The Tempest

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   malibrarian Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   Are you referring to Act I, scene ii, when they see the people who have washed ashore after the tempest?  If so, it seems that Miranda is fascinated by the courtiers - having been raised on this island, alone with her father, Ariel and Caliban, she thinks they must be spirits, too.  She thinks they have a noble look about them, particularly Ferdinand:

   "I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble."

   Her father is less enamored of these humans and tells her they are just like them:

   "No, wench, it eats and sleeps and hath such senses as we have - such."

   Prospero is still quite bitter at this point in the story as it is due to his brother that he and Miranda were marooned on the island when she was a baby.  Thus he feels no great feelings toward other humans, particularly those traveling with his wicked brother.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/tempest

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   Posted by malibrarian on Thursday December 13, 2007 at 7:38 AM
   
   

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