Magic in The Tempest

The play is full of magic and effects. The opening storm which seems so real is only an
enchantment. Music is everywhere. Strange shapes, fantastic creatures and wonderful
illusions appear. Ariels song expressed the mysterious transformations which take
place, as everything undergoes a seachange ! "nto something rich and strange
"n Shakespeares #ngland, the line $etween magic and science was not clearly drawn.
Many $elieved in witches, or magicians like the legendry %r. &austus, who sold his soul to
the devil in exchange for magical powers. 'hen Shakespeare created (rospero, he may
have had in mind %r. )ohn %ee, a famous #li*a$ethan mathematician and geographer.
Some of %r. )ohn %ees work was genuinely scientific, $ut he was widely regarded as a
magnus, someone who da$$led in magic. A magnus could $e an alchemist +and early
scientist who could turn metal into gold, or an astrologer or sorcerer, who
communicated with the occult or spirit world.
(rospero could $e seen as a magnus . -e has devoted his life to secret studies in order
to gain magical powers, his art. (rosperos supernatural powers are astonishing . he has
control over earth, air, fire and water. -e can raise and calm tempests, command his
spirits to produce fantastic $an/uets and mas/ues, make himself invisi$le and control
0ali$an with cramps and pinches. -e can all up music and send people to sleep. 'hen he
decides to renounce his magic powers, (rospero recalls the miracles he can perform1
dimming the sun, commanding the winds, making storms at sea, splitting oaks with
lightening $olts and causing earth/uakes. -e can even raise the dead from their graves.
The play contrasts (rosperos $enign magic with the evil magic of Sycorax, 0ali$ans
mother, and her god, Sete$os. (rosperos charms and spells are aimed at achieving
virtue and goodness Theres no harm done he assures Miranda when she is grieving for
the shipwrecked crew. Sycoraxs sorcery is devilish, and Shakespeare adds reminders
of 0ali$ans wicked ancestry +got $y the devil himself,.
(rosperos magical powers are limited, he depends on luck to help him . providence
divine and $ountiful fortune and a most auspicious star. Although (rospero can control
the natural world, he cant control human nature. -e cannot make Miranda and
&erdinand fall in love, only $ring them together and hope they will. -e cannot cause his
enemies to experience remorse and repentance for their deeds. -is magic is una$le to
cause Se$astian or Antonio to undergo a change of heart for their misdeeds.
As we go through the play, it is important to keep a list of what magic (rospero uses and
where it occurs, keeping in mind the key theme of whether magic is for good or evil in
this play.