Stephano (The Tempest)
| Stephano | |
|---|---|
| The Tempest character | |
 Stephano (centre), Trinculo and Caliban dancing on the sea shore, painting by Johann Heinrich Ramberg (detail) | |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
| In-universe information | |
| Affiliation | Trinculo, Caliban |
Stephano (
Character traits and analysis
Boisterous and often drunk, Stephano is willing to be regarded as a Lord by Caliban, although for much of the play Caliban appears to be in control, specifically Act 3, Scene 2.[1] Stephano is rather gullible. He believes, particularly in the aforementioned scene, everything Caliban says. As shown in Act 4 Scene 1, he is easily distracted.[1] (see 'The Plan' below). He makes false promises to Trinculo and Caliban, but in his intoxicated state he usually believes the promises himself.
The plan
The plan Stephano, Trinculo and (mostly) Caliban formulate is to wait for Prospero to take his afternoon sleep, then burn his magic books as without them he is powerless. He is weak without them. They then plan to cut his 'wezand' (throat), drive a stake through his heart or beat him to death.
Stephano is then to marry Miranda and become king of the island, and he promises to appoint Trinculo and Caliban as
Fellow plotters
Stephano plots against Prospero with Caliban and Trinculo.
He is already friends with Trinculo, Alonso's Jester, whom he probably met at the palace. In the play, Trinculo finds Caliban hiding under a cloak and thinks he had been struck by lightning.[1] Hearing a storm in the distance, he hides with him.[1] At this point, an intoxicated Stephano walks past and thinks Trinculo and Caliban are a four-legged monster. He gives them wine and then he and Trinculo recognise each other.[1]
Caliban believes the wine healed him and thinks Stephano a god. He calls him 'Lord' and possibly exploits this to take control in Act 3, Scene 2.
A key theme of the play is power.[2] This is what Stephano wants, possibly because he is used to being a servant.[2] Trinculo wants whatever is at hand, shown in his willingness to go along with the plan and the fact that he is the first to approach the clothes in Act 4, Scene 1. Caliban does not want power, but a kinder master. Prospero had treated him kindly until he attempted to rape Miranda, after which he was forced to live in a rock.[1]
Quotations
The master, the swabber, the boatswain, and I,
The gunner, and his mate,
Lov'd Mall, Meg, and Marian, and Margery,
But none of us car'd for Kate;
For she had a tongue with a tang,
Would cry to a sailor Go hang!
She lov'd not the savour of tar nor of pitch,
Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch.
Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too; but here's my comfort. (Drinks)
Act 2: Scene II[1]
Caliban: Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?
Stephano: Out o' th' moon, I do assure thee; I was the Man i' th' Moon, when time was.
Caliban: I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee. My mistress show'd me thee, and thy dog and thy bush.
Act 2: Scene II[1]
I prithee, be my god.
Caliban (to Stephano), Act 2: Scene II[1]
Flout 'em and scout 'em, and scout 'em and flout 'em;
Thought is free.
Act 3: Scene II[1]
He that dies pays all debts.
Act 3: Scene II[1]
Origins
It is not clear where the character of Stephano originated, though he is a familiar clown figure typical of the era. There is one idea that he was modelled after
]Stephano may have been created, along with Trinculo, to add comedy and show human greed.[4][self-published source]
Shakespeare used Trinculo and Stephano primarily as comic relief but also to demonstrate the
Unlike Antonio, which was featured in no less than four plays, the name Stephano only appears in one of Shakespeare's other plays, The Merchant of Venice.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p The Tempest: Entire Play Archived 22 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b KS3 Set Scenes Support: "The Tempest" Pupil Workbook (Longman Schools Shakespeare)
- ^ Caleb H. Johnson. The Mayflower and her passengers (Indiana: Xlibris Corp., copyright 2006 Caleb Johnson), pp. 164
- ^ Najmudin, Shahjad,Shakespeare's the Tempest: Its Political Implications and the First Colonists of Virginia, Trafford Publishing, 2005, pp.115 ff.
External links
