Power And Control In The Tempest

The Tempest seems to be a play that deals mainly with power and control. The first scene of Act I opens with the tempest itself, a powerful storm that is capable of destroying the ship and everyone on board. This chaotic scene introduces some of the characters and their power-relations to each other. The characters on the boat are either nobles, such as Antonio and Gonzalo, or servants or professionals, such as the Boatswain and the mariners. The storm upsets this precarious balance between masters and servants, and the Boatswain, attempting to save the ship, comes into direct conflict with the nobles. The Boatswain speaks rudely to the nobles, which irritates them because the Boatswain is a commoner. However, at that moment, the Boatswain

has more power because he has the ability to try to prevent the wrecking of the ship and the nobles are useless and in the way. As the scene goes on, the characters speak less and less about the storm and become more concerned about the class conflict underlying their attempts to survive it. For example, Gonzalo says that the ship must be safe because the Boatswain was surely born to be hanged, not drowned. He says, “I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows” (I.i.27-29). The Boatswain comments that social hierarchies and class differences are unimportant in the face of danger, like the tempest. He asks the nobles, “What cares these roarers for the name of king?” (I.i.16-17). The storm does not care that these people are of a higher station and will kill them all the same.

Prospero seems to be the center of the power in the play because he can control certain events throughout the play with magic and manipulation. He creates the power of the tempest and holds the ability to completely destroy his enemies if he so chooses. Prospero’s retelling of past events to Miranda and Ariel also illustrate how Prospero maintains his power. Prospero seems to know that controlling how someone understands his or her past enables one to control what that person may do in the present. This leads Prospero to tell his stories with an emphasis on his own good deeds, the negative actions of others toward him, and the ingratitude of those he has protected. By controlling the way Ariel and Miranda think, he makes it difficult for them to consider that challenging his authority would be a good and logical thing to do. He also makes it very clear what will happen if a rebellion occurs by threatening Ariel with magical torture and imprisonment. Prospero’s treatment of Ferdinand at the end of this scene also emphasizes his power over others and his willingness to use manipulation in order to get his way. Though he is happy that his daughter has fallen in love with Ferdinand, Prospero does not want their love to get ahead of whatever his plan may be for the rest of the people who were on the wrecked ship. As a result, he does hesitate to enchant Ferdinand and lie to Miranda about Ferdinand’s unworthiness as a suitor. Miranda only loves him because Ferdinand is the only man she has seen aside from Caliban and her father.