The Tempest

'The Tempest' by William Shakespeare, 'the Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Graham and the Film 'Big Fish' by Tim Burton, each explore the concept of imaginative journeys.

Imaginative journeys can take a character on an inner journey of speculation and self discovery which broaden their understanding of themselves and the world.

In the Tempest Prospero embarks on an inner journey from vengeance to forgiveness through the use of magic, illusion and the supernatural. Prospero is established at the start of his journey as the duke of Milan, a man who is more absorbed in his books and the arts than his responsibility as a duke “which I prize above my dukedom”. He foolishly gives up his power and is portrayed by his brother Antonio, who usurps Prospero and casts his daughter Miranda and himself adrift.

When he arrives on an island somewhere in the Mediterranean Prospero enslaves Caliban and Ariel and pursues his arts. Prospero regards the island as a ‘poor cell’ and is not inspired by his natural surroundings like Caliban is, to let his imagination soar. Caliban represents the dark within Prospero. His dislike for him is shown through his aggressive tone which can be seen when he refers to Caliban as “A devil, a born devil, on whose nature / Nurture can never stick…” and he sees him as an evil creature.

Prospero’s inner journey is gradual as he suffers for 12 years in exile.

At last after all these years he has an opportunity to exact vengeance on those who have wronged him. He conjures a Tempest arranged by his spirit servant Ariel. The Tempest is used as a symbol for change both in the physical sense and metaphorical. The Tempest is also a symbol of Prospero’s magic and of the frightening, potentially wicked side of his power. All those travelling on the ship are put at the mercy of the sea, just as Prospero and his infant daughter were twelve years ago. Prospero makes his enemies suffer as he has suffered so they can learn, like he has learnt, from their ordeals. The characters are scattered around the island and are subjected to different ordeals arranged by Ariel which results on the characters embarking on both physical and inner journeys.

Exploiting Ariels magical powers for revenge fosters a close relationship between Ariel and Prospero. Prospero respects his wisdom and often accepts his sage advice. With this relationship Ariel throughout the play uses poetic lyrical words and song to persuade Prospero to feel sympathy and compassion for his victims, to abandon vengeance and embark on a moral journey to knowledge and understanding. “The rare action is in virtue than in vengeance”. Prospero witnesses events such as Miranda and Ferdinand falling in love and the remorse and grief that Alonzo and Ferdinand share as they believe each other have perished on the island. As Prospero’s capacity for mercy changes he acknowledges the remorse felt by father and son and the love between his daughter and Ferdinand, and abandons notions of vengeance and begins to foster forgiveness for his enemies. Prospero becomes enlightened and uses metaphorical language to acknowledge Caliban’s darker flaws are also his own “this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine”. This realization shows that he has gained a better understanding of himself and the world around him, and is further reinforced as he renounces his magic powers. “this rough magic / I here adjure” to become human again and seek compassion through his heart and not his magic as he realise that his art does not bring him happiness and he reflects on the impact of his magic in his soliloquy.

Tim Burton’s film ‘Big fish’ takes the viewer on an imaginative journey into Eward Bloom’s weird and wonderful life. Big Fish is an aesthetically beautiful film which is wonderfully vivid and imaginative. Bloom’s imaginative journey is one of personal growth and self discovery, much like the journey of Prospero. The film also explores the relationship between father and son.Burton uses film techniques such as matte art, false perspectives, computer effect and animatronics to convey Edward Bloom’s imaginative journey to the audience.

A web-like tapestry woven of stories both real and exaggerated, Big Fish is the story of Edward Bloom and those who love him. Everybody loves copping earfuls of his crazy stories, except his son William who believes his father’s outrageous lies mask his true personality. With only months of Edward's life left, William attempts to find out just who the real man is behind his father's fantastic facades of fiction and is desperate to connect with his dying father before it's too late. "I have no idea who you are," declares Will, "You tell amusing lies."

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