The Dictatorial Prospero of Shakespeares The Tempest Essay

The Dictatorial Prospero of The Tempest Motivation often propels people to achieve high goals. Sometimes, however, motivation is too strong a tool and can manifest into selfish desires. The exploitation of the weak invariably results from the strong abusing their power, especially in a political setting. In William Shakespeares ‘The Tempest’, Prospero is displayed as a tyrannical character who spawns a disastrous storm as part of a grand scheme to regain his title of Duke of Milan. His subsequent treatment of each character in the play, even his beloved daughter are purely based on his self-centered motives. Prospero can be seen as an overbearing racist, as well as a usurper to land that does not belong to him, but rather to†¦show more content†¦To the more sympathetic view it can be seen that these questions are not from a controlling point of view, but paranoia regarding how his daughter perceives the conversation. However, after his long speech, he then uses his magic to control her into lulling h er into a sleep when he is done talking to her. Is this the action of a loving or a controlling father, a question which individually you can answer differently. Even Mirandas romantic affairs are not free from her fathers meddling and controlling. Prospero admits, It goes on [Ferdinand and Mirandas amorous glances], I see, as my soul prompts it (1.2.422-424). Even though he has created this love affair through his magic, he plays with both Ferdinands and Mirandas emotions by enslaving Ferdinand to menial work while the rest of his evil demise is carried out. Driven only by selfish motives, Prospero is not concerned with his daughters state of well-being but how she can be used as a pawn within his games. As the play progresses Prospero gives his daughter away in marriage to Ferdinand without even consulting first with her. His selfish motives become more apparent when he extensively warns Ferdinand against pre-marital sex. Prospero view upon Mirandas virginity is that it is a prize for him to give away. Without her virginity, she would not be a valuable asset to him, which is why Prospero calls upon the help of the three goddessesShow MoreRe latedExplore How the Character of Prospero Develops in the Course of the Tempest. How Does the Prospero of Act One Scene Two Compare to That We Hear in the Final Scene of the Play? Compare Your Interpretation of the Play with That of Other Critics.1736 Words   |  7 PagesProspero is the most central character in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. The play revolves around his personal task to regain his dukedom, which his brother Antonio usurped from him. Throughout the play it is shown how Prospero develops and changes as a character and seems a different person to the character we first meet in Act One Scene Two. How Prospero’s character develops happens in a variety of ways, one of the most potent ways appearing to be the treatment of the other characters within theRead More Freedom and Servitude in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay3355 Words   |  14 PagesFreedom and Servitude in Shakespeares The Tempest What is slavery? Is it an institution? A mental state? A physical state? Is it human nature? Or is, â€Å"†¦slavery is†¦an inherent, natural and eternal inheritance of a large portion of the human race† (Ruskin 307). Whether or not any one of these options is true, the fact remains that each says something about humanity. Therefore, when a play like The Tempest comes along, centering on the themes of freedom and servitude, one must look for