Question

Long Question :-
Do you agree with the view that one of the leading themes of The Tempest is the futility of nurture as a means of improving upon nature ?
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Answer 1

The Tempest by William Shakespeare has two major themes. One is the pursuit of power and its results, and the other is regeneration, forgiveness and reconciliation. ... This theme offers a positive vision to us. Yes, I agree with the view that regeneration, forgiveness and reconciliation are the major themes in the play.

Answer 2

★ About the Play

The question is based on one of the fascinating and gripping play 'The Tempest' , last play written by William Shakespeare in Elizabethan era (via late in 1610). 'The Tempest' is also referred as Shakespeare's swan song. Moreover, it occupies a special position because of its observance of the well known classical unities.

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It wouldn't be wrong to say that one of the leading themes of 'The Tempest' is the ineffectiveness of nurture in improving the inherent nature of human beings. Indeed ,'The Tempest' does show us that, speaking generally, the inherent evil nature of a human being can't be improved by any amount of nurture or instruction. In other words, the play shows that, if a human being is evil by birth, then he would remain evil throughout his life.

Similarly, the play also shows that, if a person is good by birth, he would remain good throughout. We may or may not accept this view of nature versus nurture, but such are conclusions which the dramatist wants us to reach after reading this play. In 'The Tempest' nature is pitted against nurture. By nature is meant the natural state of a human being; and by nature is also meant the kind of mind or mentality with which a human being is born. Nurture, on the contrary, means the upbringing and the breeding of a human being with the object of giving a certain direction to his mind and character. Education and instruction form part of this upbringing.

In the context of 'The Tempest' the state of nature is represented by Caliban who is inherently evil. Caliban is by nature a man who wants to satisfy his appetites and who wants to avoid physical inconvenience. To satisfy his appetites, Caliban would go to any length; he would betray a benefactor; he would cheat anybody; and he would degrade himself to any extent, as is illustrated in the situation which arises when he encounters Stepheno and Trinculo. When Prospero reminds Caliban of his wickedness in having tried to dishonor his (Prospero's) daughter, Caliban laughs gleefully and regrets his failure in raping her. He would even like to murder Prospero if he dared.

In short, Caliban provides incontrovertible evidence that an evil nature cannot be improved by any amount of instruction and nurture.

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Dramatis Personae

[The scene, an uninhabited island]

• Alonso, king of Naples.
• Sebastian, his brother.
• Prospero, the right Duke of Milan.
• Antonio his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan.
• Ferdinand, Son to the King of Naples.
• Gonzalo, an honest old Counsellor.
• Adrian & Francisco, Lords.
• Caliban, a savage and deformed monster.
• Trinculo, a jester.
• Stepheno , a drunken Butler.
• Boatswain and Master of a Ship.
• Miranda, daughter to Prospero.
• Ariel, an airy spirit.

✧ Iris, Ceres, Juno, Nymph and Reapers are all spirits but of lower rank.