Deception in The Tempest Essay

     One may readily perceive the theme of Shakespeare’s “Othello” as deception. Deception appears many times in Othello, but in almost every incident the degree of deception is different. Deception is to “deceive another, illusion, or fraud” (Webster’s New World Pocket Dictionary 69), which is seen as a wrongful act. However, deception may be used to protect someone from getting hurt therefore being used with good intentions.

Prospero can only re-discover this through Ariel, who acts as the catalyst that drives the re-discovery by revealing the effect of Prospero’s vehement vengeance. His encouraging tone, but high modality in, ‘Your charm so strongly works ‘em that if you now beheld them, your affections would become tender,’ pushes Prospero, finally, to re-evaluate his own qualities as an individual as he begins to understand the detrimental impact his vengeance has had on his psyche. This induces a change in Prospero, who has now re-discovered the value of forgiveness and nobility. The revealing tone and strong imperative, ‘The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance,’ reinforces the notion that Prospero’s rationale has pushed him to re-discovery his own values as an individual, and has thus had the power to challenge Prospero’s unwavering belief about himself. As a result of this, Prospero is now completely willing to surrender to the discovery.

Prospero views Miranda more as his property than daughter. As Prospero informs Miranda of their tragic backstory and exile to their island, Miranda is filled with hated towards Antonio, such hatred proves the immense love Miranda had towards her father. Meanwhile, Prospero plans to use Miranda as a pawn to seek out his revenge. To some extent, Prospero intimidates Miranda.

That led to him also taking over Caliban and Ariel, who were the ones who had been living on the island first. Later on, Prospero causes a storm with his magic causing King Alonso of Naples boat to collapse with his son Ferdinand and others in it. Caliban after discovers Trinculo and Stephano offering himself as their servant, got drunk, and convinced them to kill Prospero. Miranda then later runs into Ferdinand falling in love with him immediately thinking he was the only man existent besides his father. Prospero then gives Ferdinand the blessing to marry his daughter after testing him in many ways as Ariel gathers the spirits to make the wedding come to life.

While under a spell, Prospero praises Gonzalo for being honourable and loyal. Then, Prospero exposes Alonso for casting him and his daughter out, and exposes Sebastian for being an accomplice to Alonso. Prospero turns to Sebastian and reveals to him that he knows of his plot against Alonso. At the end of this, however, Prospero forgives everyone. As the spell is wearing off, Prospero changes into his Duke of Milan outfit with the help of Ariel. Prospero remarks that he is going to miss Ariel when he sets him free, then orders him to get the mariners, The Master and the Boatswain.

Deception is defined as the act of deceiving someone and tricky is the practice of deception. Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ uses deception in the themes of power through his magic and control, even if this involves betraying his adored daughter, Miranda. However, in comparison to Marlowe’s ‘Dr Faustus’, deception has more negative connotions which involve cruelty, particularly in 3:2, with the treatment of the Pope, whereas Shakespeare focuses more on the positive outcomes that may occur from attempting to control and trick people, with the constant

Prospero has the resources to educate Miranda, but he chooses not to. She only knows the information that Prospero decides she can. Miranda does not have an accurate memory of life before they lived on the island, so she does not question what Prospero tells her. Also, selfishly, Prospero does not allow Miranda to have access to his secret library of books. Prospero has books that could further Miranda’s education, but he does let Miranda read them.

In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the main character, Prospero is a very vengeful man, but he does not start out that way. His brother, Antonio, forced him out of his homeland without any resources, leaving him stranded with his three-year-old daughter. An event that traumatic can corrupt even the kindest human being. Prospero’s need for justice compels him to wreck his brother’s ship and strand him on the island. He tortures the ship-members with the thought of never returning home and the idea that some of their friends and family are dead. What his brother did to him turned Prospero into a plotting and an evil man, not the man who spent all of his

Prospero is from civilization and represents the motives and desires of people in civilization. He was a high-ranking member of society with a passion for knowledge and power before being cast away to this island. Even while on the island though, he does not simply accept his position, he immediately takes over the island and becomes the ruler of al is inhabitants. As soon as he is settled into his new position of power he is already plotting a way to get revenge for his usurping and to return to even more power as he had before. These motives are human nature itself, to rule and to climb the ladder of

Prospero has become a more understanding leader to Gonzalo, Alonso, Trinculo, Ariel, and Ferdinand. He used to be a bad leader making people on the island slaves but since, he has now changed and became more merciful to the characters on the island, forgiving them for the things they have done.

Prospero holds authority over several characters in the play in order to control them to satisfy his evil plans. Prospero has power over Ariel, who is a spirit that he enslaves after saving him from the witch of the island. He uses this debt to control Ariel to do his bidding. He also uses force by threatening Ariel with his knowledge of magic to remind him how powerful he is. Prospero has authority over Caliban by claiming that he gave Caliban the ability to speak and the gift of knowledge. Lastly, Prospero has authority over Ferdinand by using magical powers to make his daughter Miranda fall in love with him. He accuses Ferdinand of being a spy which in turn causes Miranda to protect Ferdinand. Ferdinand is willingly to become Prospero's slave for Miranda's sake. Prospero manipulates their relationship and this time his control over other characters is justified by his love as a father. He wants to test their love and make them covet it very much so that when they are allowed to be together they will appreciate it more.

The Tempest On Demand Writing In the play, The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, the main character, Prospero was betrayed by his brother Antonio. The play begins years after Antonio betrayed Prospero; and usurped his role as the Duke of Milan. The nature of the betrayal was based on Antonio’s greed and desire for power.

The characters are trying to get the power to fight for their freedom and get control of some specific places. An example can be when Prospero enslaves and treats Caliban badly, and Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso. Antonio and Alonso aim to get rid of Prospero (Jamieson). Colonization is represented in many of the characters as well by competing for colonial control of the islands, a representation of England’s colonial expansion in Shakespeare’s time.

Miranda doesn’t stand out among the characters. She is the only female character that appears in the play apart from Sycorax - who is only mentioned-, and, as the rest of the characters, she is only Prospero’s pawn. She is a simple girl who does not pay attention to what is said to her, and does what she wants. Early on the play, in act 1, scene 2, Prospero tells her their story, how he was betrayed by his brother and they ended up in the island. Even though she tells him that she is listening heedfully, we are able to see through the play that it was not true. For instance, when she sees Ferdinand

Gonzalo,Stephano,and Prospero all have different ways and perspectives to handle the island. Similarly, some men never think with their heads.They mostly think with their desire for power,revenge,and status to run the