The Human Desire To Power In Shakespeare's The Tempest

Since the beginning of civilization, man has craved power, knowledge, but most importantly, freedom. Throughout time, individuals used their assets and cunning to build empires of dominance and legions of followers, while spreading their influence throughout the world. Consequently, this led to power struggles amongst individuals to gain fame, land, glory, and ultimately power. In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, characters engage in a power struggle for freedom and sovereignty to eventually gain self-worth and authority. Shakespeare utilises his character’s temptations to power, their struggle for freedom and sovereignty, and their sense of entitlement to illustrate the human desire to obtain power. In The Tempest, the enchanted island

Through the character of Sebastian, Shakespeare expresses how quickly man succumbs to the temptation of power through conniving suggestions. Furthermore, when Stephano is introduced to the wonders of the island by Caliban, he is immediately seduced by the idea of ruling the paradise, even willing to murder his way to power. “I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen, -save our Graces!- and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys.” (3.2.105-107) Shakespeare reveals man’s desire to control the world through the character of Stephano, a mere butler to the King of Naples, who, when given the chance and circumstances, leaps at the first chance of obtaining power. Shakespeare uses Antonio, Sebastian and Stephano’s encounters with power to comment on the nature of man to seek higher status, therefore achieving higher

Contrasting Ariel, Caliban openly despises Prospero for usurping him from his position of power on the island and enslaving him to do his bidding. For instance, Caliban displays his hatred for Prospero by transforming what Prospero taught him to something to spite him: “You taught me language; and my profit on’t/ Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you/ For learning me your language!” (1.2.363-365). Unlike Ariel, Caliban seeks power to help in his struggle for freedom under Prospero by recruiting Stephano and Trinculo under his cause. Even in an inhibited state, Caliban displays his true temperament towards Prospero and utilises his ethos to convince Stephano to fight for his cause, “I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island” (3.2.40-43). Through the contrast of Prospero’s servants, Shakespeare describes on man’s means to regain their status and power, either by loyal duty or