Stephano (Shakespeare)
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 An artist's impression of Stephano in a drunken state. |
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| Position in Naples | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Butler to King Alonso |
| Position on the island | |
| Plots against | Prospero |
| Wants to marry | Miranda |
| Goal | To gain control of the island |
| Acquaintances | Caliban and Trinculo |
| Stephano is often drunk | |
Stephano is the fictional boisterous and often drunk butler of the fictional King Alonso in William Shakespeare's play, The Tempest. He, Trinculo and Caliban plotted against Prospero, the ruler of the island on which the play is set and the former Duke of Milan in Shakespeare's fictional universe.[1] In the play, he wanted to take over the island and marry Prospero's daughter, Miranda. Caliban believed Stephano to be a god because he gave him wine to drink which Caliban believed healed him.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Stephano in the plot of the play
Stephano is a main character in the play, in that he was one of the 3 people who plotted against Prospero. He promised Trinculo and Caliban - who believed Stephano to be a God, things he could not deliver. He was on the royal ship when it was wrecked and he met Trinculo and Caliban on the beach. He believed that Caliban knew how to kill Prospero and went along with his plan. He was later distracted by clothes and chased away by magically conjured spirit-dogs, along with the other plotters.[1]
[edit] Character Traits and Analysis
As mentioned above, he was boisterous and often drunk.[1] He was willing to be seen as a Lord by Caliban, although for much of the play Caliban appears to be in control, specifically Tmp/M/Scene/3.2 Tmp 3.2 M.[1] Stephano was rather gullible. He believed, particularly in the aforementioned scene, everything Caliban said. As shown in Tmp/M/Scene/4.1 Tmp 4.1 M, he was easily distracted.[1] (see 'The Plan' below). When he promised Trinculo and Caliban things he cannot deliver, his intoxicated state meant he usually believed the promises himself.
[edit] The Plan
The plan Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban formulated (mostly Caliban) in the play was:
- Wait for Prospero to take his afternoon sleep
- Steal his magic books so he cannot fight back. He is weak without them
- Cut his 'wezand' (throat), drive a stake through his heart or beat him to death
- Stephano was to marry Miranda and become King of the island
- He promised to appoint Trinculo and Caliban as Viceroys[1]
Their plan was foiled, and their vanity exposed, when flashy clothes were left out as a trap by Prospero's loyal servant Ariel. The 3 usurpers, except Caliban, who urged them to continue with the plan, were distracted by the clothes.[1] This meant Prospero, the main character in the play, could chase them away with a pack of magic spirit-dogs.[1]
[edit] Fellow Plotters
He plotted (using the above plan) against Prospero with Caliban and Trinculo.
He was already friends with Trinculo, Alonso's Jester, who he probably met at the palace. In the play, Trinculo found Caliban hiding under a cloak and thought he had been struck by lightning.[1] Hearing a storm in the distance, he hid with him.[1] At this point, an intoxicated Stephano walked past and thought Trinculo and Caliban were a two-headed monster. He gave them wine and then he and Trinculo recognised each other.[1]
Caliban believed the wine healed him and thinought Stephano a god. He called him 'Lord' and possibly exploited this to take control in Tmp/M/Scene/3.2 Tmp 3.2 M.
A key theme of the play is power.[2] This is what Stephano wants, possibly because he is used to being a servant.[3] Trinculo wanted whatever was at hand, shown in his willingness to go along with the plan and the fact that he was the first to approach the clothes in Tmp/M/Scene/4.1 Tmp 4.1 M. Caliban did not want power, but a kinder master. Prospero had treated him kindly until he attempted to rape Miranda, after which he was forced to live in a rock.[1]
[edit] Quotes
The master, the swabber, the boatswain, and I,
The gunner, and his mate,
Lov'd Mall, Meg, and Marian, and Margery,
But none of us car'd for Kate;
For she had a tongue with a tang,
Would cry to a sailor Go hang!
She lov'd not the savour of tar nor of pitch,
Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch.
Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too; but here's my comfort. (Drinks)
Act 2: Scene II[1]
Caliban: Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?
Stephano: Out o' th' moon, I do assure thee; I was the Man i' th' Moon, when time was.
Caliban: I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee. My mistress show'd me thee, and thy dog and thy bush.
Act 2: Scene II[1]
I prithee, be my god.
Caliban (to Stephano), Act 2: Scene II[1]
Flout 'em and scout 'em, and scout 'em and flout 'em;
Thought is free.
Act 3: Scene II[1]
He that dies pays all debts.
Act 3: Scene II[1]
[edit] Performance history
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
2003-2004 (Milwaukee Shakespeare): Lisa Gaye Dixon[4]
[edit] Origins
It is not clear where the character of Stephano originated from.
He may have been created, along with Trinculo, to add comedy and show human greed.
Shakespeare used Trinculo and Stephano primarily as comic relief but also to demonstrate the evil in our nature. In a way, he seemed to have been condemning humans. The Tempest is a prime example of the selfishness, egocentrism, and power hunger that we see and deal with every day. Trinculo and Stephano were two characters used to show how wrong human beings are.[5]
Unlike Antonio, which was featured in no less than 4 plays, the name Stephano only appears in one of Shakespeare's other plays, The Merchant of Venice.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r The Tempest: Entire Play
- ^ KS3 Set Scenes Support: "The Tempest" Pupil Workbook (Longman Schools Shakespeare)
- ^ KS3 Set Scenes Support: "The Tempest" Pupil Workbook (Longman Schools Shakespeare)
- ^ The Tempest - 2003-2004 Season
- ^ Tempest essays - Trinculo and Stephano of Shakespeare's Tempest
[edit] External links
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