Imaginative Journeys: the Tempest Shakespeare

Imaginative Journeys Essay

An imaginative journey is a voyage of discovery, which takes when one is transported from a physical to a metaphysical via power of imagination. Shakespeare's The Tempest is set on a fictitious, unnamed island, ten leagues beyond civilization, where all sense of torment, trouble, wonder and imagination is possible. Yen Martel's novel Life of Pi, The Board Of Studies excerpt The Town Where Time Stands Still by Shirley Geok-Lin Lim and the Triptych Painting The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch use visual and written language so evocative that responders are led through an intricate process of imagination constructed by the composer showing that imagination is more important than knowledge. More than anything thing else, this is the essence of imaginative journeys.

'The protagonists in The Tempest undergo a metamorphosis of character, catalysed by introspective self-discovery. Initially, Prospero speculated that the outcome the imaginative journey would be vengeance, however, the end result was forgiveness. Had it not been for his initial motivation, the imaginative journey would not have been constructed. Prospero is characterised as a petulant, authoritarian figure, who is driving the parallel narratives of the plot. His “liberal arts” are dramatically symbolised by the motifs of the “book”, “staff” and “magical garment”. These motifs mirror the initial corruption of his soul; it is of particular significance that renunciation of his dominion required the “drowning of his book” so that “his affections could become tender”. Prospero's hatred of his “perfidious” brother Antonio is potently conveyed through his discussions with Miranda where he uses powerful metaphors to communicate Antonio's scheming and toxic ways; “To what tune pleased his ear that he was, / the ivy which had hid my princely trunk.” The musical metaphor of the “tune” evokes the sense of Antonio's manipulation of the people of Milan; it has an eerie...