FUNCTION OF LANGUAGE IN ‘THE TEMPEST’1
The function of Language in "The Tempest"
William Shakespeare's plays and dramas are one of the most significant achievement
in the writings by any English writer, and it still has the same or even more relevance in
society today. "The Tempest" is considered to be the best and most original work by
Shakespeare and the character such as Ariel and Caliban as the epitome of his imagination
and creative genius. The verses in the play as described by Peter Brooks shows the formation
of the image through the use of music-induced by the use of music and sound with the help of
the role played by Language and its function to depict a meaning which goes beyond the
meaning of the words.
The use of verse in the play is enhanced by magic and theme revolving around love,
loss, and politics. The Tempest was written at a time when England faced political conflicts,
and the theme of the play revolves around the political conflicts between Prospero and his
brother Alonso. The use of poetry in the form of songs by Ariel is used as music and depicts
the magical character portrayed by him (Asano, 2017). Prospero calls him at his own will and
the Language used by him to call Ariel also reflect the creation to occur from within him
rather than from unknown entity.
Robert Frost's claim that poetry is Language under pressure can be seen coming to life
in the words of Ariel, where he uses the song to calm the wrecking storm in the form of a
water nymph. He stays invisible to everyone except his master Prospero who endows him
with the power to calm the sea and bring to the shore Ferdinand. The words however, "Come
unto these yellow sands, And then take hands:" cannot be taken as the calming balm for the
sea but as the scream of Ariel who longs for freedom to roam on his own (Shakespeare,
2020). It can be seen in the words of the burthen chorus as well who makes the sound of
animals who were neither found on the island nor Ariel had the freedom to watch. The
critiques have also marked the Language in the songs of Ariel as the words of Prospero

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The Function of Language in 'The Tempest' | Essay

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