"You taught me language, and my profit on’t
Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!"
In this quotation, Caliban remarks to Miranda that the downside of teaching him their language is that he now has the power to curse her in her own tongue. This quotation represents one of the earliest allusions to colonization in the play, as Caliban's words underscore the importance of language and communication as they relate to power and autonomy.
"Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange."
In this quotation, also known as "Ariel's Song," Ariel informs Prince Ferdinand of the alleged death of his father in the sea five fathoms (30 feet) deep. The passage has long been considered a beautiful description of the physical transformation a body undergoes on the sea floor. In many ways, the song serves as a form of memorial for the deceased who have now become part of the mysterious ("strange") ocean climate.
"My library was dukedom large enough."
Here, Prospero explains that his position of power as Duke of Milan was a secondary interest of his, as he compares his library – his books of magic – to the dukedom itself. This quotation emphasizes the value that Prospero places on his learning and magical powers, while also suggesting that those who create – like playwrights – are often consumed by their art at the expense of other responsibilities.
"What's past is prologue."
This quotation has long been interpreted as the assertion that history is what establishes the context of the present. However, in this particular context, Antonio is attempting to convince Sebastian that committing murder is an acceptable course of action for them. Antonio argues that the past and all the events leading to this point have determined their fates.
"I am your wife, if you will marry me:
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me, but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no."
Miranda speaks these words to Ferdinand in Act Three, when he expresses her undying love for him and entreats him to marry her. This is one of the few instances in the play when Miranda acts with assertiveness and autonomy, a far cry from her role as the passive puppet of her father, Prospero. Many interpret this speech as evidence of Miranda's budding independence and sexual autonomy.
"Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep
Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
I cried to dream again."
Here, Caliban describes the magic of the island with surprising eloquence. It is a significant passage because the play implies that though Caliban is not a native speaker of this language, he can still use it to craft a beautiful description of the island's wonders. This quotation emphasizes the power of language as it relates to colonization as well as the sense of mystery, wonder, and intrigue that underlie the narrative of the play.
"We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep."
Here, toward the end of the play, Prospero gives Ferdinand and Miranda his blessing to marry. He speaks about life as though it were a dream rather than a reality, a common trope in early modern English theater which itself relied on suspensions of disbelief to entertain its audiences.
"O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't."
In this quotation, Miranda expresses her sheer wonder and amazement at the people she has come to encounter over the course of the play. She speaks of humanity with marked optimism and curiosity, suggesting that man is fundamentally an anomaly in the world and something wild and beautiful to behold.
"Merrily, merrily, shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."
When Ariel is set free, he speaks these words as he imagines what his life will be like when he no longer has to serve Prospero or anybody else. He pictures his idyllic life as part of the natural world, emphasizing his spritely nature and his ethereal sense of existence throughout the entire play.
"As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free."
In the Epilogue, Prospero speaks directly to the audience and asks for their applause. While this was not an uncommon practice on the early modern English stage, many believe Prospero's words represent Shakespeare's own personal goodbye to his career and to his audience, as he retired from the theater shortly after The Tempest was performed.
