Oh...Enlightenment Burn!!! Ouch.
Truth be told I've never been all together thrilled with any of the Bard's plays although I'd like to improve my working knowledge of them so that I can do better on Jeopardy. I know the language is beautiful and life-affirming. I know that the plays are a way to connect to our ancient past but so is reading the King James Bible. The plots are just so tedious. There is never any arc in any characters. Take A Comedy of Errors; the play is about mistaken identity and the climax is telling everyone there are two different twins!!! It's stupid. Or let's make Much Ado About Nothing, Hero is accused of an affair without proof and exonerated without any either. Is it any wonder that in almost every play the bad guy is the only one with depth. In the tragedies everyone dies and nobody cares.
But alas, allow me to talk about Prospero. The Duke of Milan removed from power by his brother and king, sentenced to be banished and thought to have died at sea. He was even sacrificed with his daughter Miranda. He survives to become the plucky dictator of a beautiful sandy paradise ruling over the lives of spirits and slaves with an iron fist. Why was Prospero banished? Can you believe he spent too much time reading? He read too many books so the king and his brother usurped his throne because of an overabundance of learning. The play is the situation of the chance for Prospero to take revenge. Hang on a tick. You're telling me that he got sent afloat in the sea because he read too much? That seems excessive. Did anyone try to tell him to cut back. I thought reading made a man smarter and a better ruler. Doesn't it? I would think reading made him wise. Didn't it.
Ah but you see Jesus in the book of Ecclesiasticus has an explanation that might explain what got Prospero kicked to the curb.
Look at this passage from Ecclesiasticus 19
20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his omnipotency. 21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that nourisheth him. 22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at any time the counsel of sinners prudence. 23 There is a wickedness, and the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom. 24 He that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High. 25 There is an exquisite subtlety, and the same is unjust; and there is one that turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that justifieth in judgment. 26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit, 27 casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before thou be aware. 28 And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil. 29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him. 30 A man's attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, show what he is.
From Prospero's learning the occult we got a fantastical play that allows for some amazing costumes an makeup. Metaphysics run throughout the play whether purposefully or accidentally. The play has strong images for post colonialism because Prospero really is a dictator to his single simple-minded slave and a terrible spirit that maybe the sequel's star. The Duke of Milan is knowledgeable in the occult. However the law of the Lord brings wisdom. Prospero is in prison, imprisoning the world around him, even unto his own daughter who thankfully the rowboat cast into the sea. Prospero wreaks vengeance with his hand of power over the world unable to see the hand of God on his.
But like all Shakespeare characters he might have a little redemption. He might choose life and be set free. He may get the key to his own prison of hate and fear right after he lets everyone else out.
Prospero knows all there is to know about potions and magic. But he doesn't know God. The West is having trouble knowing God these days. We've been to the moon but it's been a while since we've been to the interiors of our hearts and found wisdom. We can put all the libraries in the world on a computer the size of a...filing cabinet. Only now we put much more than just books on those memory holders so a filing cabinet may not do. But the big-ness, some might say the glory of God fits not a thumb drive the size of the universe. The world we know more about than we ever have but less about who made it.
Now trust me I know how difficult it can be to say that wisdom belongs to the creationist than to Stephen Hawking. But Jesus says it's true. Guess what Prospero and Shakespeare make the claim as well. All the knowledge one can attain may not be a way out but a way into a prison of the mind.
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