The Tempest Critical Lens Essay

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The “Tempest” by William Shakespeare explores many viewpoints throughout the story. Shakespeare challenges and asserts many values and viewpoints throughout the story. Which leads him to base his characters actions off of that . In the Tempest traditional values and gender stereotypes are heavily influential on the female characters.
In the Tempest the author asserts traditional values thought the story. Moreover, the evidence shows that women are seen as property to the men. For example, Prospero states,“ I ratify this my gift, O Ferdinand, Do not smile at me that I boast her off”(5.1.8-9). Accordingly the implication of Miranda’s treatment shows that she is property to Prospero and when she gets married she will now be property of Ferdinand. …show more content…

Based on the evidence, the gender stereotype that strong women are considered evil and bad is used to describe the character Sycorax. The gender stereotypical viewpoint is supported by the statement that Prospero says, “The foul witch Sycorax, … damned witch Sycorax, for mischiefs manifold , and sorceries terrible” (1.2.255-265). This highlights the abusive nature of the gender stereotype as Sycorax was not able to stand up for herself and her story is told from the male perspective. The author maintains the gender stereotypical view point, through Prospero’s statement towards Miranda, “ I have done nothing but in care of thee, Of thee my dear one, thee my daughter,who At ignorant of what thou at nought now nothing.The implication of Miranda treatment shows how miranda falls in to the stereotype of how women should be innocent, and pure. In other words the author perpetuates that women should be and naive and weak to be considered good. Some people believe that Prospero's statement of him allowing Ferdinand to marry Miranda is how he is going to miss Miranda because he won't be able to see her, others understand that he is giving miranda to Ferdinand without her consent. Throughout the story Miranda was never asked whether she wanted to marry ferdinand and Prospero says “ thine own acquisition Worthily purchase, take my daughter” which signifies that he is giving his

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