Renaissance was a time of awakening and rebirth. A renaissance man was a man of knowledge that did not only apply to his profession, but that which was vast in its topics as with its content. The Tempest was William Shakespeare’s last play which he used to bow out of his career as one of the most ingenious playwrights to this day. The main character, Prospero, is an embodiment of the values that are indicative of a Renaissance man. A Renaissance man is intelligent, knowledgeable, artistic, physical, social, and overall comfortable in his own skin. Therefore, it will be safe to say that since Prospero did possess all the traits and characteristics of a Renaissance man, he defines the entire story and makes it a strong association between …show more content…
Although, in the conventional sense artistic capabilities would imply the ability to play a musical instrument, sculpt, dance, paint, or write, the practice of magic albeit being unusual still falls under the same definition. Before telling Miranda the story of how they came to be stranded on an island Prospero states, “Lie there, my art.” (I. 2. 26) He states this after taking off his mantle and handing it to Miranda. The fact that he refers to the article of clothing as his “art” is indicative of the fact that it is something that he has invested his time in learning it and putting it to use. He utilizes his art of magic throughout the play from bringing Alonso and company to the island to making Ferdinand fall in love with Miranda to orchestrating their wedding. He is so in control of the magic that he practices that he was able to put the men through a torrential storm and still have his servant spirit relay the following report: “Not a hair perish’d; On their sustaining garments not a blemish.” (I. 2. 218-219) Prospero is very artistic and is capable of making things fall into place in a creative …show more content…
Physically Prospero is perfectly able and is feared by his servants, Ariel and Caliban. However, the fear that the servants have of their master is not just due to his physical attributes, but also due to his competence as a magician. The dealings that Prospero has with Alonso and Antonio, both of whom had conspired against him, best portray his social faculty. When Prospero comes across Gonzalo, Antonio, and Sebastian, he sends out a fair warning to Antonio and Sebastian who want to kill Alonso by stating, “I here could pluck his Highness’ frown upon you, And justify you traitors: at this time, I will tell no tales.” (V. 1. 128-130) Prospero has control over both, Alonso and Sebastian, with this mere warning and can have them bend to his will. Following this encounter Prospero meets Alonso and as they are talking about the future Prospero vocalizes the following: “I’ll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples, Where I have hope to see the nuptial, Of these our dear-beloved solemnized; And thence retire me to my Milanwhere, Every third thought shall be my grave.” (V. 1. 307-311) Prospero has every right to hold a grudge against Antonio and Alonso considering that both of them wronged him, yet he chooses not to do that and instead takes control of the situation by declaring that he wishes his daughter to be married to the Prince of Naples. The strategy that Prospero
Prospero is a very powerful man who is out for revenge. At this point in the play, and in his life, he seems to only care about himself and his daughter. He is bitter at the loss of his Kingdome from his own family and she has been the only one who is there for him which isn’t exactly by choice. It is easy to see how hurt he is from what has been done to both him and his daughter. For the first time he is telling Miranda about the journey that led them to the island, “I pray thee, mark me /I thus neglect worldly ends, all dedicated / To closeness and the bettering of my mind” (1.2.107-110). While he is telling his daughter this story he is making sure he is being seen as innocent, saying he was just trying to better himself when this happened.
The Tempest presents the character of Prospero the usurped duke of Milan. In the beginning Prospero’s character can be described as foul, spiteful, and selfish. This can be seen in various scenes in acts one and two of the play where he treats the people around him as his servants especially the fateful Ariel who reminded him of his promise only to be threatened of imprisonment. He’s selfish in the sense that he would do anything to accomplish his goal of executing his plan. Like a master puppeteer he is manipulative and deceptive. He even manipulates his daughter to fit according to his scheme. However, all of his foul characteristics left him as his plan nears its end. It is as if the shedding of his clothes represented his change is personality and attitude. After Prospero discarded his staff, drowned his magic book, and wore his duke garments he became more responsible and sympathetic. Instead of exacting revenge on the king of Naples a...
Prospero is the image of the ideal Renaissance magician; whose magic is obtained from his books and knowledge that, in contrast to Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, has domain over spirits, which represent the passions, Ariel and Caliban. B...
In Act I of the play, Prospero finally tells Miranda the woeful story of how she and he arrived on the island. From the beginning, Prospero plays his subjects and his sympathetic audience as pawns in his game of manipulation. He explains that twelve years ago he was the Duke of Milan, but being enthralled with his studies, he left most of the governmental responsibilities to his brother Antonio. Antonio, hungry to be "Absolute Milan" himself (1:2, p.6), proceeded to betray him with the help of King Alonso of Naples. 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.
The first I have already alluded to, namely, the danger of using of his powers purely for vengeance. Prospero, like Shakespeare, is a master illusionist, and he is tempted to channel his personal frustrations into his art, to exact vengeance against wrongs done in Milan through the power of his art (perhaps, as some have argued, as Shakespeare is doing for unknown personal reasons against women in Hamlet and Lear). But he learns from Ariel that to do this is to deny the moral value of the art, whose major purpose is to reconcile us to ourselves and our community, not to even a personal score.
Having been usurped and wrecked on an Island Prospero and his young daughter Miranda have to settle. It is here in Prospero's past that it first clear to see where any confusion about his character may appear. As a learned and powerful man Prospero is able to take direct control of the island, he frees a trapped and tortured spirit (Ariel) and befriends the inhabitants (Caliban). Prospero 'helps' Caliban, he tries to educate him and teaches him to communicate, in exchange Caliban helps Prospero to survive on the Island. But in taking power of the Island Prospero is committing the same act that happened to him as Duke of Milan, now Prospero himself has become the usurper. In this act of goodness Prospero has unknowingly shown his evil side.
Prospero promotes both the mutual affections of Ferdinand and Miranda and the two regicidal conspiracies (Antonio's and Caliban's). Through the establishment of the graver conspiracy, and through the overwhelmingly magical nature of the island, he drives Alonso into a state of confusion from which any escape would be welcome. He turns Alonso's men against him and separates his son, inciting the paranoia and fear that come with an insecure station, while reminding him of his own fate twelve years prior—proof that such paranoia is not without foundation.
Prospero treats his two servants in very different ways as their behavior and attitudes towards him are contrasting. From this, the question arises why he treats his equally hard-working servants in different ways and if he is wise in his actions.
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.
Prospero’s magic and the manner in which he uses his powers unethically reveals his willingness to go to any lengths to achieve his goals. He uses physical and psychological manipulation to achieve his goal of regaining his dukedom, disregarding the possible effects of his actions on those he manipulates. Prospero abuses his power over his servants so they can perform the tasks needed to execute his plan. Prospero also benefits from the manipulation of his own daughter. His influence in Miranda and Ferdinand’s relationships is to his advantage in furthering his scheme for vengeance.
'Prospero on top, invisible' which positions him 'close to God' and by his power to manipulate and control the lives of others:
Prospero is really the key character about which the nature of illusion and reality centers. He is the one who appears to have been stripped of all his power, and yet he is truly the most powerful; he lives in a world where he can conjure up an illusion of a storm; he lives between a course of regular human action and magic; and he is perceptive about philosophies on the topic of illusion and reality.
Prospero, the "rightful" duke of Milan, primarily seeks revenge against two people, Antonio and Caliban. But, Prospero allows his anger toward them to trickle to the other castaways on the island. He encourages Ariel to separate Sebastian, Duke Alonso's brother, from his son Ferdinand during the raging sea storm, causing Sebastian to assume his son has drowned. (1.2.213-224) The other "drunkards" on the island also feel the brunt of Prospero's revenge against Caliban when Ariel tempts them with a banquet stocked with alcohol and then disillusions them into thinking the banquet was a figment of their imagination. (2.1)
Sometimes it takes any advantage to attain power. Prospero secures power on the island through his use of magic and manipulation. He is in control of all of the events in the play since he essentially has all of the power. It is also revealed how he maintains his power by exploring the use of his manipulative magic and the hold he has over those around him. By using his magical influence over the natives he has enslaves, Prospero invokes fear in Ariel by stating, “If you complain any more, I’ll split an oak tree and lock you up in it till you’ve howled for twelve years” (Shakespeare 37). He uses his power as a fear tactic to make the native people do his bidding for him. He also uses his magic against those he has shipwrecked on the island. He puts them in a trance to keep him busy until he needs them again, “My magic powers are in full swing, and my enemies are confused and running around in circles. They’re under my control, and I’m keeping them in their crazy fits” (Shakespeare 143). By entrancing the men from the boat, Prospero can keep them under his bid until he sets himself on a course of action. As he states, “.., my enemies have happened to wreck their ship on this island. As I see it, my fate hangs on this lucky event”, he must be precise in how he handles cultivates these people or he will risk the possibility of his plan unraveling before him (Shakespeare 27). The idea behind him having magic is to set him apart
... teaching him. However later realize his intentions are good and that he did want Caliban to be taught. Having said the power of his love over his daughter helps him develop as a better father and allow his daughter freedom in marriage that she deserves. Ending of Prospero retiring from his magical powers represents his development in becoming the ideal ruler. In order for him to do this, he must give up his rights to magic and allow his power to come the loyalty of his people. The power over Caliban teaches him to be less self-indulgent and him not wanting to help Caliban after his actions says that he is not completely vain. When Prospero drops his stick that is like Shakespeare dropping his pen when he was done with this play. He knew that The Tempest would be his last one before he retired and Prospero knew he was done being controlling and forgave his enemies.