Various Images Of Sleep And Dreams example essay topic

In The Tempest, author William Shakespeare uses vivid imagery to show how reality, illusion, magic, and dreams can be contrasted among each other to interpret the true meaning of this story more in depth. The imagery of sound, sleep and dreaming, and water all make it easier for the reader to understand the many complex themes that are in The Tempest. Throughout the story of The Tempest, images of sound stand out, each connected to another element in the play such as reality, illusion, magic, and dreams of the play. Many of these appear in Act II, scene ii, as Caliban talks to Trin culo and Stephan o of the noises surrounding them in the woods. Caliban is the only character out of them who shows a sudden interest for finer things, and may not be as beastly and mean as we originally thought he was, as Caliban shows in the lines "The isle is full of noises and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not". ( , ii, 126-27) Caliban, uses sweet words about the noises to prove that he might be a little more civilized than how he acted previously, which proves how an illusion can change one's view and totally twist it to another view. Other examples of sound imagery appear throughout the play, such as when Prospero says "Some heavenly music", (V, i, 52) connecting to the play's themes of magic and dreams.

In contrast to the sweet songs heard by Caliban, in the first act we are drawn to the bad noises of the storm and crew. Throughout the first act, the crew is screaming "louder than the weather of our office". (I, i, 31) The confusion of the elements contrasts the theme of reality, showing a state of disillusionment and disorder. These images of sound, along with the images of sleep and dreaming, gives a better understanding of the themes in the play. Various images of sleep and dreams are also seen within The Tempest Probably the most famous would be Prospero's line "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep". (IV, i, 156-58) This line, as almost all of the sleep and dream images show how reality contrasts with illusion, such as a dream compared to everyday life.

Another reference to sleep and dreams is when Ferdinand says "My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up". (I, ii, 484) Sebastian also has the line "It is a sleepy language, and thou speak " st / Out of thy sleep". (II, i, 205-06) All of these images pertaining to sleep have a strong thematic effect, which is to cause the reader to think of what is real and what isn't, or if even the events on stage are real, or if the world is just a stage. Yet another thematic image created by Shakespeare is water. The lines that relate best to water imagery were said by Sebastian and Antonio, as they plot against Alonso. Sebastian is still uncertain whether he can do such a thing when he says "Well, I am standing water".

(II, i, 215) Antonio persuades him to help, and says "I'll teach you how to flow". (II, i, 216) The water imagery relates to power and shows that when someone is brought into reality they are forced to want power and therefore, power corrupts. Antonio's line shows us that he is truly the evil character and means to kill Alonso. The use of imagery in this situation helps to better understand Antonio and Sebastian's characters. The thematic images of sound, sleep, and dreaming all contrast with reality, illusion, magic, and dreams help to better understand the underlining messages that are shown throughout The Tempest.

Shakespeare uses these images but interpreting them in such depth that it sounds complex at first. Yet It is this depth that it allows the reader to perceive these complex messages. Overall, the connection between image and theme is an important factor in understanding the play.