A Brave New World of Knowledge: Shakespeare's The Tempest and Early Modern EpistemologyThis study of an extraordinary work of dramatic literature also addresses questions of the nature and dissemination of the scientific revolution. These facets are locked together: although the book does not deny that 'The Tempest' had deep roots in classical literature and elsewhere, it maintains that the play's remarkable dramaturgy and symbolism reflect subtle matters uniquely pertinet to its own fascinating time. A 'Brave New World of Knowledge' uncovers a number of previously little-appreciated connections of 'The Tempest' with specific problems or advances of knowledge, thus showing that the play reflected innovative proto-scientific modes of confronting the physical, biological, and human realms. It also argues that Shakespeare's play mirrored a new tendency to repudiate earlier Renaissance dreams of achieving omniscience and omnipotence. The play reflected a newer hope for knowledge based on speculative boldness linked with close observation, rational and sober precision, and a radical capacity to accept limitation and not-knowing. |
Contents
| 18 | |
Scientific Theory The Example of Thomas Harriot and Virginia | 36 |
The Tempest and New World Cultural Encounter | 65 |
The Tempest Atmospheric Science Prague Magi and a Jamestown Experimenter | 85 |
The Strong Necessity of Time | 113 |
The Natural and the Supernatural | 131 |
Why Prospero Abjures Rough Magic and What He Must Acknowledge | 151 |
Afterword | 183 |
Notes | 187 |
Bibliography | 230 |
Index | 254 |
| 270 | |
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A Brave New World of Knowledge: Shakespeare's the Tempest and Early Modern ... B. J. Sokol No preview available - 2003 |
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Algonkians Alonso argued Ariel astrology Bacon Bate belief briefe and true British Library Caliban Cambridge University Press century chapter claims colony concerning contemporary context Cornelius Drebbel critics Crombie cultural described discourse discussed Drebbel early modern edited Elizabethan Empson England English epistemological especially essay European fact Ferdinand Fludd Francis Bacon Galileo Gonzalo Greenblatt Henry Hoeniger human Ibid ideas incest instance instruments intellectual Invisible Bullets James Jamestown Jamestown Rediscovery John Kepler King knowledge London magic mathematical Miranda Montaigne 1942 Montaigne's Native Americans natural noted Oxford pearl formation Philosophy play play's Pliny Prospero Prospero's anger questions Quinn Renaissance Robert Robert Fludd Rudolf Rudolf II scientific scientists seen seventeenth Shake Shakespeare's Shakespeare's age Shakespearian Sokol Sokol and Sokol speare's Strachey suggest supernatural Sycorax telescope Tempest theme theory thermoscope Thomas Harriot thou tion Translated true report Virginia weather glass Winter's Tale witchcraft World
Popular passages
Page 30 - Ariel's Second Song 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. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell: Ding dong. Hark, now I hear them.
Page 26 - Thou strok'st me and made much of me, wouldst give me Water with berries in 't, and teach me how To name the bigger light, and how the less. That burn by day and night; and then I loved thee
Page 25 - And therefore is the glorious planet Sol In noble eminence enthroned and sphered Amidst the other, whose med'cinable eye Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil And posts like the commandment of a king, Sans check, to good and bad. (1.3.89-94)
Page 22 - By help of her more potent ministers, And in her most unmitigable rage. Into a cloven pine; within which rift Imprisoned thou didst painfully remain A dozen years, within which space she died And left thee there, where thou didst vent thy groans As fast as mill-wheels strike.