When it comes to power, it can be many things. Power can be a good or bad thing depending on who is in control of the power and whether they will use it accordingly. To have the most power in a situation does not necessarily make someone the most powerful, but rather gives them a false sense of being the most powerful. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Ariel is the most powerful character because he can do the most powerful magic, he is good-hearted, and he is not human. To begin, Ariel can do more powerful magic than anyone else the play. In the beginning of the play Prospero calls for Ariel and asks him if the task he has requested has been completed. Ariel enthusiastically lets Prospero know he has set the King’s ship on fire and that he has …show more content…
Prospero is pleased with Ariel’s work, but quickly reminds Ariel that there is more magic to be done. Ariel politely reminds Prospero that he has been promised his freedom soon , but Prospero takes Ariel's implications offensively and feels he must harshly remind Ariel of his past when he says, “Thou liest, malignant thing. Hast thou forgot/ The foul witch Sycorax, who with age/Was grown into a hoop? Hast thou forgot her?”(pg.31, 308-311). Ariel listens to Prospero’s remarks and asks Prospero for forgiveness. Prospero tells Ariel to finish his tasks without complaining and Prospero will set him free in two days. Prospero knows that he needs Ariel’s magic and that is why he gets so upset when Ariel reminds him of his freedom. It is quite obvious to the reader by this point that Prospero has a clear motive and that after the next two days Prospero will no longer need Ariel’s magic. That being said, Ariel is necessary to Prospero if he wants to successfully claim revenge on his brother Antonio. Prospero’s next task for Ariel is to retrieve Ferdinand so that he can fall in love with Miranda. In the text the stage directions note that Ariel is invisible, “Enter...Ariel, invisible” (pg.39, btm.). Prospero
Mason, in the article, emphasize on the embodiment and fluctuations of what the central character Jose a Santeria also known as Regla de Ocha, was expose too when trying to balance the perception of how people viewed him in society by negotiating his religious practices. When looking more into Olmos and Paravisini-Gebert’s view, they elaborate more on the embodiment of the enslaved West Africans migrating to Cuba during the slave trade; taking them from their mainland of existence to a new place where they need to adjust to a new lifestyle and religion. Also, they have to negotiate their identity and religious practice to be then able to intertwine their original religious practice Santeria
Prospero knows this is happening and has Ariel, one of his servants, conjure up a huge storm to cause Antonio’s ship to wreck on the same island that Prospero and Miranda have settled. It is at this time that the punishments begin. When Sebastian is caught attempting to kill his brother, Antonio insists they were only protecting the king from wild animals. A huge feast is prepared for them and laid by welcoming spirits who invite the king and company to feast. Just before they can devour the meal Ariel appears as a harpy and announces that three men of sin are at the table.
Before considering the purpose of Prospero's experiment, we should note how central to all his magic Ariel is. And Ariel is not human but a magical spirit who has been released from natural bondage (being riven up in a tree) by Prospero's book learning. The earlier inhabitants of the island, Sycorax and Caliban, had no sense of how to use Ariel, and so they simply imprisoned him in the world which governs them, raw nature. Prospero's power depends, in large part, on Ariel's release and willing service. In that sense, Ariel can be seen as some imaginative power which makes the effects of the theatre (like lightning in the masts of the boat) possible. One of the great attractions of this view of the play as a celeb...
In the Tempest, by William Shakespeare, the main character is Prospero which betrays a magical creature named Ariel on an isolated island. For instance, Prospero lies to Ariel about setting him free from slavery. For example “Ariel, thy charge exactly is performed, but there's more work.” . This quote shows that he will be freed soon but, at the moment has tasks to complete. However, Ariel eventually gained his freedom by completing one last final task. “I prithee, remember I have done thee worthy service, told thee no lies, made thee no mistakes, served without or grudge or grumblings. Thou didst promise to bate me a full year Prospero dost thou forget from what a torment I did free thee? ”. The following quote shows that Ariel is trying to convince Prospero to let him free. Ariel tries to make Prospero remember all the times he has helped him. Ariel asks Prospero “Dost thou forget from what a torment I did free thee? “ which shows that Ariel
He frees Ariel, pardons Caliban, and plans to return to Milan where Miranda and Ferdinand will be married. Prospero gets everything he wants—his dukedom, a powerful son-in-law, and a return to society. Works Cited and Consulted Corfield, Cosmo. "Why Does Prospero Abjure His 'Rough Magic,'" Shakespeare Quarterly. 36 (1985): 31-4 8.
To expound, after running Alonzo’s ship aground, Ariel verbally demonstrates his opposition to Prospero’s forced servitude, thus alluding to the anti-colonial nature of The Tempest play. Believing that his master will free him one year earlier as agre...
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.
He reminds his master Prospero for his promises ", Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, which is not yet perform 'd me."(I, i, 16). When Ariel and Prospero meet together for the first time, Ariel asks his lord for his independence. Prospero remembered Ariel that he released him from the cloven pine-tree where the wicked witch Sycorax Had confined him. So, Prospero has a favor of Ariel .Ariel does his lord 's order, in order to attain his freedom
Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest is set on a mysterious island surrounded by the ocean. Here the magician Prospero is ruler of the isle with his two servants Caliban and Ariel. Caliban is the abrasive, foul-mouthed son of the evil witch Sycorax. When Prospero was shipwrecked on the island Prospero treated him kindly but their relationship changed when Caliban tried to rape Prospero's daughter, Miranda. Caliban then became Prospero's unwilling servant. Caliban serves his master out of fear Prospero's wrath. Prospero's other servant Ariel is a graceful spirit who has courtesy and charm. Ariel has put her services at Prospero's disposal out of gratitude for his kind actions towards her. Prospero saved Ariel from the confinement of Sycorax who held her prisoner.
Although Prospero can be characterized as evil, this cannot be his only classification. Prospero often shows a dual nature where he has good intentions but a bad outcome comes out of it. One might say that Prospero never intended to usurp the island from Caliban, but was forced to in order to teach him a lesson. Also, however ambiguous the ending is, Prospero might have had the intention to release Ariel from his duties. This interpretation of Prospero’s character changes the way the reader reads the play because it shows Prospero in a more authoritative way, forcing the reader to think about the implications of all of his actions. Every good action that Prospero does has negative reactions that make Prospero seem manipulative and devious.
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 has kept Ariel at his beck and call, so he can personally benefit from him/her. For instance, Prospero questions, “did I serve you well?”[594, line 241]. He is stressing himself and seeking acceptance from Prospero as he fears he might never get his freedom. Ariel also says “ I drink the air before me, and return Or ere your pulse twice beat,” [590, line 102]. Even as he has done all of prospero’s dirty work he still is afraid of not serving prospero to his liking.
Shakespeare characterizes Prospero as tyrannical and despotic through the use of threatening language in his relationship with Ariel. In act 1 scene 2, Ariel confronts Prospero’s authority when broaching the stipulation that Prospero grant him his freedom, explaining “thou did promise to bate me a full year”. Prospero describes the punishment he will inflict if Ariel persists with these demands, saying “I will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou has howled away twelve winters”. This vivid imagery reminds Ariel of his torment when imprisoned by the ‘foul witch Sycorax’ for ‘a dozen years’, thus instilling fear and forcing Ariel to mentally relive an arduous past. In this way, Prospero can be construed as being unduly cruel in his treatment of Ariel; his lack of compassion is revealed as he puts Ariel through calculated pain in order to suppress him back into thraldom, and is only kind to Ariel when he is entirely subservient.
/ His tears run down his beard the winter’s drops / From eaves of reeds”. The powerful metaphor of Gonzalo’s sadness leads to an interpretation of some degree of criticism of Prospero’s actions on Ariel’s part. This metaphor also draws upon Ariel’s connection with nature, as he is not only an air spirit, but also was once trapped within a tree by a witch for many years until Prospero arrived on the island and released him. The final piece of the speech before Prospero responds reads, “Your charm so strongly works ‘em / That if you now beheld them, your affections / Would become tender”.
This shows that Prospero was commanding his spirit, Ariel to do certain tasks. Where he used his abilities to harm the people on the ship. However, abusing power is just wrong. These wrong use of power can hurt people and power is not meant to be used for hurting