The Tempest: Is Prospero Good Or Evil?

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Tempest: Is Prospero Good or Evil? To be able to answer this question we must first understand why see Prospero as good or evil. It is fair to say that Prospero is a main protagonist to the plot of Shakespeare’s Tempest. It is due to Prospero's role as a key figure in the play that has put him under so much scrutiny. Many different Shakespearean critics have their own view of Prospero and those that read or see the play also have their own opinion of how they would have seen Prospero. Supporting either argument there must be evidence that backs up each of the analysis of Prospero's character and why they see it in such a way. Having been usurped and wrecked on an Island Prospero and his young daughter Miranda has to settle. It is here …show more content…

Again it is not clear to see if Prospero's intentions are for his own good or the good of his daughter. Throughout the play Prospero it seems is seeking revenge for what has been done to him in the past. We see that Prospero sees himself as an 'instrument of judgement', being able to pass sentence on those who have done him harm in the past. Prospero, with the aid of Ariel, can reach anyone he wants and cause them the most terrible pain, be it physical or mental torture. In act 2 scene 2 it appears to see that Caliban the native that had helped Prospero to survive on the Island has now become Prospero's slave. Caliban is tortured by Prospero so much that he is scared when he sees Stephano and Trinculo and mistakes them for Prospero's magic spirits that have come to torment him again, 'Do not torment me prithee. I'll bring the wood home faster' (A2 Sc2 …show more content…

However, he has what seems valued reasons for doing such things. In Caliban's case Caliban had tried to have sex with Miranda and Prospero was simply punishing Caliban for the crime which he had committed. For Alonso the King of Naples, his son was not lost Prospero was using him in another 'game' opposite of the Island and Prospero had reason to let him suffer for a while as Milan and Naples had always been enemies, and Alonso had helped Prospero be usurped. Prospero uses people to get the end result that he wants. In the case of Miranda and Ferdinand Prospero is playing them off against each other in order to get them to act how he wants them to. Prospero strictly orders Miranda not to tell Ferdinand her name knowing that she will just to disobey his

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