Comparative Essay – The Tempest & Hag-Seed Essay

Resource Description

‘The Tempest’ and ‘Hag-Seed’ dialogically focus the reader on imprisonment. This is evident literally in the setting and the predicament of the characters but it also is a construct of the characters and their mindsets. To what extent do you agree with this statement? In your answer refer to your two prescribed texts ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Hag-Seed’

The complex and provocative amalgamation of the universal themes of revenge, tragedy, comedy and romance within Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ has inspired many modern authors, such as Margaret Atwood’s adaptation of this text, ‘Hag-seed’. Both texts explore the metaphorical and literal means of imprisonment. They also highlight the damaging consequences revenge can have on a person, and the rejuvenating effect forgiveness has, reflecting the importance of christian values during the elizabethan era. Power and control is interwoven into both texts, acting as the driving force for the characters to further their objectives. These prevalent themes in ‘The Tempest’ have been reshaped in ‘Hag-Seed’ to recapture the complex mindsets of these characters in a modern setting.

Imprisonment is a central theme evident in both texts, entrapping characters within their own mindsets or within their setting. In ‘Hag-Seed’, Felix imprisons both himself and Miranda within his thoughts, punishing himself, as well as attempting to make amends for Miranda’s death. “When she was eight, he taught her to play chess” Dramatic irony is used to convey the effect this self-imprisonment has on Felix, that without Miranda, he is slowly losing his sense of reality. The textual allusion draws the reader’s mind towards the Tempest, and Ferdinand’s love for Miranda. Except in this context, it’s alluding to the love Felix has for Miranda, so much so that he will imprison them both together, away from society.Prospero and Miranda have physically been imprisoned in an uninhabited island, yet Miranda has kept his mind free and sane. “O, a cherubin Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile Infused with a fortitude from heaven”. An asyndeton was used to emphasize the effect Miranda has had on his will to live. A hyperbole was used to convey that it is Miranda that has kept him grounded during their shared imprisonment on the island. An undiscovered island was used as their place of imprisonment to reflect the Age Of Exploration occurring in Europe during the 17th century, involving the audience further within the play. So while Miranda was the cause of Felix’s self-imprisonment, she was the cause of Prospero’s lack thereof. The cause of Prospero’s self – imprisonment is the detrimental resentment he holds towards Alonso, as well as the guilt he has of which the matter is unknown to the audience. “Let your indulgence set me free” The double entendre in this statement refers not only to Prospero’s letting go of the guilt that is keeping him imprisoned on the island, but also Shakespeare letting the audience go. He is asking the audience to free him from the burden of writing, but also for forgiveness for abandoning it. This line is echoed in Hag-Seed “What was he thinking – keeping her tethered to him all this time?… to the elements be free.” This textual allusion provides closure for Felix, similar to how it did for Prospero and Shakespeare. The motif of the elements within his Internal monologue was used to highlight the struggle Felix had to let both Miranda’s ghost and himself free. It is through reflection individuals are able to set themselves free from their own entrapment.