Revenge

Revenge, the central theme of the novel, is presented as a precarious and incomplete way of dealing with others. The central revenge plot of the narrative is Felix’s desire for vengeance against Tony. The extent to which Felix’s revenge against Tony can be considered successful depends on which revenge plot from The Tempest is the closest equivalent to the revenge plot in the novel.

On the surface, the clearest comparison between Felix’s revenge plot against Tony in Hag-Seed is Prospero’s revenge plot against his brother Antonio in The Tempest. Prospero is removed from a position of authority as the Duke of Milan by Antonio who seeks to replace him in that role, just as Felix is replaced as Artistic Director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival by his deputy Tony. Both Prospero and Felix then undergo a period of several years of isolation...