How does Atwood’s Hag-seed explore notions of control and liberation in textual conversation with Shakespeare’s The Tempest? (20 marks) Kommentar [1]: Not the exact wording. Texts are a product of their socio-cultural context whose meaning is shaped by ideologies of their period. However, the reimagining of texts through distinct lens allows for an enhanced understanding of ideas of control and liberation as they are mirrored and contrasted in conversation. Textual conversations with Shakespeare’s play The Tempest (1610-1611) is initiated by Margaret Atwood’s 2016 novel Hag-seed to consider common resonances and dissonances to reshape meaning. The significance of Jacobean religious beliefs in Shakespeare’s context as a factor of control and influence on the individual is translated to action of folly in Atwood’s relatively secular context. Similarly notions of colonisations as an inhibition to liberation is mirrored by Atwood’s insight into human self-determination as a universal trait from a postcolonial lens. Kommentar [2]: Good! Shakespeare demonstrates the notion of control as an imposition of the contextual presence of religion over an individual’s action. Gonzalo’s juxtaposing assertion to “weigh...our sorrows with comfort” relies on an understanding of Jacobean religious beliefs to characterise the optimistic Gonzalo for the salvation within suffering. However, these values are jeopardised in Antonio’s metatheatricality in his belief that “what’s past is prologue” wherein values of predestination endemic to Elizabethan Protestantism is used to justify the murder of Alonso. Shakespeare nevertheless acknowledges the omnipotent degree of control of God within the play through the presence of Prospero’s unseen magic, who alludes to “the great globe itself”, a dramatic irony that thereby frames the ‘control’ of religious beliefs on Antonio as ignorant heresy. Despite Alonso’s asyndetic tone to “Prithee peace/spare” further dialogue, reflections of The Tempest is altered by conversations with Atwood as a supplementary case for religious apathy. While texts may shed light on the notion of control it is only through Kommentar [3]: Huh? conversation with texts after the fact that enhanced cognizance may be attained. Kommentar [4]: Good general analytical paragraph of Tempest, but a tad shallow and not hitting module. Textual conversations initiated by Margaret Atwood’s Hag-seed frames the idea of control due to religion from a driving force of behaviour to a dissonant case for cognitive disorder in a secular world. The characterisation of Miranda as a “cherub on the swing” aligns with the Kommentar [5]: Atwood doesn't comment on religion, she doesn't really mention it. purity of innocence and the divine control of individuals present in religion during Shakespeare’s period. However, Atwood frames this notion of otherworldly presence as a colliding case for insanity in Felix’s imperative tone to insist that he “snap out of it”, implying the revels of an ethereal Miranda to be demeaning hallucinations. Moreover, contemporary reflections by Atwood frame the loss of control as pitiable, evidenced in the juxtaposition of “sensible Lonnie” and Serbert’s “babblings. As the hysteria is brought on by drug-induced grapes, Atwood frames the absence of control of the self from a genuine fear of divine revelation apparent in Elizabethan Protestantism to pity for individuals consumed by pleasures of a contemporary world. Thus, it is through conversation between texts that the notion of control is developed according to the context of the time. Kommentar [6]: Clumsy start, but strong paragraph overall. Shakespeare demonstrates the notion of colonisation as an extended metaphor for the relationship between European colonizer and Indigenous native, where contemporary reflections mediated by Atwood frames the actions of Caliban and Ariel as vehicles for self- determination and subsequent liberation. The name ‘Caliban’ is often noted as a loose Kommentar [7]: Very good. anagram of ‘Cannibal’, a metonym for the uncivilized natives as per Michel de Montaigne’s essay ‘Of the Cannibals’. Subsequently, Miranda’s characterisation of Caliban as “a thing most brutish” connotes a Jacobean understanding of people without sensibility, framing the deformed monster as deficient and ignorant of European paternalism. However, the confronting sexual euphemism in Caliban’s desire to “peopled else/ This isle with Calibans” is in reflection from a contemporary perspective, framed as an intrinsic desire for self- determination that liberates him from the imposed status of slave “...in service” to Prospero. Similarly, Ariel’s attempts to persuade Prospero that his conjured tricks have “strongly works ‘em”, identifying his sycophantic tone. As Ariel’s liberation from servitude is inextricably tied to Prospero’s cessation of magical activity, postcolonial perspectives give insight into Ariel as Shakespeare’s vehicle for self-determination and consequent liberation as the sprite persuades Prospero with the interest of freedom. Texts can shed light on notions, but only through conversation with other texts such as that of Atwood that greater meaning is shaped. Kommentar [8]: Very good. Link better to Atwood though. Margaret Atwood’s Hag-seed draws upon a resonance of self-determination as a prologue to liberation from a postcolonial lens. Antagonism towards colonial legacies are embodied in the attitudes of the racially diverse cast of inmates whose rhetorical question “King of somebody else, right?” is seen as a collective identification of Caliban as being robbed of agency. This notion of a lack of liberation is vindicated by initial characterization of Ariel as “weak” and gay”, reflecting contemporary shifts in values of masculinity and machismo otherwise demonstrated in the rebellious Caliban under Prospero. Atwood subsequently reflects upon Shakespeare’s The Tempest in a metafictional reflection in the chapter “Team Hag-seed”, which serves as a postmodern avenue for Caliban to exercise the agency and explicit liberation from servitude denied to him in the genesis text. Hence, textual conversations between texts allows for notions such as liberation as a consequence of self- determination to be explored and fulfilled, enhancing understanding. The consideration of the conversation between texts has allowed for an understanding of notions of control and liberation explored in The Tempest and Hag-seed. Ideas of religion having ‘control’ over individual action is transformed into mental hysteria in a more secular context. Notions of self-determination as a prologue to liberation build upon insights from a postcolonial lens. Texts are a product of context and conversations enable greater understanding. 19/20 Comment: Really strong essay! Would like you to tighten up the analysis in a couple of places, and draw stronger links to the module throughout but very good. .