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A critique of the tempest
A critique of the tempest
A critique of the tempest
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In The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, Prospero takes revenge upon his betrayers and is able to overcome the part of himself that tries to consume him. The epiphany that Prospero has changes him form an almost inhuman being, who ironically takes the time to be a father, to a person capable of showing forgiveness and letting go of false empowerment.
From the beginning of the play, Prospero starts off as a father figure to Miranda. This can be seen when he says, “My dear one, thee, my daughter” (I, ii). Likewise his kindness towards his daughter also shows that he wants to protect what is dear to him. The fatherly love that he shows Miranda only strengthens Prospero’s desire to get revenge upon the people he thought he could trust most
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This part of Prospero threatens to overcome him as he takes revenge upon his betrayers because Prospero does not seem to consider his actions towards the innocent bystanders that get caught up within his plot. Take for example the ship’s crew, they are put under an enormous terror as the tempest tries to sink their ship as seen when they say, “All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost!/” (I, i). His inhuman ways can be further seen as he subjugates the spirits of the island, including Ariel and Caliban, by mistreating them and calling them horrible names like, “Lying slave”, “filth”, “Hag-seed”, and “tortoise” (I, ii). His treatment of the spirits and Caliban is like that of the settlers who overtook the Native Americans and treated them unjustly, “A native living harmoniously with the land extends hospitality …failing to conform to the European’s cultural codes …he is demonized…” (Hunt, n.p.). It really shows just how inhuman Prospero has become over the course of his revenge plot. Likewise, the magic that Prospero has learned to wield also presses him further into the inhuman form that that threatens to overwhelm him. “His magic only exacerbates his distrust by removing him from the need to depend on others” (Hunt, n.p.). Prospero uses this magic to further his own ends even as he hurts the people around …show more content…
Therefore, when Ariel finally stands up for Gonzalo saying, “That if you now beheld them, your affections / Would become tender. /” and “Mine would, sir, were I human. /” (V, i). The subtext Ariel uses to get his point across causes Prospero to finally have the epiphany that changes his entire character. This is the moment when Prospero finally realizes that he really has changed from the fatherly figure he once was into some type on cruel person who needs to find salvation. The salvation is asked for in the epilogue when Prospero says, “Unless I be relieved by prayer, / … Let your indulgence set me free. /” (Ep). This epiphany that Prospero has revives his old fatherly self as well as allows him to become a better person both physically and mentally. Ariel’s conversation with Prospero gives Prospero the last push that he needs to get rid of the magic that has caused his change. As seen when Prospero says, “Ye elves of hills…I’ll drown my book. /” (V, i). Prospero decides to no longer rely on his magic and he decides to trust others instead, though he does not become as naïve as he once was. He still holds some control over the people like how he has the marriage between his daughter and Alonso’s son. His epiphany and the moments after it encase all that the play is about, forgiveness and overcoming
kindness and innocence portray heart" (line 8/9) and this contrasts. to her father who is not as concerned as she is "Tell your piteous heart there's no harm done" (line 14). Prospero's power and control over Miranda is something that really stands out, "obey and be attentive" (line 38) and it is clear that she. respects him, "my dearest father" (line 1.) At first one may presume that Prospero is an evil man for causing the tempest, but I feel that He loves Miranda very much and would do anything to protect her.
Having been usurped and wrecked on an Island Prospero and his young daughter Miranda have to settle. It is here in Prospero's past that it first clear to see where any confusion about his character may appear. As a learned and powerful man Prospero is able to take direct control of the island, he frees a trapped and tortured spirit (Ariel) and befriends the inhabitants (Caliban). Prospero 'helps' Caliban, he tries to educate him and teaches him to communicate, in exchange Caliban helps Prospero to survive on the Island. But in taking power of the Island Prospero is committing the same act that happened to him as Duke of Milan, now Prospero himself has become the usurper. In this act of goodness Prospero has unknowingly shown his evil side.
Prospero’s epilogue at the conclusion of The Tempest provides interesting parallels to its author’s life. Written near the end of his career, numerous scholars suggest that it is Shakespeare’s written farewell. Just as Shakespeare sculpts a world from nothing, Prospero authors the events on the island. Prospero’s monologue flows naturally with they story and provides a natural ending to the work. He describes the loss of his magical power at the beginning of his monologue when he says, “My charms are all o’erthrown, and what strength I have’s mine own, which is most faint.”
Ariel’s use of subtext communicated to Prospero that his power and consumption with vengeance was causing him to become inhumane. Prospero experiences an epiphany when Ariel says, “[m]ine would, sir, were I human” (V i, Shakespeare). Ariel points out to Prospero that his power is so strong and the revenge consuming him is making him into an evil person. Once Prospero has this moment of realization, he turns his behavior around by first denouncing his magic. Prospero shows how he is done using magic when he says, “[b]ut this rough magic I here abjure; and, when I have required…And deeper than did ever plummet sound I’ll drown my book” (V i, Shakespeare). This illuminating episode and reveal of Prospero’s true character is used by Shakespeare as the casement to emphasize the inner meaning of the work. Shakespeare’s intended meaning of the work as a whole was that things such as hatred or revenge should never overcome and alter your true identity. Prospero exemplifies that revenge is a dangerous tool and can consume the one who uses it. Prospero’s epiphany allows him to find the human part of himself again and he has a realization that he should no longer be a
Prospero, as I see it, doesn't start the play fully realizing all this. He launches his experiment from a mixture of motives, perhaps not entirely sure what he going to do (after all, one gets the sense that there's a good deal of improvising going on). But he learns in the play to avoid the twin dangers to his experiment, the two main threats to the value of his theatrical magic.
The Tempest presents the character of Prospero the usurped duke of Milan. In the beginning Prospero’s character can be described as foul, spiteful, and selfish. This can be seen in various scenes in acts one and two of the play where he treats the people around him as his servants especially the fateful Ariel who reminded him of his promise only to be threatened of imprisonment. He’s selfish in the sense that he would do anything to accomplish his goal of executing his plan. Like a master puppeteer he is manipulative and deceptive. He even manipulates his daughter to fit according to his scheme. However, all of his foul characteristics left him as his plan nears its end. It is as if the shedding of his clothes represented his change is personality and attitude. After Prospero discarded his staff, drowned his magic book, and wore his duke garments he became more responsible and sympathetic. Instead of exacting revenge on the king of Naples a...
To expound, after running Alonzo’s ship aground, Ariel verbally demonstrates his opposition to Prospero’s forced servitude, thus alluding to the anti-colonial nature of The Tempest play. Believing that his master will free him one year earlier as agre...
To illustrate, in the beginning of the play, Prospero undergoes an emotional experience that changes him forever. That being the case, he is shown as the hero throughout the story. For example Prospero says, “Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, thy father was
He frees Ariel, pardons Caliban, and plans to return to Milan where Miranda and Ferdinand will be married. Prospero gets everything he wants—his dukedom, a powerful son-in-law, and a return to society. Works Cited and Consulted Corfield, Cosmo. "Why Does Prospero Abjure His 'Rough Magic,'" Shakespeare Quarterly. 36 (1985): 31-4 8.
At he same time, the evil man who does not want to give both Ariel and Caliban their freedom, they do not want to be slave anymore, he insults both of them by telling Ariel a spirit which indicates as if he is not human, same with Caliban, he and Miranda called him an animal. Prospero wanted to get his freedom and what he lost back from his brother but at the same time he did not want to free both Ariel and Caliban. Une Tempete is a story about people who asks for their freedoms. It focused on two factors which are slavery and colonization. In this scene Prospero thinks he is God.
Prospero manifested to have been a caring father, and that he has taken full responsibility for her, as a proper father ought to do. On the other hand, Prospero has apparently been cautious with giving Miranda information about her past. In response to Miranda’s concerns of herself, Prospero answers; “Stay, not yet” (14, Act 1, Scene 2). “Obey, and be attentive” (15, Act 1, Scene 2), he exclaims to her in the same scene. In The Tempest, Miranda can be interpreted as a living representation of female morality. Miranda is typically viewed as completely embodying the patriarchal order of things, thinking of herself as dependent to her father. The traits that create Miranda 's femininity are the same traits that oppress her: her innocence and vulnerability are seen as the things that allow her to be manipulated by her father. Prospero 's use of Miranda as a gadget in his political revenge is expressive of the play 's sexist attitude towards women. Prospero is, to some extent, in control over her sexuality and her thoughts; According to Linley "Patriarchy 's dominance explains why so many men had such low opinions of women, treating them unsympathetically and as sex objects. " Prospero was portrayed as a patriarchal father who cared about his daughter, but he wasn 't ashamed to use her as marriage bait to get what he
The nucleus of the plot in Shakespeare's The Tempest revolves around Prospero enacting his revenge on various characters who have wronged him in different ways. Interestingly enough, he uses the spirit of Ariel to deliver the punishments while Prospero delegates the action. Prospero is such a character that can concoct methods of revenge but hesitates to have direct involvement with disillusioning his foes. In essence, Prospero sends Ariel to do his dirty work while hiding his involvement in shipwrecking his brother, Antonio, from his daughter, Miranda.
Prospero presents himself as a victim of injustice, however his belief of justice and injustice is somewhat contradicting. He takes advantage of this authority over other people and situations he encounters while using his integrity and compassion to mask his dangerous plans and to retain love and respect. The Tempest in the end suggests that love and compassion are more effective political tools than violence, hatred or even abusive magic.
... teaching him. However later realize his intentions are good and that he did want Caliban to be taught. Having said the power of his love over his daughter helps him develop as a better father and allow his daughter freedom in marriage that she deserves. Ending of Prospero retiring from his magical powers represents his development in becoming the ideal ruler. In order for him to do this, he must give up his rights to magic and allow his power to come the loyalty of his people. The power over Caliban teaches him to be less self-indulgent and him not wanting to help Caliban after his actions says that he is not completely vain. When Prospero drops his stick that is like Shakespeare dropping his pen when he was done with this play. He knew that The Tempest would be his last one before he retired and Prospero knew he was done being controlling and forgave his enemies.
Prospero’s conduct from the moment the play begins seems to contradict the basic lessons of Christian forgiveness. Prospero’s enemies are within his grasp and Prospero seizes the opportunity for revenge. “Desire for vengeance has apparently lain dormant in Prospero through the years of banishment, and now, with the sudden advent of his foes, the great wrong of twelve years before is stirringly present again, arousing the passions and stimulating the will to action” (Davidson 225). Though Prospero does not intend to harm anyone and he asks his servant, "But are they, Ariel, safe?" (1.1.218), he does want to put the men through the pain and agony of what they believe is a horrible disaster resulting in the death of the prince, Ferdinand.