Miranda’s Monologue from The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2:
"If by your art, my dearest father"

Synopsis

In this monologue, Miranda pleads with her father, Prospero, to calm the storm he has conjured. She is horrified by the devastation she perceives and empathizes deeply with the suffering of those aboard the ship. Her words reveal her compassionate and gentle nature, as well as her emotional connection to the natural world and humanity. Miranda’s innocence and sensitivity set the tone for her character throughout the play.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Prospero uses his magic to create a tempest that shipwrecks his enemies on the island where he and Miranda live. Miranda, witnessing the storm, believes it to be real and fears for the lives of those aboard the ship. This monologue begins as she appeals to Prospero to stop the chaos.

Original Text

"If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch
But that the sea, mounting to th’ welkin’s cheek,
Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffered
With those that I saw suffer – a brave vessel
(Who had no doubt some noble creature in her)
Dashed all to pieces. O, the cry did knock
Against my very heart! Poor souls, they perished.
Had I been any god of power, I would
Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere
It should the good ship so have swallowed and
The fraughting souls within her."

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

"If you created this storm with your magic, my dear father,
Please calm it down.
It looks like the sky is about to pour down black, stinking pitch,
Except that the sea, rising to the heavens,
Extinguishes the flames.
Oh, I felt so much pain
For the people I saw suffering. A beautiful ship,
Surely carrying noble people,
Was shattered to pieces. Oh, the sound of their cries
Struck my heart! Poor souls—they died.
If I had the power of a god,
I would have sunk the sea into the earth
Before it could swallow that ship
And all the people aboard."

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Art: Magic or sorcery.

  • Allay: Calm or subdue.

  • Welkin’s cheek: The sky’s face; a poetic way of describing the heavens.

  • Brave vessel: A fine or noble ship.

  • Or ere: Before.

  • Fraughting: Laden or filled with.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing with Acting Notes

  1. "If by your art, my dearest father, you have Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them."
    Acting Note: Begin with a tone of urgency and concern. Miranda is deeply distressed by the storm and implores her father to stop it.

  2. "The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch But that the sea, mounting to th’ welkin’s cheek, Dashes the fire out."
    Acting Note: Use vivid imagery to convey the chaos of the storm. This section should feel awestruck yet fearful, as Miranda describes the overwhelming forces of nature.

  3. "O, I have suffered With those that I saw suffer – a brave vessel (Who had no doubt some noble creature in her) Dashed all to pieces."
    Acting Note: Let genuine empathy and sorrow shine through. Miranda feels the pain of the shipwrecked souls as if it were her own.

  4. "O, the cry did knock Against my very heart! Poor souls, they perished."
    Acting Note: This is the emotional climax of the monologue. Deliver these lines with heartfelt grief, emphasizing Miranda’s compassion.

  5. "Had I been any god of power, I would Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere It should the good ship so have swallowed and The fraughting souls within her."
    Acting Note: Shift to determination and regret. Miranda’s wish to have the power to prevent such suffering underscores her moral sensitivity and innocence.

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Miranda begins with an urgent plea to her father, setting the stage for her compassionate nature.

  • Turning Point: Her vivid description of the storm transitions into her emotional connection to the suffering of others.

  • Climax: The cries of the shipwrecked people evoke deep sorrow, revealing Miranda’s profound empathy.

  • Resolution: She expresses her longing for power to prevent such tragedy, emphasizing her innocence and idealism.

Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role

  • Helen Mirren (Stage Production, 1974)

  • Vanessa Redgrave (Film Adaptation, 1980)

  • Felicity Jones (Julie Taymor’s 2010 Film)

  • Jessie Buckley (Shakespeare in the Park, 2016)

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