THE

TEMPEST

PRAGMATIC
ANALYSIS
SERENA BARBATO
CP/02240
 External Contextualization
The Tempest is a William Shakespeare’s play,
probably written between 1610 and 1611. It’s
TYPE OF TEXT : thought that it is one of the last plays that
Theatrical comedy Shakespeare wrote alone. After the first scene,
which takes place on a ship at sea during a
tempest, the rest of the story is set on a remote
island, where the sorcerer Prospero, a complex
and contradictory character, lives with his
daughter,Miranda, and his two servants—Caliban,
a savage monster figure, and Ariel, an airy spirit.
Drama-Magic-Illusion The play contains music and songs that evoke the
spirit of enchantment on the island. The play
consists of many themes, including magic,
betrayal, revenge, and family.
Research Hypotesis
• This research hypothesis aims to show Prospero's behavior during a
conversation with his daughter, Miranda and his two servants Ariel
and Caliban , and how certain pragmatic dynamics suggests a specific
characterization of the character.

• We will focus on:

• Grice maxims model

• The model of politeness expressed by Brown and Levinson
• The model of impoliteness suggested by Culpeper
• The nature of the implicature
 ACT 1, SCENE 2
<< The Island, Before Prospero's Cell >>

SEGMENT 1 :

INTERNAL CONTEXTUALIZATION

Prospero, the former duke of Milan, who has been stranded on a barren
island for twelve years with his daughter, Miranda, explains to her that
he used his magic to raise the storm and that he ensured that no one
on the ship was harmed. Then he tells her how, twelve years
before, his brother Antonio conspired with Alonso, king of Naples,
to usurp Prospero’s dukedom and put him and Miranda to sea,
where they happened upon the barren island that is now their
home.
 In the first scene Prosero respects the Tact
Maxim, using Leech’s politeness principle. Its
purpose is to strike a social balance, reassuring
his daughter, showing her closeness, implying
benefit to her.

Prospero: Be collected:
No more amazement: tell your
piteous heart
Through the words '' be collected .. Tell your piteous
There's no harm done. heart there’s no harm done’’ he shows apprehension,
then, uses a Bald on record (Brown & Levinson), an act
created to send a clear and effective message in
Miranda's interest.
 PROSPERO: Twelve years since, Miranda, twelve • Bald on record: Prospero begins to
year since Thy father was the Duke of Milan tell his story through a clear and
and​ prince of power.​ effective message.

MIRANDA: Sir, are not you my father?​

PROSPERO: Thy mother was a piece of virtue and​
She said thou
wast my daughter. And thy father​ Was Duke of
Milan,
and thou his only heir​ And princess no worse issu
ed.​
-Respect the maxim of quality and
manner
- breaks the maxim of relation, the
mother's introduction is not
relevant to the question posed.

The nature of the implicature: Prospero indirectly answers Miranda's question, showing
that there is a hidden explanation that goes beyond the question asked.
 Prospero employs the stategy of
negative impoliteness to hurt Antonio,
PROSPERO​: showing with disdain the hate which
My brother and thy uncle, called Antonio—​ has been collected because of the past
I pray thee, mark me (that a brother should​ events.
Be so perfidious!)—he whom next thyself​
Of all the world I loved and to him put​
The manage of my state, as at that time​ ‘’He whom next thyself of all the
Through all the signories it was the first,​ world i loved ..’’ In this sentence
And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed​ Prospero is violating the maxim of
In dignity, and for the liberal arts​ quantity, using a more informative
Without a parallel. Those being all my study,​ contribution than necessary.
The government I cast upon my brother​
And to my state grew stranger, being transported​
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle—​
Bald on record: expression aimed at
Dost thou attend me?​
attracting Miranda's attention
 This sentence contains a metaphor;
-Breaks the maxim of manner
we can deduce that it is an off recordness.
MIRANDA​:
Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
‘’tell me if this might be a brother’’:
PROSPERO: Prospero uses a negative impoliteness
Mark his condition and the event. Then strategy (Culpeper), damaging Antonio's
tell me negative face.
If this might be a brother.

MIRANDA:
I should sin
To think but nobly of my grandmother.
Good wombs have borne bad sons.
Negative impoliteness: ‘’good wombs have bad
sons.''
MIRANDA:
Wherefore did they not
That hour destroy us? In both sentences an implicature
is used to add a hidden meaning
PROSPERO:​ that modifies hearer's
Well demanded, wench.​ expectations.
My tale provokes that question. Dear, they
durst not,​
In the first case Prospero answers
So dear the love my people bore me... to Miranda's question. In the
In few, they hurried us aboard a bark, second case the words used with
Bore us some leagues to sea, where they this aim are ''the very rats'' whose
prepared meaning is ''not even rats''.
A rotten carcass of a butt, not rigged,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast. The very rats
Instinctively had quit it.
MIRANDA:​

Alack, what trouble​

Was I then to you!​
Positive politeness: Prospero
comforts Miranda by showing
appreciation and solidarity towards
PROSPERO:​ her.

Oh, a cherubim​
Thou wast that did preserve
me. ​
​
​
SEGMENT 2 : Enter Ariel
INTERNAL CONTEXTUALIZATION

Prospero calls forth his spirit, Ariel. In his conversation with Ariel, we learn that
Prospero and the spirit were responsible for the storm .
Prospero thanks Ariel for his service, and Ariel takes this moment to remind
Prospero of his promise to take one year off of his agreed time of servitude if Ariel
performs his services without complaint. Prospero doesn’t appreciate the fact that
it reminded him of his promises, and he chastises Ariel for his impudence. He
reminds Ariel of where he came from and how Prospero rescued him. Reminding
Ariel of this, Prospero threatens to imprison him for twelve years if he does not
stop complaining. Ariel promises to be more polite.
 Prospero
Come away servant, come. I
am ready now. Approach, my
Ariel, come.
ARIEL
All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure, be ’t to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curled clouds. To thy strong bidding, task
Ariel and all his quality.
PROSPERO
Hast thou, spirit,
Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?
ARIEL
To every article.
Prospero uses a bald on record,
inviting Ariel to enter.
Mock politeness : In all these
expressions Ariel uses a strategic
impoliteness through an institutional
power. Ariel puts himself at the
complete disposal of his master
because he cannot act freely, and
only satisfying Prospero's orders can
he achieve his aim (get freedom). It
can be said that Ariel uses a mock
politeness to achieve his aim.
PROSPERO
Off recordeness : ‘’not a hair
But are they, Ariel, safe?
perished’’: Ariel uses a metaphor
ARIEL
Not a hair perished.
PROSPERO
Ariel, thy charge
Exactly is performed. But there’s more work.
ARIEL Mock politeness : This time Prospero uses
Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, a mock politeness; he had promised Ariel
Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, that if he had carried out his orders, he
Which is not yet performed me. would have guaranteed his freedom, but
PROSPERO as soon as he reached his goal, he told
How now? Moody? him that there was more work to do;
What is ’t thou canst demand? using a strategy of politeness through a
ARIEL free trade agreement, which was found to
My liberty. be insincere.
SEGMENT 3 : Enter Caliban
INTERNAL CONTEXTUALIZATION

Caliban appears at Prospero’s call and starts cursing. Prospero promises

to punish him by giving him cramps at night, and Caliban responds by
chiding Prospero for imprisoning him on the island that once belonged to
him. He reminds Prospero that he showed him around when he first
arrived. Prospero accuses Caliban of being ungrateful for all that he has
taught and given him. He calls him a “lying slave” and reminds him of the
effort he made to educate him.
 Prospero uses a positive
PROSPERO impoliteness strategy (Culpeper)
Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself through derogatory appellations
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! towards Caliban.
Enter Caliban

‘’Come forth’’ uses a bald on record

Impoliteness, ordering directly to Caliban
to go out.
CALIBAN
As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed Caliban
With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen -breaks the maxim of quantity
Drop on you both! A southwest blow on ye and relation
And blister you all o’er!
-uses a negative impoliteness
strategy by threatening
Prospero and Miranda.
 Prospero continues to point
PROSPERO to negative names against
Thou most lying slave, Caliban, belittling him,
Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee, using a vulgar language that
Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee damages his face, through
In mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate the use of a positive
The honor of my child. impoliteness strategy.

Negative impoliteness strategy:

PROSPERO Prospero declares Caliban guilty for violating his
Hag-seed, hence! daughter's honor.
Fetch us in fuel. And be quick, thou 'rt best,
Once again Prospero uses
To answer other business. Shrug’st thou, malice?
a negative impoliteness
If thou neglect’st or dost unwillingly
strategy, threatening
What I command, I’ll rack thee with old cramps,
Caliban to implement
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar
harmful measures against
That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
him.
 DATA ANALYSIS

The aim of this study was to eximine how pragmatic strategies can
affect the entire perception of a character. The study focuses on the
main character of ''the Tempest'' of William Shakespeare. I decided
to analyse the figure of Prospero when he comes into contact with
three different characters, and the unlike linguistic strategies he uses.
The results of this research are stated as it follows below.
 Miranda Ariel Caliban

Strategy Times Strategy Times Strategy Times

Positive 1 Bald on record 1 Positive 2

politeness impoliteness

Bald on record 4 Off recordness 1 Negative 3

impoliteness

Negative 3 Mock 3 Bald on 2

politeness politeness record
impoliteness
C O N C L U S I O N Prospero is one of Shakespeare’s more enigmatic
protagonists. I decided to analyse his figure when
he comes into contact with three different
CHARACTER'S
PROFILING characters, to underline the unlike linguistic
strategies that are used for the encounter of each
one of them. In the first dialogue he’s talking to
his daughter, Miranda. Here we can notice
Prospero's apprehensive side, through which the
politeness strategy, suggested by Brown and
Levinson, is introduced , but also the resentful
side towards his brother Antonio, through whom
he uses a negative impoliteness strategy.
In the second dialogue an institutional power
can be noticed that is to say the one of a master
to his servant. Where the prevailing strategy is
that of one mutual mock politeness. In
conclusion, the final dialogue with Caliban, in
which Prospero shows all his contempt for this
wild monster, by making the strategy of
impoliteness expressed by Culpeper prevail.