The Tempest Lesson Plan

What attitudes does the nobility demonstrate toward the ship's crew in Act I, scene i?

Students may be amused or offended by the condescension shown by the nobility toward the ship's crew, presumably due to their lower social class. Students may be surprised by the extent that these attitudes are not influenced by the fact that all of their lives are in mortal danger and that their survival appears to depend completely on the sailors. The reader may be surprised that the high-born passengers aren't a little more respectful toward the crew in these circumstances, or that they don't at least try to stay out of the mariners' way so that they can do their job.

Students who...