So, Act 3 Scene 1; we call this 'The Log Scene'; tell me what happens in this scene, what are
we going to look at?
So, it begins with Ferdinand pulling logs across the floor.
Yes, Ferdinand's been put to task by Prospero to prove his love and intentions for Miranda
so the scene starts with him beginning the task of dragging a rather large log on stage
to pile them up.
And how well do they know each other by this point?
It's only their second meeting, but, I think that there's been discussions with Miranda
and Prospero in which he said firstly, 'definitely don't tell him your name' and secondly 'I'd
rather you didn't speak to him much if anything at all'; but I think he's aware she's sneaking
out and has watched him.
Yes, she's watched him before; he mentions in his first speech how Miranda has never
seen anyone carry out this task so well before so perhaps there have been other encounters
prior to this meeting.
It's a dilemma about why she wants him to stop so much. It's either because she's worried
about him, and himself, and whether or not he's up to it, that's one; or it's because
she's desperate to be with him, and talk to him, and to engage with him.
There's obviously a strong desire to sort of, connect with her, and be with her but
there's also a genuine, I think, palpable fear of her father. Maybe she's just as magical
as well, you know, he doesn't know what she's capable of.
He has also more experience of girls than Miranda has of boys.
Yes, he talks about, you know, the several women that he's encountered before in Naples
but never any quite so rare and as unique as Miranda so he definitely has more confidence
in that respect but I think Miranda has confounded him because he's never seen anyone quite as
unique as her.
Maybe there's a fearful way of playing it around her, or a 'formalness' or a kind of
'politeness' maybe.
So we'll try one version in which Miranda direct and Ferdinand is formal. Let's have
a look at that.
Great.
Miranda: Alas, now pray you, Work not so hard. I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined to pile.
Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns
'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study: pray now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.
Ferdinand: O most dear mistress, The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
Miranda: If you'll sit down, I'll bear your logs the while: pray give me
that, I'll carry it to the pile.
Ferdinand: No, precious creature, I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by.
Miranda: It would become me As well as it does you; and I should do it
With much more ease, for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against
An element of Ferdinand's language is that he tends to talk in very big long sentences.
Yes, Ferdinand never is one to get straight to the point! He's very highfalutin in his
language, and I think that's just indicative of how passionate he feels, I think, and he
will draw on all the imagery he can to make the point as clear as day to the person he's
trying to hit with the language.
Whereas Miranda tends to cut straight to the point.
Yes. She has no inhibitions, so she might feel very lustful towards him or 'let's get
to it'. She's only got three hours until her father comes down, she's already breaking
the rules...
Perhaps for Ferdinand, a sense of his anxiety that Prospero is nearby, is going to oversee
this happening and might put another spell on you. Shall we just try that?
Great.
Miranda: Alas, now pray you, Work not so hard. I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined to pile.
Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns
'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study: pray now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.
Ferdinand: O most dear mistress, The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
Miranda: If you'll sit down, I'll bear your logs the while: pray give me
that, I'll carry it to the pile.
Ferdinand: No, precious creature, I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by.
Miranda: It would become me As well as it does you; and I should do it
With much more ease, for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.
Miranda has to find about seven different ways to make him put the log down. She's trying
everything she can, so she has to get in there quick with the options.
And presumably she carries on because none of those tactics are successful in themselves.
Hmm, she doesn't often use metaphors, because she'd rather just say what she thinks, and
it's maybe an attempt to branch into his world and 'maybe you'll understand this poetry',
and he doesn't, so...
Can we just try that? Would you just try doing that first speech to Ferdinand?
Miranda: Alas, now, pray you, Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!
Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,
'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.
That's very good, because really what you want to say is 'Look, we've got plenty of
time can we just get on with it?'. And she does use the violence of that first
image, doesn't she, 'I would the lightning had burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd
to pile'.
Having been so frightened by this storm in the first scene, she's suddenly seeing it
as an opportunity.
Yes.
Miranda: My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
He's safe for these three hours.
Ferdinand: O most dear mistress, The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
Miranda: If you'll sit down,
I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
I'll carry it to the pile.
Ferdinand: No, precious creature;
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
Miranda: It would become me
As well as it does you: and besides I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.