Good morning Year 12 students. Studying the concept of imaginative journeys has allowed me to understand some of the reasons why people embark on journeys. I have come to understand that everyone undertakes imaginative journeys during their lives and this means that they are all inspired by both their journeys and the journeys of others. The outcomes of journeys can change a person's views on the world for better or for worse. However, in most cases journeys of the imagination provide hope and promises of the future.
In "The Tempest", Shakespeare's imagination creates an alternative fictitious world. The central theme of the play is the journey towards reconciliation and in this journey we see the transition from a want of revenge to the necessity of reconciliation. Shakespeare involves us in this imaginative journey through a range of techniques that inspire us in a sense of hope and promise for the future.
The shipwreck in Act I, Scene 1, in a 1797 engravi...
English: Dr. Martin Luther King giving his "I Have...
Martin Luther King leaning on a lectern. Deutsch: ...As we are carried through this imaginary world, Shakespeare reveals to us aspects of humanity and civilization, both good and bad. We see the evil of betrayal and exploration, debauchery, and greed. The concepts of colonialism and governance are imaginatively explored through the characters of Gonzalo, Antonio and Sebastian. This is hilariously parodied in the drunken plots of Trinculo and Stephano. But we also witness the promise of true love and loyalty. The performance of the masque for Miranda and Ferdinand represents this.
In the process of the main journey and sub-journeys we are overwhelmed with the richness of Shakespeare's imagery. Shakespeare's world of imagination becomes increasingly unreal as the play continues. We hear that the island is shrouded in sweet airs and forest noise, sounds of the sea, and music and murmurings. This world of imagination is created through a series of dramatic illusions that eventually...