From the President: Ebbing Men Most Often Do So Near the Bottom Run

Abstract

One of the finest bits of dialogue in any play occurs in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, when evil Antonio seduces lackadaisical Sebastian into attempting to kill the king. Sebastian, the king’s brother, would claim the throne and Antonio would reap the benefits of royal friendship.Antonio must pull off three verbal feats at once: he must make Sebastian aware of the opportunity that has presented itself; he must secure Sebastian’s cooperation; and he must leave himself an out if Sebastian balks. Although his aims are nefarious, his selling of the plot to Sebastian is a masterpiece of logic, intimation, andmetaphor.