Act II and III include two different conspiracy plots: Antonio’s and Sebastian’s plot to kill Alonso and Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano’s plot to murder Prospero. Compare and contrast the plots. You might answer the following questions:
How are the conspirators positioned in society and what do they want to accomplish?
What is the tone of the conspiracy scene: ominous, comedic, or something else?
**make sure to include details from the play in your response.
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The two different conspiracy plots for murder are in Acts II and III are remarkably similar, yet have a few key differences. Both conspiracy plots are being planned so the conspirators can improve their station in life. Stephano envisions himself becoming king of the island with Miranda as his queen and Trinculo and Caliban as his viceroys after they murder Prospero, and Sebastian also envisions himself as king after the murder of King Alonso. While both men see themselves as king after the murders, they had to be persuaded in that direction. Sebastian was persuaded by Antonio after he reminded Sebastian that he got his power by usurping his brother’s dukedom and Caliban tells Stephano that he is “subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island(3.246-248) in his argument to murder Prospero. While the motivation behind both murders is the same, the tone of the conspiracy plots are different. The plan to murder Alonso starts off very ominous, but takes a slight comedic turn when Gonzalo and Alonso wake to find the men with their swords drawn. Antonio and Sebasian make up a story about lions, saying “we heard a burst of bellowing like bulls, or rather lions” (2.1.357-358). On the other hand, the plan to murder Prospero starts off with Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano all meeting each other in a comedic, drunken scene, but then turns ominous as they plan to “brain him”(3.2.97), or smash his skull, as he sleeps.
Antonio’s plot to kill Alonso and Caliban plot to murder Prospero both have some things in common. In both scenes they plotted to kill people just for power. The scene begins with Alonso sleeping and Antonio and Sebastian being the only ones awake. Sebastian began telling Antonio that he would be a better king and should take action since Ferdinand is missing( Tempest,230). Antonio agrees with him and both plan to kill Alonso in his sleep. This equally relates to Caliban and Trinculo, when Caliban says that he would be his servant if only his master ( Prospero) was dead( Tempest, 230). Trinculo agrees because he wants to be king of the island and not be ruled by anyone else. In both scenes with the characters the tone was different. In scene 2 Antonio and Sebastian the tone was dark. Antonio and Sebastian was fill with greed and didn’t care about anyone else but themselves( Tempest, 230). This gave the audience a dark tone because since both character should that they were capable of anything. However, with Caliban and Alonso the tone was happy. Both Caliban and Alonso were eager to kill Prospero so they can have the island( Tempest,180). While doing so left the audience to think that they didn’t take the situation seriously and would kill anyone that stop them.
In Acts II and III of the play, The Tempest by William Shakespeare, there are two different conspiracy plots for murder that are notably similar, yet different in some ways. In both conspiracy plots, they are planning on taking the life of another to better their status in their life, but running into minor problems caused by Ariel. As Alonso rests his eyes after feeling “wondrous heavy” (2.1 164) Antonio suggest that it is the perfect time to execute him and have Sebastian become king, just as they draw their swords, Ariel returns, wakening Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian play it off “’twas a din to fright a monster’s ear, To make an earthquake! Sure, it was the roar Of a whole herd of lions. (2.1 278-280). This is fairly similar to Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano, as Caliban tells them all that he is “subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island” (3.2 41), not knowing that Ariel is secretly listening. Drunkenly, they continue to talk and Caliban confesses that he wants to seek revenge on Prospero. Continuing, Caliban sets aside a plan to kill Prospero, as he is sleeping and “brain him” (3.2 97) in his sleep. The scenes and ideas are fairly similar in that they both want to murder an individual, and the tones of the conspiracy scenes are also fairly similar. The conspiracy scene with Antonio and Sebastian is ominous and reasonably comedic, as they explain that they heard a monstrous noise like a heard of lions. The conspiracy scene with Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano is similar in the sense that it is comedic, as they are drunkenly having a good time, but turns ominous after discussing their plot at killing Prospero.
Both Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano’s plan to murder prospero, and Anotonio and Sebastian’s plan to kill Alonso are rooted in the desire to gain power. Caliban’s desire to murder Prospero also stems from a desire to seek revenge for having been enslaved by him. He tells Stephano he is “subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island(3.246-248). Yet, he agrees to be Trinculo’s servant if Prospero is dead, which I found to be rather counterproductive. Whereas the rest are simply seeking more power. Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano’s plot to murder had a much more comedic tone, as it was fued by drunkenness rather than sheer anger and desire to kill. Though it does take on a bit of a darker tone once they discuss the manners in which they plan to kill Prospero. Antonio and Sebastian’s plot to murder the king had a much darker tone, Sebastian coercing Antonio to to murder Alonso at night when he is sleeping, out of sheer desire to gain more power.
Both plots for murder going on during the tempest are very similar in how they come to be, but with varying motivations and goals. Dispite both plots having multiple party members involved, the plan to kill Alonso by Antonio and Sebastian and the plan to kill Prospero by Calidban, Trinculo, and Stephano, they are truly being curaited by just one person. When it comes to the murder of Alonso, it ultimately is all Antonio pulling all the strings, “Worthy Sebastian, O, what might—? No more. And yet methinks I see it in thy face What thou shouldst be. Th’ occasion speaks thee, and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head”(2.1 227-231). This manipulative talk from Antonio, dangling the concept of becoming a king in front of Sebastians face ultimatly makes Sebastian on board with the murder, willing to go through with it right then and there if it wasn’t for the rest of the nobility waking up. When it comes to Prospero, the manipulation still takes place, despite being portrayed as some lesser lifeform, Caliban is smart in utilizing his newfound alliance to Staphano to get what he truly wants, Prospero dead. Getting Staphano on his side, having him beat Trinculo for making fun of him, Staphano is strangely taking orders from Caliban despite Caliban swearing loyalty. It further shows how smart Caliban may be, even saying a plot to kill Prospero “Remember First to possess his books, for without them He’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not One spirit to command” (3.1 100-105). The contrast in these two motivations show what I believe is the difference between the mindset of the rulers vs the mindset of those being ruled upon. Antonio wants power, to be an evil ruler himself, while Caliban wants to take back revenge for the person who murdered his mother, took him homeland, and enslaved him for twelve years. This shows how an act as evil as murder can have a lot more to it for why it takes place and is sometimes for good reason.
The two different conspiracies in Act 2 and Act 3 have some similarities yet some differences as well. The prominent similarity is murder. More specifically murder someone else in order to make their life easier/enriched. However Ariel doesn’t allow it to happen as he is under control from Prospero. ““Awake, awake!” (II.i.301)” Shows that Ariel wakes up Gonzalo thus avoiding his possible murder. This is similar to the Caliban situation as he is also trying to murder Prospero. The big difference is revenge. There is no revenge for the murder of Gonzalo, his murder is only beneficial to Sabestian and Antonio. However, when it comes to Caliban, he is trying to enact his revenge on Prospero. ” “subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island” (III.ii.40–41)” Shows how he was cheated by Prospero and explains why he wants to enact his revenge.
During Act’s 2 and 3, the two conspiracy murder plots unfold; Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill King Alonso while Caliban, Trinculo, and Stephano plot to kill Prospero. While the groups conspired, the theme of power started to emerge however the intention within each differed. Antonio is no stranger to taking what he wants considering he usurped the throne from his own brother. So it comes at no surprise that he announces he lack of conscience “But, for your conscience?” “Ay, sir. Where lies that? If ’twere a kibe, ‘Twoud put me to my slipper. But I feel not.” (2.1.316-318) when convincing Sebastian to kill Alonso and rule Naples. They are able to make their plot once Ariel has made the others sleep. This scene reveals an ominous tone as they plot and is suspenseful as the group awakens before they get the chance to kill Alonso and Gonzalo. Meanwhile, Caliban seeks revenge on Prospero by convincing “brave” Stephano to kill him and retain Caliban as his servant. Ariel plays a part in this scene as well, this time creating more of a stir of confusion as the others are not aware of her presence. This creates more of a comedic tone within the dialog. “Thou liest.” “Do I so? Take thou that. As you like this, give me the lie another time.” (3.2.82-84)