Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground

Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground

The quote "Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground" is from William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." This line is spoken by the character Sebastian in Act 2, Scene 1. In this scene, Sebastian and his companion Antonio are plotting to kill Alonso, the King of Naples, in order to seize power for themselves.

The quote reflects Sebastian's desire for power and his willingness to sacrifice something of great value in order to achieve his goals. In this case, he is expressing his willingness to give up a vast expanse of sea (symbolizing wealth and abundance) in exchange for a small plot of barren land (symbolizing power and control).

This line can be interpreted in several ways. On one level, it speaks to the theme of ambition and the lengths to which people will go to achieve their desires. Sebastian's willingness to trade something as valuable as a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground shows the extent of his ambition and his willingness to make sacrifices in pursuit of power.

On another level, the quote can be seen as a commentary on the nature of power itself. In Shakespeare's plays, power is often portrayed as a corrupting force that can lead people to make immoral choices and betray those closest to them. Sebastian's willingness to betray his own brother and conspire to commit murder in order to gain power is a stark example of this theme.

Overall, the quote "Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground" is a powerful and evocative expression of the themes of ambition, power, and betrayal that are central to Shakespeare's work. It serves as a reminder of the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and the lengths to which people will go in pursuit of power.