Exploring Shakespeare's Presentation of the Theme of Power in The Tempest

Exploring Shakespeare's Presentation of the Theme of Power in The Tempest

In 'The Tempest', power manifests itself in many different forms.

Three of the main types of power that Shakespeare explores are the

power of love, the power of magic and illusion and the power of a

master over his slave. He presents these forms of power in a number of

ways.

In 'The Tempest' Prospero appears to hold the majority of the power.

He maintains his control over other characters in various ways, for

example he uses the power of love to influence his daughter Miranda.

Miranda is devoted to her father, and Prospero uses guilt to maintain

this. In their first conversation, Prospero?s power over Miranda

becomes apparent. She says ?Alack, what trouble/Was I then to you!?

and it is clear that because of the guilt she feels, she will be

willing to do anything for him. It is evident that Miranda is aware of

how powerful Prospero is, as she says ?Had I been any god of power, I

would/ Have sunk the sea within the earth?. This indicates that she

understands the extent of Prospero?s power, and that if she had

possessed the same amount of power, she would use it differently to

her father.

Prospero is manipulative, appearing self-pitying by saying ?When I

have decked the sea with drops full salt/ Under my burthen groaned?

but also egotistical, saying, ?Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee

more profit/ Than other princesses can? to which Miranda responds

?Heaven thank you for?t!? Although he tries to cause Miranda to feel

sympathy towards him in order to keep control of her, he also wants

her to admire him.

Although he also has power over Miranda usi...

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...serves in offices/ That profit us?. Prospero needs

Ariel and Caliban in order to have power, and so throughout ?The

Tempest?, contrary to our beliefs at the beginning of the play, we

begin to see that the main protagonist of power within ?The Tempest?

is not, in fact, Prospero.

Shakespeare presents many kinds of power in ?The Tempest?. He

demonstrates the control that Prospero has over Miranda using love,

and also different kinds of power between master and slave. Sometimes

the master and slave power is subverted, such as at the beginning of

the play, when the boatswain takes control. Shakespeare also presents

a change in the balance of Prospero?s power. The main reason Prospero

has so much power is due to his magic, however at the end of the play

he sacrifices his powers and sets free his slaves, Ariel and Caliban.