeare play, maybe for it's merits, but most likely because it is the first one I saw rather than read. Thanks for this look at it. The Tempest is my favorite Shakespeare play, maybe for it’s merits, but most likely because it is the first one I saw rather than read. Thanks for this look at it.

]]>