A Tempest (1969)

by Aimé Césaire

Play

59 pages

Beginning:

“MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Come, gentlemen, help yourselves. To each his character, to each character his mask. You, Prospero? Why not? He has reserves of willpower he’s not even aware of himself. You want Caliban? Well, that’s revealing. Ariel? Fine with me. And what about Stephano, Trinculo? No takers? Ah, just in time! It takes all kinds to make a world.

And after all, they aren’t the worst of characters,” (7).

Somewhere in the middle:

“ARIEL: It’s evil to play with their hunger as you do with their anxieties and their hopes.

PROSPERO: That is how power is measured. I am Power,” (32).

End:

“CALIBAN: FREEDOM HI-DAY!  FREEDOM HI -DAY!” (66).