New Acts, New Scenes

This project was created on occupied Cherokee territory.

Note: what follows is revised from Aimé Césaire's 1969 play, A Tempest, with elements from Marina Warner's 1993 novel, Indigo.

Act I Scene II

            Amidst a commotion of a ship crashing upon the shore of an island, a girl named Miranda ran to her father in panic.  Prospero, her father, had years before colonized the island and held little fear of it being taken from him after the fight he put up.  Although he presented a calm and unshaken presence, Miranda could not help but fear for the fine and brave lives that could have been taken in the ruins left by the shipwreck.  Previously, Prospero lived as a Duke in Milan until he was marooned to the island.  He did, however, turn around the situation and force his leadership on the island, but he held bitter thoughts still toward new men coming on the island in fear of losing his control. “Miranda, do without worrying.  We were marooned here, and it was these men that completed the act,” persuaded Prospero.  Miranda trusted her father, and these words comforted her because she realized how Prospero must have suffered by these men.  Prospero had recounted the tale many times to Miranda in the past, so with this she remembered the horror and her panic melted away.

            Previous to Prospero’s reign, the island was lush and free with no fear of colonization.  Unbeknownst to the islanders, their lives would quickly change and the woman who once ruled would be killed by the colonizers.  The woman who once ruled was Sycorax.  Sycorax was viewed as a witch by the colonizers because of her appearance as well as her speaking as it was in a different language.  Early on in the island’s history, there had been a shipwreck in which all the people on the ship died besides a baby boy.  Sycorax saved the boy and deemed him the name Dulé.   Sycorax proceeded to raise Dulé while continuing her exploration in dyes and remedies using different plants from the island.  In this stage, she began to mother an additional child named Ariel.  With Ariel and Dulé, Sycorax shared her knowledge of the plants on the island and what uses they had that would be beneficial to know.  Sycorax had ultimate knowledge of the island and tried everything in her power to raise Ariel and Dulé successfully while pursuing her trade to her full ability.

As Dulé and Ariel got older, Dulé began to seek more freedom which Sycorax gave to him.  Ariel stayed with Sycorax longer as she was learning more about dyes with Sycorax.   While Dulé and Ariel’s life pursuits were changing, Sycorax’s trade stayed constant in exploring dyes and remedies.   The dye Sycorax gravitated to most was the color indigo.   She mastered the process of creating the dyes and it became a part of her.  After constantly creating and using the dye, the indigo began to seep into her skin and color her indigo.  The strange coloring looked haunting to any outsiders and caused fear among colonizers. 

When Prospero came to the island, he tried everything in his power to destroy Sycorax and suppress Dulé from reviving his memory of her.  One attempt of Prospero’s brainwashing included calling Dulé by the new name of Caliban.   Through changing his name, Prospero believed he could get a hold on Dulé and gain greater control of him by forcing his own ideas on him.  Forcing Dulé to follow his rules caused Prospero to look as if he had ultimate knowledge and therefore show him as a superior being.  Dulé harvested bitterness towards Prospero and refused to conform to his ways and intentions although he had nowhere else to go.  Dulé felt Sycorax still there and knew he would fight for her and do anything to get her back into her rightful position.  

            In present time, Ariel entered Prospero’s presence and was greeted with a question of if Ariel completed the task, he had given her.  She responded telling him that the mission was accomplished but it was obvious that she was not pleased with having completed that terrible task.  Prospero sensed Ariel’s guilt and it frustrated him, but he compromised and decided that as long as the deed was done, the mood did not matter.  While Prospero was giving Ariel positive affirmations, Ariel could not help but question the state she was in and why she was not free yet when she had been promised that freedom a thousand times.   Prospero responded by asking, “Who freed you from Sycorax, may I ask?”.  In the latter part of Sycorax and Ariel’s relationship, Ariel had disobeyed Sycorax and was banished.  Prospero freed her, but in return expected and forced Ariel to comply with his demands.   Despite her complaints, she continued to comply with Prospero’s commands assumingly due to her yearn to rebel against all that Sycorax had wanted from her and taught her.  Ariel presented a complex attitude given the circumstances.   While she yearned to rebel against Sycorax’s influence and comply with Prospero, she felt still a small loyalty to Sycorax for all that she had done for Ariel.  Sycorax had given Ariel a good early life and tried to teach her everything she knew and protect her.  Up until the conflict in which Ariel was banished, she lived a content life and was free from everything including Prospero’s rule.  She now yearned for freedom from Prospero.   Prospero only responded by using the leverage of Sycorax’s punishment to glorify himself due to his freeing of Ariel.   “You’ve promised freedom a thousand times, yet I have not gotten it yet,” Ariel pleaded with Prospero.   Prospero responded, “You’ll have your freedom when I’m ready to give it to you, and until then you will not complain.”   Ariel left in defeat and uncertainty.

            Dulé went over to Prospero and greeted him using his native language which Prospero had tried to remove altogether.   “Don’t speak in that tongue!  I have taught you my language, and your old language will not be tolerated.  It shows you as uncivilized,” demanded Prospero.  Early during Prospero’s rule, he had introduced his own language and forced everyone to give up their native language in return for his own.  Prospero was offering his knowledge and advice to “civilize” the island as it was not civilized how he would want it before.  Dulé’s unwillingness to follow along with Prospero’s initiatives caused another argument between the two.  “I civilized you. I educated you. I offered you a chance at a better life, but you throw it away,” Prospero expressed.  “You taught me this to control me not to help me. The language is the only thing you’ve taught me.  Sycorax taught me everything, but you are unwilling to admit it,” shouted Dulé as he stormed away from Prospero.   All through Dulé’s childhood he was taught everything from Sycorax including cooking, hunting, and gardening just to name a few.  Prospero had taught only his language and forced Dulé under his ruling.  Without Prospero on the island, Sycorax would have still been ruling the island, but instead she had been attacked and Prospero believed her to be dead.  In Prospero’s mind, he had given Dulé everything and more when in reality he was keeping Dulé from any freedom and position that was rightfully his own.  Prospero refused to believe that Dulé would be anything without him and insisted that Sycorax was a witch while Dulé did all he could to fight against Prospero’s demands.  

            Sycorax had done so much for Dulé that it would be wrong for him to deny her.  Through all of Dulé’s backlash on Prospero, he believed that Sycorax was still there with him to warn him and guide him.  She was.  Dulé retreated to the other side of the island where he resided and entered his shack.  “How did it go?” questioned Sycorax as Dulé got settled in his home.   “I just want to tell him.  I can’t keep going without him knowing that you still are here and will ultimately rule,” Dulé articulated.  “Have patience, Dulé.  Right will be done in time.  Until then, he will believe you are delusional when you mention me and it’s best that way.  He didn’t kill me then, so it’s best not to give him another chance until we know we will win,” reasoned Sycorax.  Dulé knew she was right and rested in the fact that Sycorax was there with him and would soon rule the island again.

Act III Scene II

            There were two men named Trinculo and Stephano who were members of the crew on the ship that wrecked.  Trinculo was a jester from the ship and Stephano a butler.  Caliban was passing by them on his way to check up on the happenings between Prospero and the ship as the men saw him and invited him over for a drink.  As the night proceeded, the men all began to drink more and more.  Trinculo and Stephano began speaking of the ship and then cheering to anything and everything they could think of as their state of mind did not allow them to have sober trains of thought.  Through their time drinking together, Caliban had yet to speak which confused Trinculo and Stephano, but neither questioned it much.  Caliban suddenly rose his glass and said, “Long live the King! But beware the usurper!”.  Trinculo and Stephano were amazed that he could speak in the first place, but they were more intrigued by the latter part of the comment Caliban had just made.   They questioned who the usurper was, and Dulé quickly responded saying the usurper was Prospero.  Through the time Prospero had been there, he tried to revamp the entire island with his ideas, language, and policies. Although Prospero had taken over, Sycorax and Dulé still had hope the island would be turned back around and allow the rightful leaders of the island to take control again.  Trinculo and Stephano questioned the tension between Prospero and Dulé and were informed on the hostility between the two.  Dulé then told them about Sycorax and that she was still alive, and they were working on getting the island back to their power.  The men were amazed and wanted to go meet Sycorax. 

            Due to Dulé’s muddled thoughts at the time, he decided to take them to meet Sycorax.  They made their way across the island through a backroad as to not be seen or cause any suspicion.  Sycorax heard a commotion from outside as Dulé stumbled in with Stephano and Trinculo following close behind.  Both men looked in awe of Sycorax and the fact that she was indeed alive.  Dulé explained the best he could to Sycorax who the men were and although she was skeptical, she realized that their drunken state would most likely not allow them to remember her in the morning, so she took the opportunity to socialize with other people for the first time since Prospero had taken control of the island.  Sycorax spoke out about everything she could think of from the cruelty Prospero had shown as well as his attempt to kill her to the negative affects he had on the island’s nature as well as people.  She explained to the men that when Prospero thought he killed her, the spear he threw had landed right beside her, so she had used berries that she had with her to smear and look like blood.  The men sat in awe at her knowledge and wide skill set that allowed her to adapt so quickly using the island to her advantage when in a time of danger.  Dulé chimed in every now and then to add to Sycorax’s report of Prospero.  It was evident to Trinculo and Stephano that Prospero had wronged Dulé and Sycorax.  Through the night, they had become fond of Dulé and Sycorax and wanted to aid them in any way that was possible for them. 

            “We will help get rid of Prospero,” Trinculo slurred.  “Yes, you all are our friends and we want Prospero to pay for what he has done. You all are rightfully the leaders of the island, and it is only right for us to help you all back into your place,” insisted Stephano.   Sycorax explained her plan, “All you need to do is convince Prospero to return with you all to Milan.  If he is brought off of the island, the reign over the island will be mine and everything will return to its original state.   Nature will be eternally grateful as will I.”  The men agreed to take on the challenge and they bid a goodnight and stumbled back across the island to follow through with the plan.  Dulé and Sycorax were grateful although Sycorax questioned how much the men would actually follow through with due to their drunken state.   Dulé departed to bed to sleep off his alcohol and Sycorax sat deep in thought about how they were going to get Prospero off of the island once and for all with the new opportunity that Trinculo and Stephano had provided. 

Act III Scene VI

            Sycorax and Dulé were ready to get Prospero off the island and regain their control and normalcy.  The men from the shipwreck were getting ready to head back to their homeland, and with the help of Trinculo and Stephano, Prospero was convinced to return with them by a promise of regaining his position as the Duke in Milan.  When Prospero was given this opportunity, he was excited, but was torn because he enjoyed the control he had over the island.  He took some time to weigh his options, but then decided to return to Milan in order to show that he could not be overcome to the people he used to know.   His return to power in Milan would mean he had to give up his power over the islanders, but he believed that they would return to an uncivilized life and realize how much Prospero had given to them.  

            The men were embarking the ship and finalizing any steps needed before beginning their trip back to Milan.  This gave Prospero final moments to release Ariel and Caliban.  Ariel’s release was first as Prospero summoned her to the shore near the ship.  “Now is the time. You are free, but don’t cease to remember the way that I saved you, civilized you, and created a good life for you.  You will never have a life like yours was when I was here again.   Although you wished for this moment, be wary for you will not be free like you believe. You will be nothing without me, and you will be bored into eternity, but as you wish, I will give you freedom.  Leave before I change my mind,” Prospero declared.  “I have deserved this freedom. You did not save me, you did not civilize me, and you gave me no opportunity but forced me to be enslaved.  Although Sycorax banished me, she did it for good reason, and I would rather be banished by Sycorax then led by you.  I have waited for this day, but I am not grateful to you.  Be gone,” Ariel exclaimed.  She followed this by running off as happy as she could be with her newfound freedom.

            Dulé’s time for freedom was next, and Prospero was even more unhappy to give him his freedom than he had been with Ariel.  Sycorax and Dulé made their way across the island to Prospero as Dulé had been summoned, and Sycorax waited nearby to enter when Prospero was on his way out.  “Caliban, you have troubled me all my days on the island and refused to recognize my graciousness to fix you and the island.  It gives me no pleasure, but now is the time I must say you are free.  Your freedom though will take away everything I have given to you, and you will never be this happy again,” Prospero spat.  “My name is Dulé.  You have not given me anything, and your freedom was expected in due time.  Sycorax has given me everything and you have given me nothing.  I know that Sycorax is still here, and although you have tried to suppress her, now is her time to return to glory.  She is the reason I will be free,” spoke Dulé.  “Caliban, Sycorax is not here and will never be back. She was a witch and a danger to the island. She did nothing for you and she will never amount to anything,” Prospero responded angrily.  “Sycorax is here and now is her time to speak. You have taken her voice from her, but not anymore.  You will leave and Sycorax will prosper,” remarked Dulé as Sycorax revealed herself.

            Prospero looked as if he had seen a ghost and was at a loss for words.  “Here I am, Prospero.  You thought you killed me. You thought you had won, but not anymore.   I am not who you have made me out to be, and I will no longer hide from you.  Leave my island, for I am the rightful leader,” said Sycorax calmly.  

            Trinculo and Stephano made their way down to the shore to collect Prospero as they were scheduled to be leaving.  Prospero yelled as they dragged him away from Sycorax and Dulé.  “You will pay!  You will fall!  You are nothing without me!” Prospero shouted as he was dragged onto the ship. Dulé and Sycorax ran off shouting the triumph of their freedom in the island’s language. “Libète, alo jou! Libète, alo jou.”  They ran with new freedom.  They were victorious.  They regained control of their island.  Sycorax regained her voice.