Happy Chains: Sprezzatura Work Ethics.

Prying the Elizabethan culture of courtship and sprezzatura from The Tempest was not the labor of layered symbolism I thought it to be; sprezzatura lurks just beneath the surface. Of course it would. In a play where nearly every character lays claim to nobility of some sort – even Caliban, original sovereign of the isle – everything they do and say is a reflection of courtly life.

Instance the first: Ferdinand’s obsession with Miranda, and their relationship, of sorts. Their first impressions of each other are, “Oh! How beautiful” – a reflection of Castiglione’s argument of beauty being inherent of goodness. Declared Miranda, “There’s nothing ill can swell in such a temple” (1.2 Line 457). It's the classic "you look awesome; therefore you can do no wrong" attitude of the day. 

More interesting, however, is the way the different characters approach leadership and servitude.

In Act 2 Scene 1, lines 148-165, Gonzalo proposes an idyllic government reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. Not a soul would toil nor engage in commerce, the land would produce – on its own – everything necessary for life, and the people would live in a state of perfect peace. His idea is shot down rather quickly, but it demonstrates, perhaps, two ideals. One: that nobility is marked by not needing to work. In Gonzalo’s island, everyone would be idle and happy. Two: such a state of existence would be the direct result of Gonzalo’s leadership. Somehow, by doing nothing, his subjects wouldn’t have to do anything, either.

"Rich and privileged as the nobility are," wrote Ian Mortimer, "it is the gentry to own and run England. They are the five hundred or so knights with country estates, and approximately fifteen thousand other gentlemen with an income from land sufficient to guarantee they do not have to work for a living."

This is reflected in Miranda’s attitude toward Ferdinand performing regular household chores. Her implorations for him to rest become somewhat of an argument: each is convinced that the other is too dignified for menial work, and each is insistent on doing it (the chore) to alieve the other’s burden. Said Ferdinand, “I had rather crack my sinews, break my back / Than you should such dishonor undergo / While I sit lazy by” (3.1 25-27). To which Miranda replied, “It would become me / As well as it does you” (3.1 28-29). (Somewhat unrelated to Sprezzatura, this latter declaration was fascinating to me in that Miranda asserts herself as Ferdinand’s equal – in dignity, and in her capacity to perform physical labor.)

Original Image

Ferdinand’s insistence – indeed, obsession – with serving Miranda is reminiscent, in turn, of Elizabeth’s position as the unattainable virgin. Her beauty inspires those around her to serve and protect her, quite selflessly. As noted by Ferdinand, “The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead, / And makes my labours pleasures” (3.1 6-7). As contrasted by Caliban’s servitude, inspired in turns by fear of punishment and desire for liquor. Ferdinand seems to represent what happy servitude looks like and ought to be; Caliban, on the other hand, is nothing noble and seems to show how not to go about it.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Ed. Virginia Mason Vaughan, Alden T. Vaughan. Bloomsbury 

Arden Shakespeare: London (2014). Print. 

Mortimer, Ian. "The Gentry." The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England. Penguin (2013). Print.