What Is The Motif Of Power In The Tempest

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J.R.R. Tolkien expressed a motif of power in his famous series, The Lord Of The Rings. The author used this motif to describe the use of power and what it can do to the faint of heart. The motif of power reoccurs in William Shakespeare’s comedy, The Tempest. In The Tempest a wizard named Prospero and his daughter live on an island after being exiled and he uses his powers to make those who have wronged him become stranded on the island with him. The motif of power is seen in Shakespeare’s play through the various characters fighting for power, the corruption of men, and the use of one's power. Shakespeare uses the motif to express how power can be dangerous to a man. Shakespeare infers that most men search for power in their life and would …show more content…

Shakespeare implies power as control over someone or something and as a power than can be used to gain an advantage against someone. Shakespeare expresses the fight for power through Stephano’s plan to overthrow Prospero and rule the island. Stephano is the butler to the king of Naples who was stranded on the island with the king, but were unfortunately split during a shipwreck caused by Prospero. Stephano survived the wreck by being intoxicated and remains intoxicated throughout the story. When Stephano and the jester to the king of Naples meet one of Prospero’s slaves and learn of Prospero and what gives him his powers he decides, “I will kill this man. His daughter and I will be king and queen-save our graces!-and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys”(Shakespeare 3.2.108-10). After hearing of how to take Prospero’s power away he decides within seconds of hearing it that he shall fight to have control of the island. Even though Stephano has never met Prospero or seen what his powers can do, he decides that this may be his only chance to gain power due to being a butler. Another example of someone fighting for power is Prospero’s brother, Antonio. When Prospero describes the story of how they

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