Fate
Fate is a motif significant throughout most literature, Hag-Seed and The Tempest has fate as a prominent motif throughout both texts that give rise to a textual conversation. Fate in these two texts brings to the consideration of entitlement, determinism and fortune, giving rise to a contradictory form of justice where everyone is entitled to their own right and responsibility, but everything is also determined by causes external to the will. Justice is disrupted when Tony usurp Felix, he loses his entitlement and becomes a person who is unable to fully move on from this matter, giving rise to a restorative perspective of justice. Felix is enraged due to his resignation, an unjust act that creates a social inequality towards Felix’s perspective, now seeking his revenge, he wishes to restore his justice. Similar to Prospero where he loses his dukedom over Milan and is exiled to the island because of Antonio, his form of justice is similar to Felix where he wants everything to go back to normal. Both these characters are restoring their own ideal of justice, it is the act of fate however that guides them towards this goal.
By obtaining this information that restorative justice is the main concept that Shakespeare looks at through his work, whether the individual obtains it or not, it can be deduce that this perspective on justice benefits one person, restoring it back to there favour, Hag-Seed restores Felix’s justice with the help of fate. In The Tempest, fate is referred to as “Auspicious Star”, in Hag-Seed the chapter explicitly alludes to 'Auspicious Star' as its title, in this chapter we see that Atwood uses the motif of fate to symbolise a person, calling her Estelle. Hag-Seed establishes that Felix, meaning ‘fortune’ and Estelle meaning ‘star’, have a cosier relationship, seen in part eight ‘Bring The Rabble’ where Estelle and Felix establishes their bond straight away, this is for Felix's need to establish their relationship as mutual, this is evident as Estelle does most of the work and performs favours for Felix and in return Felix is able to save the program for the Fletcher Correctional Centre, he does this through the use of manipulation.
Atwood's use of Estelle is an allusion from the tempest, this connotes the plot associating Felix to a star, a relationship with fate that benefits him into achieving his goal of vengeance towards Tony and Sal. The chapter in Hag-Seed titled “auspicious stars” is the exact moment Estelle gives the news to Felix, the book even goes as far as to include “Estelle’s suggestion. Zenith, its called” the restaurant where the two have their exchange, a term that means ‘a time that is most successful and powerful’. This symbolism, combined with the personification of fate connotes to the idea that fate has given Felix the optimum opportunity he needs for his vengeance.
Prospero although acknowledges the act of fate that has been given to him, fate doesn't have an important role in the text compared to Hag-Seed. In Hag-Seed, we see a greater emphasis on the part that Fate has been given by Atwood. Estelle appears and recurs more than the “auspicious star”, this implies that Atwood downplays the role of fate in The Tempest, emphasising Prospero’s responsibility for his own fate more than he is willing to admit, bringing rise to the idea of culpability. That Prospero was more in control of his fate and others, giving rise to the idea of the ambiguity of justice in the tempest, although the act of his usurpation is unjust, Prospero is hypocritical in taking matters into his own hands.
By obtaining this information that restorative justice is the main concept that Shakespeare looks at through his work, whether the individual obtains it or not, it can be deduce that this perspective on justice benefits one person, restoring it back to there favour, Hag-Seed restores Felix’s justice with the help of fate. In The Tempest, fate is referred to as “Auspicious Star”, in Hag-Seed the chapter explicitly alludes to 'Auspicious Star' as its title, in this chapter we see that Atwood uses the motif of fate to symbolise a person, calling her Estelle. Hag-Seed establishes that Felix, meaning ‘fortune’ and Estelle meaning ‘star’, have a cosier relationship, seen in part eight ‘Bring The Rabble’ where Estelle and Felix establishes their bond straight away, this is for Felix's need to establish their relationship as mutual, this is evident as Estelle does most of the work and performs favours for Felix and in return Felix is able to save the program for the Fletcher Correctional Centre, he does this through the use of manipulation.
Atwood's use of Estelle is an allusion from the tempest, this connotes the plot associating Felix to a star, a relationship with fate that benefits him into achieving his goal of vengeance towards Tony and Sal. The chapter in Hag-Seed titled “auspicious stars” is the exact moment Estelle gives the news to Felix, the book even goes as far as to include “Estelle’s suggestion. Zenith, its called” the restaurant where the two have their exchange, a term that means ‘a time that is most successful and powerful’. This symbolism, combined with the personification of fate connotes to the idea that fate has given Felix the optimum opportunity he needs for his vengeance.
Prospero although acknowledges the act of fate that has been given to him, fate doesn't have an important role in the text compared to Hag-Seed. In Hag-Seed, we see a greater emphasis on the part that Fate has been given by Atwood. Estelle appears and recurs more than the “auspicious star”, this implies that Atwood downplays the role of fate in The Tempest, emphasising Prospero’s responsibility for his own fate more than he is willing to admit, bringing rise to the idea of culpability. That Prospero was more in control of his fate and others, giving rise to the idea of the ambiguity of justice in the tempest, although the act of his usurpation is unjust, Prospero is hypocritical in taking matters into his own hands.
Feminism
Feminism is a significant perspective in Atwood's text which subverts to the ideas of Shakespeare’s concept and theme in The Tempest, this is an evident example that justice is ambiguous, as we can see that the sense of justice present in The Tempest is patriarchal, insinuating to the idea that the desire of this form of justice is due to the demos during the Jacobean era. With Atwood's perspective on feminism, she places a heavy understanding of the concept that Miranda in The Tempest has more depth than what she is originally given. Atwood creates a new perspective by creating two Mirandas, Felix’s ghost daughter, transparent, with no depth, a re-contextualisation of The Tempest Miranda and a second Miranda, a realistic adaptation of Miranda played by Anne Marie, giving the character substance and life. A contrast to Shakespeare’s text, the original Miranda and Felix's daughter Miranda, are submissive characters, although very intelligent and can be independent, is controlled and protected by their fathers, this implies that the authority that Prospero and Felix display towards their daughter, suggests the ideas of patriarchal perspective. However, Atwood contradicts the concept by presenting another Miranda, Anne Marie, showcasing the entire substance that Miranda could have been.
In Hag-Seed, Felix’s description of his daughter is that “She remains simple, she remains innocent”, alluding to The Tempest “And women too, but innocent and pure”, this contrasts to Anne Marie who displays more character than what Shakespeare is implying, “He was never ready when a slice of filth came out of her child-like mouth”. Atwood’s use of juxtaposition of the two Mirandas suggest that women are more than just an innocent child with a demand for protection, this gives rise to an understanding that women do not get enough justice in The Tempest as they should, compared to the real world in today's society. Anne Marie is assertive and manipulates in order to get what she wants, this subverts from Shakespeare’s patriarchal attitudes from the statement “and women too, but innocent and pure”.
In Hag-Seed, Felix’s description of his daughter is that “She remains simple, she remains innocent”, alluding to The Tempest “And women too, but innocent and pure”, this contrasts to Anne Marie who displays more character than what Shakespeare is implying, “He was never ready when a slice of filth came out of her child-like mouth”. Atwood’s use of juxtaposition of the two Mirandas suggest that women are more than just an innocent child with a demand for protection, this gives rise to an understanding that women do not get enough justice in The Tempest as they should, compared to the real world in today's society. Anne Marie is assertive and manipulates in order to get what she wants, this subverts from Shakespeare’s patriarchal attitudes from the statement “and women too, but innocent and pure”.
summary
Atwood’s re-contextualisation of The Tempest allows the audience to take away a much deeper perspective of the text that was originally given. Through this textual conversation, our understanding of justice from Hag-Seed, gives us the conclusion that justice is restorative to the desire of the individual or the collection. The patriarchal perspective in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, brings to the consideration that this is inequitable for women and is not just in this society. Hence, justice in The Tempest is ambiguous and highly subjective, the restoration for justice is the request of a person’s own intentions and benefit, there is no form of justice in The Tempest, but if so, based on the desire of an individual.
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The play within a play, a mix of revenge, tragedy, comedy and romance. One of Shakespeare's classics that must be read.
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