The Tempest - Act 1 analysis

Power in Act 1, Scene 1

Shakespeare is demonstrating that there is no authority in society; it all depends on the situation. For example, the Boatswain holds the power as he is the master of the ship, even though the hierarchy are on board. Shakespeare is challenging the King's authority but this was seen as unacceptable as the King is supposedly God's representative. However, it shows that the King as just a man as he cannot calm the storm, not like Jesus could in the bible. 

Quote(s): 
'I pray now, keep below.'  - This is an imperative showing natural authority, the Boatswain knows what is best for the people on board the ship so it's normal that he would try and keep them safe
'Silence! Trouble us not.' - The hierarchy are going against any command, putting The Chain of Being back into order, but the Boatswain is still adamant to control the situation. He is frustrated and trying to do what is best, but social order gets the best of them. 

It shows that authority is flawed - The King and his people aren't practical in blaming the weather conditions for their possible death - they are blaming the sailors, even though it is out of their control. They are trying to make the others feel inferior and want to assert their dominance. 

Quote(s):
'...give thanks you have lived so long...' - The Boatswain is highlighting the fact they are going to meet their death due to the storm. They're in-between land which gives the sea the full power, even though nature is below them in The Chain of Being. This could be Shakespeare showing he does not believe in this and he is trying to the transgress what is said to have been the law in this period. 
'A pox o'your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, in-charitable dog.' - Shakespeare has Sebastian use adjective after adjective here to really put the Boatswain in his place. He is putting him right down the chain with the animals, not even classing him as a human form anymore. 

This scene is highlighting that at the end of the day, everyone is equal. When the ship is about to crash, all the voices off stage are indefinite and indefinable and it shows that authority is a social concept. Shakespeare is also showing that it takes death for us to realise that we are all humans and, we all have a generalised horror of meeting our death.

Quote(s):
'We split, we split! - Farewell, my wife and children - Farewell brother! - We split, we split!' - All these voices talk at the same time, referring to each other as family. This completely dismisses any social order as we don't know how is speaking, it is just noise and they are to all go down as one. 

Caesurae in Act 1, Scene 2

Caesurae is used to show/emphasise speech, the amount used separates the line, lingering on certain words, and it disrupts the Iambic Pentameter.

When Miranda first speaks in Act 1, Scene 2, Shakespeare has used language to emphasises her speech, and more explicitly, using caesurae. In Line 9, it reads 'against my very heart! Poor souls, they perished.' The exclamation mark used after 'heart' emphasises Miranda's anguish over the suffering of the storm, and it portrays how much it moves her into a state of mourning. It's as if it is on her conscience, and the emotion is having a real effect, not just on her, but her heart, which is a core bodily function. The caesura after 'poor souls,' symbolises reflection. Shakespeare has used this to highlight Miranda's sympathy towards loss and how she was not capable of stopping any suffering. It is as if she is imagining and reliving their deaths, feeling sadness at her helplessness and inabilities. The end-stopped line after 'perished' demonstrates the finality of death, and how it stops everything. It is a very blunt ending to the line, but it conveys the reality and realism of what has happened, and she isn't trying to mask it with any explanations; they have just 'perished' and it's something we have to deal with.