Language, Literary, and Dramatic Techniques Used in The Tempest

The Tempest, a romantic comedy was written around 1610-1611 by William Shakespeare before his retirement from the theater. The title of the play symbolically represents the emotional and psychological uproar faced by most of the characters. The main themes discussed in the book are repentance and forgiveness. Shakespeare wrote most of The Tempest using Iambic pentameter whereby each complete line contains ten syllables both accented and unaccented. He also included prose passages in his play, for characters with lower social classes to bring out the theme of social class and power. This paper analyses the different language, literacy and dramatic techniques employed by Shakespeare in The Tempest while moving from scene to scene.
Act 1: Scene 1
Imagery by the use of sounds of lighting and thunder at the beginning of the play bring out a dramatic effect that sparks the interest of the audience. Repetition of words brings out emphasis in a play such as when Gonzalo bids farewell to his wife and children because of the storm. “We split, we split!” (Shakespeare n.p). The repetition of these words also brings out a dramatic effect. The Tempest at the beginning of the play symbolizes the suffering endured by Prospero, which he wishes to inflict on his enemies. It also symbolizes the power of his magic and its potential.
Act 1: Scene 2
The aside is a literary technique used by playwrights where the character addresses the audience without involving the other characters. It usually indicates some form of conspiracy or deceit, allowing the audience to acquire more details that most of the characters on stage are unaware of.

Miranda utilizes the aside at the beginning of the scene when she reveals her concerns for her father to the audience. The Tempest has used imagery to conjure up vivid mental pictures and stretch the audience’s imagination and emotional connection to the play. There is also the use of alliteration, the repetition of consonants in words of proximity in the play. “Full fathom five thy father lies” (Shakespeare n.p). It is ironic that the Boatswain thinks that men are subject to nature despite all their power yet it was Prospero, who was the cause of the storm. Prospero uses a simile to tell Ariel that he will soon be free. “Thou shall be as free as mountain winds” (Shakespeare n.p)
Act 2: Scene 1
Alonso uses metaphorical language while addressing Francisco. “ The stomach of my sense”(Shakespeare n.p). The direct comparison of his stomach to sense brings out the metaphor. Personification is giving human qualities to non-objects. Prospero often uses personification, such as fortune, destiny, mercy, time and patience.
Act 2: Scene 2:
Sebastian and Antonio use puns skillfully to mock Gonzalo and Adrian. Sebastian teases Gonzalo by stating that Gonzalo is “Winding up the watch of his wit, by and by, it will strike.” When Gonzalo starts to speak, Sebastian counts one in a manner suggesting that Gonzalo had struck the hour, like a clock. This scene depicts some of the characters as backstabbers. Their flaws are later exposed. There are also some allusions to proverbs that are brought out in this scene such as the phrase, “rub the sore” as used by Gonzales to inform Sebastian that his attempts to soothe the king were only increasing his pain. An allusion is something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular event or something that happened before. Metaphorical language is also used by Sebastian in this scene when he claims that he is “standing waters” before being convinced for the sole purpose of following his brother’s plan.
Act 3: Scene 1
A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself but is true. Ferdinand says how wonderful his beloved is to be able to turn the unpleasant to pleasant. “The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead, and makes my labors pleasures” (Shakespeare n.p).
There is the use of hyperbole in this scene when Ferdinand declares that he will carry some thousand logs; “I must remove some thousands of these logs d pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness” (Shakespeare n.p).
Act 3: Scene 2
There is a contradiction in Caliban’s character in this scene. On the one hand, he is brutal and describes his plan to murder Prospero countered with the poetry of the island that reveals his humanity. Alonso’s language in this scene also changes as he uses more imagery and metaphor. He also speaks very briefly. He talks about “the thunder that profound and dreadful organ-pipe it did bass my trespass” (Shakespeare n.p). The sound made by the waters and wind reminds him of his guilt. The use of sound and visual imagery helps the audience connect with Alonso’s emotions and thoughts.
Act 3: Scene 3
This scene has utilized the technique of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a style used by writers to indicate what is to come in the future. Characters’ traits can be utilized as foreshadowing to indicate the actions that they will take later on in the book. Gonzalo uses a simile when he compares the guilt that the three men have to poison “All three of them are desperate: their great guilt, like poison given to work a great time after” (Shakespeare n.p).
Act 4: Scene 1
Prospero uses imagery and symbolism to show the downfall and contamination of marriage (Shakespeare n.p).
“If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
all sanctimonious ceremonies may
with full and holy rite be ministere’d,”
Act 5: Scene 1
Soliloquy is different from monologue since the character, in this case, speaks out his thoughts, in the presence of other characters. By using this device, Prospero conveys to the audience his achievements with the aid of magic and further that he will not need the magic any more.
Antithesis is when words or phrases which oppose each other are put together. An example is given when Ferdinand talks about his father’s death, he says “Though the seas threaten, they are merciful” (Shakespeare n.p).
The play uses a wide variety of language and literary styles. The use of dramatic techniques in the play creates a comical environment that ensures proper communication of the message to the audience. The various styles used in the play, have made sure of the proper build up of characters and The techniques have also helped in bringing out the themes on the play. This paper has analyzed the different techniques used by Shakespeare in his play The Tempest.

Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. “The Tempest (1611).” OpenSource Shakespeare. 2003. Website. 13 Nov. 2016.