More handpicked essays just for you.
Essay on the Tempest by Shakespeare
Literary analysis of the tempest
Analysis of William Shakespeare's Tempest
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Essay on the Tempest by Shakespeare
In The Tempest Shakespeare has many different scenes beginning in a question and ending in an answer. But, act 1 scene 2, does not end in an answer. This scene's main focus is on a debate between Prospero and Ariel, the debate revolves around the decision whether Ariel should be released, or whether Ariel still should serve Prospero. Ariel should be released since she was loyal and always obeyed Prospero without complaining, and Prospero is also wrong because he did not hold true to the agreement he made, many years ago. Prospero is wrong since he did not follow through with the agreement made between Ariel and Prospero, also Prospero has been known for breaking his word: “ Is there more toil?... let me remember thee that thou hast promised which is not yet performed me”(1.2.287). After Ariel …show more content…
Ariel obeys Prospers because Prospero has an incredible art. When Sycorax held Ariel captive, Sycorax’s art was not strong enough to release Ariel. When Prospero came to the island he heard Ariel screaming and freed Ariel with the agreement that Ariel will work for him. Prospero should have freed Ariel when he originally agreed to because Ariel has always been loyal to PRospero, and Ariel always obeyed Prospero without complaining: “I Prithee, remember I have done thee worthy service, told thee no lies, made no mistakings, served without grudge or grumblings. Thou did promise to bate me a full year”. (1.2.294). In addition to Prospero breaking his word, he does not treat Prospero well based in this statement: “ Thou liest, malignant thing. Hast thou forgot the foul witch Sycorax… Hast thou forgot her?” (1.2.310). Since Prospero has been treating Ariel poorly, Arliel might be afraid to ask Prospero for his freedom, and might think that if he asks PRospero, Prospero might throw Ariel back into the tree. These facts support the statement that Ariel deserves to be let
Prospero is a very powerful man who is out for revenge. At this point in the play, and in his life, he seems to only care about himself and his daughter. He is bitter at the loss of his Kingdome from his own family and she has been the only one who is there for him which isn’t exactly by choice. It is easy to see how hurt he is from what has been done to both him and his daughter. For the first time he is telling Miranda about the journey that led them to the island, “I pray thee, mark me /I thus neglect worldly ends, all dedicated / To closeness and the bettering of my mind” (1.2.107-110). While he is telling his daughter this story he is making sure he is being seen as innocent, saying he was just trying to better himself when this happened.
Ariel the mulatto slave is forced to do his masters Prospero’s bidding by creating a huge storm. Ariel does as he is told but he becomes frustrated with Prospero and reminds him that he has promised to set him free multiple times and is awaiting his freedom. When Caliban, Prospero’s black slave enters the scene, he says the word for freedom in his native language, and Prospero scolds him for this. The tension between Prospero and Caliban is evident as they get into an altercation. Prospero tells Caliban that he should be grateful that he taught him his language, and equates Caliban to a beastly savage that knew nothing before he came along and saved him. Caliban combats Prospero’s claims that he knew nothing before Prospero he, in fact, states that the only thing that he learned from Prospero’s was how to take orders in his language. The relationship between Ariel,
The Tempest is dominated with water imagery, the most significant being “the tempest”, which foreshadows the transformation in Prospero. Water imagery “But doth suffer a sea change” is prolific in The Tempest in order to illustrate the extended metaphor that the island is the catalyst for the transformation of Prospero. “The tempest” also represents the shift in power that the island invokes, causing Prospero’s discovery of the fragility of his own authority. The inversion of Boatswain ordering the nobles “To cabin, silence! Trouble us not” is representative of the ‘Great Chain of Being’ being overturned, contextual to the Elizabethan era where this chain was representative of the hierarchy. This inversion of power is demonstrated when Prospero, who was “the Duke of Milan and A prince of power”, was subjected to the island without his power but then regained his power through the usurpation of the native Caliban. The assumption of control over the island “This island's mine, Which thou takest from me” is ironic as he has been a victim of the very actions he himself perpetrates. The overthrowing of the natives is contextual to the colonisation period is Great Britain at the time the text was written. The discovery of his own complicity in Caliban’s behaviour “this thing of darkness, I acknowledge mine” is symbolic of his acceptance of the
The Relationship Between Miranda and Prospero in The Tempest Works Cited Missing Act one scene two opens with Miranda and Prospero standing on an island, after having just witnessed a shipwreck. Right from the first line we can establish the relationship between Miranda and Prospero. "My dearest father" (line 1). As the scene commences, we begin to learn a great deal about the two roles. Miranda opens the scene as she questions her father about the huge storm.
Ariels ' 'duty ' ' to Prospero is arguablly morally binding due to the fact that Prospero released him from Sycorax 's imprisonment in a tree, but Prosepero 's role as a powerful magician indicates that he has power over Ariel. This therefore pushes Ariels obligation to help him into forced servitude. This servant/master dynamic differs from Prospero 's relationship with Caliban as a slave; Prospero treats Ariel better due to there being mutually beneficial bond, albeit with unbalanced benefits. Ariel would be aware of Calibans suffering at the hands of Prospero and owes his ' 'freedom ' ' to him whilst being painfully aware of the repercussions of not doing his bidding, therefore by serving him avoids a similar fate to Caliban 's. By not using physical force to control Ariel, Prosepero maintains his power over him. This adheres to another statement from Rousseaus that 'Force is a physical power; I do not see how its effects could produce morality. To yield to force is an act of necessity, not of will; It is at best an act of prudence. In what sense can it be a moral duty? '. Prosperos promise to eventually free him acts as an incentive to do his bidding although once reminded he lashes back with 'Dost thou forget from what a torment
In the play Miranda does not want to look at Caliban and is afraid of him because he looks different. When Prospero came to the island he taught Caliban about his language and culture and now treats him as a slave. Now Caliban does all the manual labor. Prospero has also imprisoned Ariel into his service and promises Ariel freedom once but goes back on his word and says he will free Ariel later. Ariel has become Prospero’s servant and like everyone else, Prospero manipulate Ariel to get what he wants. Throughout the play Prospero’s way of manipulation and ruling over the island and its inhabitants show similarities to colonialism and imperialism.
Throughout the play, Prospero is a figure who talks at rather than to the other characters, including his daughter Miranda, Prince Ferdinand, and Ariel, his airy servant. At the end of Act IV Prospero is caught up in the ecstasy of punishing and determining the fate of his foes. The beginning of Act V, however, marks a change in the character of Prospero, which averts a possible tragedy. Prospero is unsettled even though his plans are reaching fruition. In his talk with Ariel for the first time we see an actual conversation take place. In addition, in the line "...And mine shall." (Shakespeare V.i.20) we see a change of heart on the part of Prospero, and in the following monologue the audience is privy to introspection and contemplation even beyond that of the end of the masque in Act IV "We are such stuff as dreams are made on..."(Shakespeare).
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
...life. All in all Prospero is a man that takes advantage of the weaknesses of others in order to gain power the same way modernizing civilization works. However it is seen later in the play that Prospero is as dependent on Ariel as Ariel is on Prospero. Without each other they are weak and have no power. This is parallel with the fact that modern civilization needs people just as much as people need it.
Prospero’s cruel actions develop to the point where they are perceived to be warranted and justified, despite the unreasonable actions that he may use to achieve his goal. The Tempest opens with Prospero unleashing a storm on a boat carrying the King of Naples, Prospero’s brother, as well as other royalty. Although this storm initially appears to be brutal, Ariel, Prospero’s loyal spirit, tells of how this storm merely “dispersed them ‘bout the isle” (1.2.209). Despite avoiding any physical harm to the ship’s passengers, Alonso, the king, is incredibly distraught regarding the loss of his son, Ferdinand. As a result, Alonso and his company are in a constant state of disarray, likely to the satisfaction of Prospero.
In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the main character, Prospero, uses magic throughout the play to fulfill his plans for revenge and regain the power of his dukedom. By the end of the play, Prospero has decided to give up his magic. Prospero previously used his magic to be influential. Now, he no longer needs magic for control, having regained the power of his dukedom. He also has forgiven those that have wronged him, including his brother. As a result of these realizations, Prospero chooses to surrender his powers. Marking this moment in 5.1, Prospero delivers a soliloquy reflecting on his previous uses of magic and the act of surrendering his powers. There are multiple ways to consider the tone of Prospero’s reflection. On the one hand, it could be an appreciative reflection on his mastery of magic. On
Prospero abused this and took control over Ariel, making Ariel do every task that Prospero asked for. Especially since Ariel is a fairy and has powers and can do tricks to people. But Ariel has to do the favors and commands for Prospero because he promised that he would. Ariel
We as a group took an in depth look at the transformation of the director Julie Taymor turning Prospero into a female rather then the original gender of Prospero who is a male. It was a different approach when analyzing the 2010 version because changing the dominant character into a female made a significant change with the way Prospero was towards not only her daughter Miranda but her spirit as well. Prospera is more motherly and also is more emotional. The film shows how Prospero has genuine feelings for Ariel her servant and there are moments in the film when you can see the two of them very close to the point of questioning their intimacy. The male and female characters towards each other transition the way Prospera feels and expresses emotions. If it were to be a male Prospero the emotional connection would not be as strong and that is one thing that we focused
Throughout The Tempest, Shakespeare depicts Prospero as the ultimate puppet master, pulling each individual’s string towards his master plan. Along with his bossy and controlling attitude, Prospero claims “it was mine art/ that/… let thee out” (I.ii.351) to force Ariel into obedience. Hence with Prospero’s demands, Ariel sets up the encounter between Miranda and Ferdinand, causing them to fall in love, resulting in Prospero “rejoicing/ at nothing can be more” (III.ii.114-115). Considering the amount of power he possesses, Prospero wants to try to maintain the power. In order to keep the power, Shakespeare makes Prospero’s attitude demanding to explain the effects of having excessive amounts of power. Presenting Prospero as the bitter tyrant, Shakespeare expands on how power corrupts a person. Not satisfied with their current status, he addresses the issue of these people constantly craving
Caliban whom we are told is “not honour’d with a human shape,” (1.2.419) is the son of Sycorax who inhabited the island Prospero was banished to. After the death of his mother, Sycorax, Caliban falls under the rule of Prospero and becomes one his servants. Caliban is very different from Ariel in the fact that while Ariel is pleased to serve under Prospero’s rule, Caliban is not. In fact, we find out that Caliban is far from happy to be Prospero’s servant and even plots with two other men to end Prospero’s life. As we discussed in class Caliban is also more of an angry individual than what Ariel seems to be and this comes from the fact that Caliban believes he is the rightful king of the island and that Prospero had robbed him of what was his, which we find out when he says that he is “subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island” (3.2.40-41). Ariel, who we are told in act one, scene two was the old servant of Caliban’s mother Syco...