7 Best Quotes from “The Tempest”
Seriously, is there anyone more quotable than good old Shakespeare? Although our production of The Tempest is silent, we love a good quote and thought we’d share them with you. Continue reading for our 10 favorite quotes from The Tempest, coming soon to Synetic Theater!
“Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.”
For context: The storm forces Trinculo to find the nearest shelter, which happens to be Caliban’s coat, so when he says this quote, he means it literally. However, out of context, we can take it to mean that hard times force us to buddy up with those we might not otherwise acquaint with.
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“Why, thou deboshed fish thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?”
For context: This is uttered by Stephano, the resident drunk butler. Deboshed means “debauched” and “sack” refers to a type of intoxicant. He’s talking to Caliban, the half-human/half-monster/fish-like slave of Prospero, who has just told Stephano that Trinculo is not valiant. Stephano asks how he could dare to lie.
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“Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer,—the next tree! The poor monster's my subject and he shall not suffer indignity.”
For context: Also said by Stephano, “keep a good tongue in your head” means to be polite. He is warning Trinculo not to overstep, or else he’ll be hanged from the next tree. Caliban is Stephano’s subject, and he will not allow him to be disrespected.
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“Look thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious”
For context: Here, Prospero is advising Ferdinand on how to treat his daughter, Miranda. “Do not give dalliance” means to not give in to flirtation, and “abstemious” means temperate, which he encourages as a useful quality for any strong marriage.
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Where the bee sucks. there suck I: In a cowslip's bell I lie; There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly After summer merrily. Merrily, merrily shall I live now Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
For context: Ariel sings this sweet song that describes his upcoming summer of freedom. He will feast upon pollen as bees do, sleep within the elongated cowslip blossom at night, fly on the backs of bats, and live happily under summer's blossoms. Over the centuries, many different melodies and songs have been set to these lyrics.
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“Let us not burthen our remembrance with A heaviness that's gone.”
For context: Alonso has just expressed his regret for past actions (as in plotting to kill Prospero, which is definitely cause for apology). However, Prospero replies that the past is in the past and there is no point in laboring over it now. Pretty forgiving guy.
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“Now I want Spirits to enforce, art to enchant, And my ending is despair, Unless I be relieved by prayer Which pierces so that it assaults Mercy itself and frees all faults. As you from crimes would pardon'd be, Let your indulgence set me free.”
For context: At this point, Prospero is speaking directly to the audience. He asks for their applause ("With the help of your good hands"), as he now lacks "spirits to enforce" and "art to enchant" (meaning that the play is over). His ending will be a tragic one unless "be relieved by prayer”, which would forgive all his faults. The audience's approval will pardon Prospero and free him from his confinement on the island so that he may resume his dukedom and begin anew in Milan.
And don’t we all just want a fresh start from time to time?
