The “Perfect” Woman in The Tempest: A Comparative Deconstruction of Miranda’s Body
Resource
NTU Studies in Language and Literature, 19, 081-115
Journal
NTU Studies in Language and Literature
Journal Issue
19
Pages
081-115
Date Issued
2008-06
Date
2008-06
Author(s)
Liao, P.C.
Abstract
Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth century, most critics read The Tempest as a
complex allegory in which a series of binary opposites such as nature and culture
compete for supremacy. On the subject of Miranda, the early critics either were silent
or merely regarded her as an emblem of beauty and ideal womanliness. In more
recent readings, post-colonial interpretation dominated, focusing on Prospero and the
indigenous Caliban, Sycorax, and Ariel. The role of Miranda as the “perfect” woman
has long been taken for granted and thus ironically fades into nothing more than a
“bright shadow” in some major interpretations. In this essay, I reposition Miranda as
a central character and argue that the role of Miranda as the “perfect” woman has not
only been created by Shakespeare but been conditioned beyond the text by social,
racial and gender politics that presume “female imperfection.” Such a role as the
“perfect” woman under patriarchal domination has significantly influenced Miranda’s
formulation or even misconception of gender and identity. This essay hence
undertakes a comparative deconstruction of Miranda’s body, which has been
constructed as a “transcendental myth” (Dolan 96) in the Renaissance historical
context, modern critical interpretation, visual art, and theatrical performance.
Subjects
莎士比亞
《暴風雨》
米蘭達
「完美」女人
超自然神話
身體
解構
William Shakespeare
The Tempest
Miranda
“perfect” woman
transcendental myth
body
deconstruction
Type
journal article
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