ABSTRACT
In The Tempest, Shakespeare's spirits are main instruments in the plot and overtly indicated as the playwright's professional aids. The relationship between spirits, nature and culture offers additional insights. Shakespeare's spirits control the elemental sphere by being able to materialize in any shape they choose or are ordered to take, trespassing any barriers of species, shape or substance. The incarnation of spirits and demons, expected to obey to man's command, is another expression of the philosopher's aspiration to transform his visions into reality by action. The Five Books of Mystery brings together spirits from Dee's rich personal library, angels of the Christian tradition, personifications of substances from alchemical experiments and invented spirits. Diversely from Shakespeare and Kelly, who made use of books to attain their creative goals, Dee took their information in faith, without realizing that spiritual entities were mental representations of a book-transmitted cultural construct, he could have controlled with his greatest natural gift: his mind.
