“But this rough magic I here abjure”: il limite del potere nella costituzione dell’arte in The Tempest

The following essay seeks to examine the interconnections between freedom and limit within Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1611). The initial perspective is essentially denotative in nature and will focus on the subversion of the servant-master relationship. This will commence with an analysis of Sycorax’s domination of Ariel and subsequently extend to an examination of the interdependent bond between Ariel and Prospero. Furthermore, it will analyse pivotal matters pertaining to the formation, use, and constraints of Prospero’s authority, as well as the intricate and paradoxical character of Ariel as an “embodied” yet transformative spirit. The second section of the paper, extending the analysis of the interdependent bond between Prospero and Ariel, will investigate the very structure of the play.