A Carnival Island

With an aim to prove that The Tempest is a carnival play, this thesis analyzes the carnival elements and polyphonic features in this play from the perspective of carnival and polyphony theory.This thesis is divided into three parts. The introduction mainly states Shakespeare’s literary influence, history background of The Tempest, literature review and the argument of this thesis. Revealing the carnival elements from the aspects of character images and plots, the first chapter focuses on Prospero, Antonio and Caliban’s crowning and uncrowning rituals, and unveils the grotesque images which are full of Menipea spirit. The second chapter primarily analyzes dialogistical characters by revealing the counterpoint structure and their internal quarrelling. The third chapter unveils that the disguised happy ending is essentially unfinished. And the unfinished ending is one of the notable characteristics of dialogism. Polyphony and dialogues are the ways to reach Carnival which is the ultimate aim of Bahktin’s theory. Shakespeare has created a carnival island. On this island the characters utter their independent voices which form a carnival symphony to contend with Prospero’s “truth” and overthrow his authority. Thus, with free and alternate spirit, a carnival is initiated to reveal that monarchy history is a recurring cycle of tyranny.