William Shakespeare: The Tempest
How is fate used by Shakespeare, in the Tempest, to change and control
the range of characters, using Prospero’s power and his magic?
In Literature, Destiny or Fate is a source of irony in literature;
where the characters may act without realising the destiny that the
audience or reader is aware of. This is very much true to that of the
plot in the Tempest. Shakespeare has used Prospero’s craft of magic,
his great source of power, to influence and change the fates of other
characters in the play; for personal gain or for the good of others.
His personal gain is seen by his plan to use his power and magic for
his vengeance against his brother Antonio, whom usurped his throne.
For non-selfish reasons, he uses his power and magic to unite and
create love between Miranda and Ferdinand throughout the play.
Throughout the play, neither of the characters are fully aware of
Prospero’s tempting with their fates, but only the audience are
completely aware of it.
The Tempest with which the play opens is the result of Prospero’s
control of the elements, where Prospero creates a storm at sea.
Alonso, the king of Naples, is sailing home after the marriage of his
daughter, Claribel, to the King of Tunis. During the voyage the
weather suddenly deteriorates, and Alonso’s ship is separated from the
rest of the fleet and driven towards an island. Miranda has seen this
shipwreck and asks her father, Prospero, to help the victims,
especially as he is the one responsible for carrying out the storm.
Prospero has done everything to make sure that no harm comes to anyone
and that he has used his magical powers entirely f...
... middle of paper ...
...to give power to prospero to carry his
plan on the couple. Miranda and Ferdinand take Prospero’s criticisms
at face value:
‘Speak not you for him: he’s a traitor. Come;
I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together:
Sea-Water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
The fresh-brook mussels, wither’d roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn cradled.
However, the audience realises that Prospero has arranged the meeting
between Ferdinand and his daughter in the hope that they will fall in
love and thus heal the breach between Naples and Milan. The punishment
is created so that Ferdinand will not feel that Miranda is won too
easily. Shakespeare gave power to Prospero to accomplish this, and
this is an example of him using the magic and power for non-personal
gain, but that of the love for his daughter and her happiness.
still a common view of Jews is for them to be penny pinching, both in
How important is an individual that most often than not authors focus on the growth of one over the growth of the many? Is it because the growth of one symbolizes the growth of all? Or is the focus on the individual due to the image it presents which is the growth in us? In any event, this outlook of individualism is widespread in literature and different genres and techniques excavate the development of the individual. Another factor that comes into play in the development of the character is the situation and the effects of the environment. Within William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest and Michael Cervantes Saavedra’s satire Don Quixote are two different characters molded and formed or in both cases malformed to incorporate their capsules which are the genres and settings that imprison them.
William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet” was written by Shakespeare in 1595, and was the
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It is clear that the race of Othello is a factor in his downfall. A
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Shakespeare's brilliant portrayal of Prospero's use of magic and power continues to draw both readers and audiences with The Tempest's many meanings and interpretations. As a main character, Prospero, is a person that many people can identify themselves with, with his want to achieve his desires and gain power over others through the use of magic. It is this identification that exceeds Shakespearean works, with The Tempest both emulating and presenting themes from other works in the Elizabethan period. Such as Christopher Marlowe's “Doctor Faustus”, a play written twenty years prior to The Tempest, containing the same themes of magic and power. Also, Both Faustus and Prospero portray the idea that power, such as magic, originates from books: whether they are works on “secret studies” or “liberal arts” (Tempest 1.2.91-95). Magic and power are two forces, that can both be found in literary works inside the play, and it is through Marlowe and Shakespeare's works that the audience is brought into the power play. This essay will explore the idea of the Renaissance overreacher, and his relationship with books.
William Shakespeare's The Tempest Act One, Scene One This scene introduces the play, and is set during on a ship during a ferocious storm. The passengers are the royal party of the King of Naples, and include the King Alonso, his brother Sebastian, the Prince Ferdinand, and the King's counsellors, Gonzalo and Antonio. The storm, which begins the play, isn't real, but has been conjured by Prospero, a magus, to lure the passengers to his island. This storm is also representation of the metaphorical storm which involves the tumultuous emotions of the play's characters as it continues. The island where Prospero lives is used by Shakespeare as it is completely isolated, and so any action which takes place on it is completely removed from outside influences and complications.