The Tempest Research Paper

The Tempest

Throughout history we have heard stories of people who strive for power. People willing to do anything for that power. However, there is always some form of struggle in order to get that power, whether the struggle being a personal issue or an issue with another person. In the play The Tempest by William Shakespeare has many examples of characters who strive for power.

One character in the play who strives for power is Caliban. He had his island taken from him and enslaved by Prospero. “This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother, Which thou tak’st from me”(524). This shows his anger for Prospero for taking his island and enslaving him.

Caliban not only struggles to gaining power from other people, but also with himself. In the play

Caliban meets Stephano and Trinculo. They give him alcohol and Caliban praises them like gods for it. Making Caliban struggle with himself by essentially becoming an alcoholic. “These be fine things, and if they be not sprites. That’s a brave god and bears celestial liquor. I will kneel to him”(548). When Caliban becomes addicted he then begins to struggle with himself, making it harder for him to gain power and regain his island.
Caliban shows that people desire power because he is willing to do anything to get his island back, even if that means killing Prospero. “I’ll swear upon that bottle to be thy true true subject, for the liquor is not earthly”(548). He decides to serve Stephano and Trinculo thinking that they will help him. Little does he realize they actually hold him back on his search for freedom.
Although Caliban struggles to gain power he eventually does gain the things he desires most, his island and his freedom. He does this befriending many people and learning from their mistakes. He eventually gets what he wants when Prospero becomes duke again and gives the island back to Caliban. “Since I have my dukedom got and pardoned the deceiver, dwell in this bare island by your spell;”(596).
In conclusion, The Tempest shows how people are willing to do anything for power. They may fail over and over but they still will not give up until they get what they desire. Like a drug craving something they may never get again, dealing with social and mental issues in order to have power. Showing that people are willing to do anything to fulfill their desire.