The Relationship Between Miranda and Prospero in The Tempest

772 Words2 Pages

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. "you have put the wild waters in this roar" (line 2.) Miranda

presumes that her father was capable of the "tempest" and therefore

this portrays that she does not have much trust for him. Miranda's

kindness and innocence is 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 dearestfather" (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. "I

have done nothing but in care of thee - of thee my dear one" (line

16/17.) He decides that it is time for him to teach Miranda about her

past. This is very effective because not only do the audience learn

about the reasons for the tempest, but we also learn about Miranda and

Show More
Related

  • The Tempest Critical Lens Essay

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the semester coming to an end, many students are excited. This especially includes those who will be graduating soon. However, graduation can be seen as a bittersweet moment. On one hand, the graduates enter into a new chapter in their lives. On the other hand, they may lose communication with some of their friends. Unfortunately, this is a natural aspect of each person’s life. Everyone will experience some kind of loss in their life, whether it is person or an object. In The Tempest, Shakespeare discusses the topic of loss. While this theme is not talked about much compared to other themes in the play, it is very important since it is a theme that is included in the 1956 movie adaptation Forbidden Planet. While both works illustrate the ways people deals a loss, the later work demonstrates how the advancement in the world have affected the way modern society

    Read More

  • Miranda's Relationship In The Book 'When You Reach Me'

    361 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the book “When You Reach Me” Miranda and Sal have a close relationship that as the story goes on the relationship falls apart and comes back together. The relationship would of stayed stable if Marcus wouldn't of hit Sal. If Marcus did not hit Sal than Miranda wouldn’t meet Annemarie, Sal would not of ran into the road, and the laughing man would still be alive.

    Read More

  • Theme of Death in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    must I use thee."  (Act 5, scene 1, line 93).  Second when Romeo is about to

    Read More

  • Gender differences in the Tempest and Things Fall Apart

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    In every society, the difference between genders leads to different roles and lifestyles depending on the culture of each society. While there may be similarities between gender roles among many societies, the explanations tend to be different from culture to culture. The society depicted in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is reminiscent of an Ancient Greek or Roman society, where the men are considered to be strong warriors and breadwinners, and the women are looked at as objects, whose main duty is to tend to the children and obey the husband without a question. While at first glance, the Shakespearean play Tempest seems different from Achebe’s book, in reality, similar themes lie at its center, including the abuse of women and male power dominating throughout the play. While the only female character is a young girl, who is a puppet of his father’s will, she has courage to be honest and to stand up against her father on more than one occasion, exhibiting an innate female power like Ekwefi in Things Fall Apart. Hence these two works, while written three hundred years apart and showing two societies at the opposite ends of colonization, illustrate that the gap between them is not as big as one would think when it comes to society’s gender roles.

    Read More

  • Transitions And Reality Of Love In Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Amulet'

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...orever, and that nothing can protect people from lost love. The poem was written in a calm manor, as the speaker had seemed to be humbled by his experiences with his loved one.

    Read More

  • Prospero, S Use Of Epiphany In Shakespeare's The Tempest

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the comedic, yet thrilling play, The Tempest, William Shakespeare uses characters such as Caliban, Alonso, and Ariel to show Prospero’s immense cruelness and pure monstrosity. Moreover, these Shakespearean characters are also used to highlight Prospero’s change in character into a kinder and more forgiving person. Prospero starts the play out as a vengeful monster, after an illuminating moment however, his persona transforms into his true identity of a compassionate man.

    Read More

  • Essay on Social Hierarchy in The Tempest

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    During Shakespeare's time social classification was much more rigid than today and some members of society were considered superior to other members. Shakespeare provides an example of this rigid social structure through his play, The Tempest. Shakespeare illustrates how superior men differentiated themselves from lesser beings on the basis of race, financial status, and gender. Through the character of Prospero, Shakespeare provides and example of one, who had reason to feel superior, yet treated others equally and with the respect due to them.

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Servants and Masters in The Tempest

    1059 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stephano and Trinculo further in the play in act 4 scene 1. As in act

    Read More

  • Prospero’s Abuse of Power in Shakespeare's The Tempest

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Miranda asks why they were not killed, Prospero sighs, "Dear, they durst not,/ so dear the love my people bore me" (1:2, p.7). From the beginning, Prospero portrays himself as a distinguished scholar and beloved leader, unjustly victimized by his power-hungry brother. Who would suspect such a humble man of being psychologically manipulative? Prospero succeeds in deceiving many with this credible guise. Prospero's control of Miranda is evident throughout The Tempest, even from their first conversation.

    Read More

  • A Feminist Reading of the Tempest

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s The Tempest provides dialogue that portrays the social expectations and stereotypes imposed upon women in Elizabethan times. Even though the play has only one primary female character, Miranda, the play also includes another women; Sycorax, although she does not play as large a roll. During many scenes, the play illustrates the characteristics that represent the ideal woman within Elizabethan society. These characteristics support the fact that men considered women as a mere object that they had the luxury of owning and were nowhere near equal to them. Feminists can interpret the play as a depiction of the sexist treatment of women and would disagree with many of the characteristics and expectations that make Miranda the ideal woman. From this perspective, The Tempest can be used to objectify the common expectations and treatment of women within the 16th and 17th Centuries and compare and contrast to those of today.

    Read More

  • The Tempest Women Analysis

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Prospero's Redemption in The Tempest

    2353 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...rother and open to sibling rivalry and betrayal, the bond of the new Milan is father-to-daughter. By advancing Miranda Prospero does advance himself, in that she is and will produce his legacy, but he also advances her of her own accord, as an act of love. The latter is the more virtuous, closer to the idyllic Milan Prospero would have shared with Antonio and the paradise that Gonzalo proposes to the shipwrecked party. Prospero summons the tempest to effect the calm that will follow, knowing the pieces will settle where he wants them.

    Read More

  • Jealousy, Love and Betrayal in Othello by William Shakespeare

    1748 Words  | 4 Pages

    Examine the role of jealousy, love, and/or betrayal in Othello. You may want to pick one character (Iago or Othello perhaps?) and focus on one issue.(O) 15

    Read More

  • Theme Of Power In The Tempest

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prospero uses the power of love to influence his daughter Miranda. Prospero knows that Miranda is devoted to him so he uses guilt to maintain her devotion. Miranda tells her father “Alack, what trouble/Was I then to you!” (I.2.153.154) her saying that to him shows that because of Prospero making her feel guilty, she is willing to do anything just for him. “Had I been any god of power, I would/Have sunk the sea within the earth…” (I.2.10.11). This quote indicates that she understood the extent of her father’s power and she had possessed the same amount of power, she would use it differently with Prospero. His power over Miranda is one that is continuously in this play. Prospero does say “I have done nothing, but in care of thee, /of thee, my dearest one…”(I.2.16.17) when he says that he makes it known that he does love his daughter and only trying to protect.

    Read More

  • Desire For Power In Shakespeare's The Tempest

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the story The Tempest by Shakespeare, the desire for power can be seen through the characters of Stefano and Antonio. Stefano is one of the men who was on the ship along with Antonio and other characters like Gonzalo, and Alonso, etc. The ship was caught in the tempest, which is a violent storm that was created by the protagonist, Prospero, and the sailors were pretty much goners. However, all of the people on the ship did make it out alive onto the island of which Prospero resides and the characters reveal their desire for power and how much it affects their actions and mindset.

    Read More

More about The Relationship Between Miranda and Prospero in The Tempest

Open Document