Irish Romantics and Shakespeare: Lady Morgan and The Tempest

What is it about?

This article discusses the role of Lady Morgan’s allustions to Shakespare's The Tempest in her Irish national tales. Her use of the play challenges the idea that The Tempest illustrates a (post)colonial, conflictual relation between Ireland and Britain. Instead, Morgan’s focus on the spells cast on foreign visitors by the island and by the native magic of Prospero and Ariel suggests that she used The Tempest as an allegory for possible ways of making the Union work.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This article expands and nuances the history of Shakespeare's reception in Ireland, and questions postcolonial readings of Irish Romantic culture.