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Caliban, of course, had tried to Rape her. Shakespeare's final play, "The Tempest," involves many characters, but the protagonist is Prospero. Alonso and Antonio cruelly cast Prospero and Miranda out to sea, yet Prospero’s revenge is equally as cruel: he creates a horrific storm which destroys the boat and throws his noble counterparts into the sea. Prospero feels somewhat responsible for that. Prospero uses his magic as a form of power and control and gets his own way in every situation. As Prospero reminds him in Act I, scene ii, Ariel fell out of favor with Sycorax, and she imprisoned him in a “cloven pine.” Ariel remained stuck in the tree for twelve years, during which time Sycorax died, abandoning Ariel to an eternity of pain. However, our sympathies firmly lay with Prospero when we learn that Caliban had tried to violate Miranda. Plus, when Prospero renounces his magic, Shakespeare knows The Tempest is the last play he will write alone. Previous Scene 1 This analysis reveals that Shakespeare’s presentation of morality and fairness in the play is highly ambiguous, and it is not clear where the audience’s sympathies should lay. Using magic, he is able to control the movements and all the actions of the other characters, which allows him not only to be the central character but also the actual author of the plot of the play. Prospero’s retellings of past events to Miranda and Ariel do more than simply fill the audience in on the story so … It would be unwise to focus solely on The Tempest as somehow representative of Shakespeare's farewell to the stage and thus overlook the many other important strengths of the play. For example: In the story of The Tempest, Prospero’s enslavement and punishment of Caliban is difficult to reconcile with fairness and the extent of Prospero’s control is morally questionable. The main reason is that Ariel owes what freedom he has to Prospero. A lot of literary critics think Prospero manipulates the action of The Tempest like a skillful director. After the completion of Prospero's story, Shakespeare did continue to write, composing parts of three more plays. The rightful Duke of Milan, Prospero was usurped by his brother, Antonio, and cast away on a boat. Propero, like most fathers at that time, wants to give away his daughter in a state of chaste purity. Prospero’s title in Milan was usurped, yet he did much the same thing to Caliban and Ariel by enslaving them and taking control of their island. im in that situation too. Well, Prospero uses magic to manipulate and dazzle, just like Shakespeare. Prospero's great concern foreshadows the importance of this theme in the betrothal masque; in the masque, Iris makes mention that the couple cannot be together "till Hymen's torch be lighted," her language parallel to that in Prospero's earlier entreaty to the lovers. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In the story of The Tempest, Prospero’s enslavement and punishment of Caliban is difficult to reconcile with fairness and the extent of Prospero’s control is morally questionable. Copyright © 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. Prospero's great concern foreshadows the importance of this theme in the betrothal masque; in the masque, Iris makes mention … Prospero is a mirror image of Sycorax, doing much the same things, but laterally reversed: he releases Ariel and tortures Caliban. Caliban had once loved Prospero and showed him everything there was to know about the island, but Prospero considers his education of Caliban as more valuable. http://www.gradesaver.com/the-tempest/study-guide/section4/. As the sorcerer Prospero breaks his staff, Shakespeare puts down his … The similarities between Prospero and Sycorax throw Prospero’s … Prospero has secured his safe passage back to Milan, the reinstatement of his title and a powerful connection to royalty through the marriage of his daughter–and managed to present it as an act of forgiveness. Many critics and readers of the play have interpreted Prospero as a surrogate for Shakespeare, enabling the audience to explore firsthand the ambiguities and ultimate … Why is Prospero important in The Tempest? Prior to Prospero’s arrival on the island, Ariel served Caliban’s mother, Sycorax. Twelve years later, he has made himself ruler of the deserted island he landed on and has developed a plan to return home and make things right—this is the cause for the opening storm. Here, too, the parallel is evident. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, 'The Tempest' Characters: Description and Analysis, 'The Tempest' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices, Prospero: Character Analysis of Shakespeare's 'Tempest' Protagonist, M.A., Theater Studies, Warwick University, B.A., Drama and English, DeMontfort University. Although superficially encouraging us to sympathize with Prospero, Shakespeare questions the idea of fairness in The Tempest. Even though he does ultimately forgive his brother and the king, this could be considered to be a way to reinstate his Dukedom and ensure the marriage of his daughter to Ferdinand, soon to become King. Virginity was often an important bargaining pointmost notably, for Queen Elizabeth, who used her eligibility to gain a great deal of power throughout her reign. Prospero seems preoccupied with Miranda's virginity because it is inextricably bound up with Prospero's own power. If Miranda's virginity is thrown away, then Prospero's greatest hope for regaining his estate and position is gone too; so Prospero tries his best to keep Miranda well-informed of her importance, and keep Ferdinand warned as to the potential consequences of his actions. He previously served as a theater studies lecturer at Stratford-upon Avon College in the United Kingdom. (We talk a lot more about this in "Quotes: Art and Culture.") Caliban had once loved Prospero and showed him everything there was to know about the island, but Prospero considers his education of Caliban as more valuable. Her virginity is their prime bargaining chip in winning an advantageous marriage that will secure both of their positions; and if she does marry Ferdinand, their power back in Italy is secured for both of them. Even when he forgives Caliban at the end of the play, he promises to “take responsibility” for him and continue to be his enslaver. Lee Jamieson, M.A., is a theater scholar and educator. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Also, in order to control the rebellious Ariel, Prospero constantly reminds him of the cruel treatment he had suffered at the hands of Sycorax and threatens to do the same to him. its because he loved her but now he doesnt cause she is not pure. Prospero is the central character in The Tempest and all the action revolves around him. If Miranda's virginity is thrown away, then Prospero's greatest hope for regaining his estate and position is gone too; so Prospero tries his best to keep Miranda well-informed of her importance, and keep Ferdinand warned as to the potential consequences of his actions. The morality behind Prospero’s actions is highly subjective, despite the happy ending which is conventionally employed to “right the wrongs” of the play. 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