Shakespeare's The Tempest - Digby Ricci - Lecture One

Shakespeare's The Tempest - Digby Ricci - Lecture One As Shakespeare's last solo-authored play - subsequent works were collaborations - The Tempest has always fascinated and moved commentators and audiences alike. With its spectacle, its magic, its shape-changing spirits, and the controversial "man-monster", Caliban, The Tempest is a magnificent theatrical work. However, it is also a profoundly philosophical exploration of human psychology, power, and government. Central to the text is Prospero's development as both human being and ruler, and the difficulty of exercising righteous authority is explored in this nuanced, remarkable work. What is the essence of humanity? Are we our brothers' keepers? How do we govern one another justly? These are the core questions probed by The Tempest.