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Critically analyse the character of shakesphere play the tempest
Essay on the Tempest by Shakespeare
The tempest act 1 essay
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Love is an emotion that cannot be controlled, suppressed or forced. Love is under the power of no one, including the power of Prospero from The Tempest. He seems to do very well at dictating everything that is going on on the island with the help of his books and his subjects, but he cannot control the love of Ferdinand and Miranda or the love of Caliban for the island. He cannot control the love that others feel because love is an infection, love is something he can oversee but cannot completely control, and his power comes solely from his books and his subjects. Prospero’s powers are not limitless. “[T]hou art infected” Prospero stated when he saw the way Miranda felt for Ferdinand (Shakespeare 49). He used the word infected. The definition …show more content…
She falls in love with Ferdinand at first sight and Prospero claimed it was all in his plan. “But this swift business I must uneasy make” was his plan (Shakespeare 24). When Prospero says “business” it implies he is making a trade; it could be fair enough to assume he is giving away his daughter to Ferdinand for royalty. Business is very important to Prospero, as we see can see throughout the whole play; Prospero is thinking about the profit he will gain with every action he takes. In this case, he would become part of the royal family by letting Miranda be with Ferdinand. But Miranda and Ferdinand are clearly falling in love; he is not controlling it. He - with the help of Ariel - was the one who caused the tempest that sunk the ship and brought the men to the island but that does not mean he is making Ferdinand love Miranda. He does, however, make it uneasy for them to fully be together in the beginning, which makes them want each other even more. By doing so, Miranda and Ferdinand fully believe they are only meant for eachother; this is all part of his plan. Prospero had nothing to do with their emotions, but his “plan” was a success. Prospero does have power over others in many ways though. He has obtained his subjects through the powers that his books give him, but he cannot make his subjects be pleased about it. Caliban clearly does not love Prospero and …show more content…
There are things that give him power, but he does not hold it himself. If Prospero could control love and other emotions, everything would be different. His subjects would most likely adore him and be happy to be under his control. Why would he make his subjects dislike him? He does not have a choice. Prospero’s power is limited and that shows that he has weaknesses. Some of his subjects may believe he is a god, but he’s only using his resources. He is deceiving his subjects. But Prospero’s realm of power is not as large as his subjects, including some of the readers, may
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.
kindness and innocence 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 dearest father" (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.
We know from the very opening scene of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet's love will end in
However, Shakespeare also picks on love. Not only did Malvolio's confusion about his and Olivia's relationship prove to add to the comedy, but it rather showed how one can play with love, and use it for another's harm. Apart from this example, love is depicted as a light and lovely emotion.
how powerful Prospero is, as she says ?Had I been any god of power, I
But with Prospero informing Miranda of this at such a late stage in her life is this Prospero as a control freak only allowing his daughter Miranda to know the truth when he feels it is time or is it Prospero being caring keeping this information from Miranda until she is of an age when she can fully understand who she is and where she came from?, again it is not clear to see if Prospero's intentions are for his own good or the good of his daughter.
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
Prospero appears to be a ruthless tyrant that strikes fear into Caliban to make him work but further on in the text we learn that this is not the case. Caliban's foul-mouthed insults,
Prospero is in complete control of Miranda; he raises her in his image and as nearly all fathers of his day demands respect. He commands her, “obey, and be attentive” (Shakespeare 1.2.39) when he tells her the story of how they came to the island. Also alike the fathers of this time, Prospero would plan his daughter’s future marriage to Ferdinand. Ferdinand is the only man Miranda has ever seen, besides her father and Caliban so he immediately captivates her—they mutually fall in love. Prospero also controls the speed at which their relationship progresses, by accusing Ferdinand of only pretending to be the Prince of Naples and forces him to haul wood; this act only further exemplifies the power and control Prospero has over his
...late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me/That I must love a loathed enemy.”(ACT I, Scene 5, Lines 152-155) Juliet had just found out that the man at the party she loved was one her family’s enemy. Love was evil and ruled her feelings. It messed with her feelings and made her fall in love with a foe. All in all, love will toy around with your feelings and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
Ferdinand and Miranda’s type of relationship shows Shakespeare’s ideas about true love, recognising not just the emotional side of love, but the physical nature too. Miranda promises Ferdinand “The jewel in my dower” which is her virginity, a prized thing in Jacobean times. This knowledge would have been known by Shakespeare’s audience and knowing this helps us to understand Prospero’s protection of his daughter from Caliban.
This time however, Prospero used his daughter as bait in order to draw Ferdinand closer in the hopes of getting them married. He wants to regain his title as the Duke of Milan. Prospero presents himself as a victim of injustice, however his belief of justice and injustice is somewhat contradicting. He takes advantage of this authority over other people and situations he encounters while using his integrity and compassion to mask his dangerous plans and to retain love and respect. The Tempest in the end suggests that love and compassion are more effective political tools than violence, hatred or even abusive magic.
Love is an essential human desire. Once it is caught, dramatic, unexpected changes in ones life occur. Protecting the people one loves is a natural instinct that cannot be controlled. William Shakespeare demonstrates this in Twelfth Night through the relationship between Antonio and Sebastian. Furthermore, Viola continues to ensure the happiness of Orsino is met even if that means sacrificing the happiness of herself. Also, love is evident when one pays attention to, and dedicates himself to the small details in other peoples lives. William Shakespeare demonstrates in Twelfth Night the nature of true love through loyal friendship, bold romance and secretive love.
One of the reasons for Caliban’s defiance towards Prospero is the fact that he believes the island that they are on to be his, but to have been stolen by Prospero. “This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother, / Which thou tak’st from me'; (1.2.331). Caliban feels as though he has been taken advantage of. When Prospero first comes to the island, he is kind to Caliban, and in return, Caliban shows him the secrets of the island.
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.