Who Is Responsible For Prospero's Exile

     In Shakespeare's The Tempest, Prospero's magic is the means that Prospero teaches his lessons to the plays various characters. Whether or not those lessons were learned or not is irrelevant. The main issue is that Prospero's character is indeed a complex one, and one that deserves much attention. Two essays that look at the complexity of Prospero and his magic are Stephen Miko's "Tempest," and Barbara Mowat's "Prospero, Agrippa, and Hocus Pocus." Both of these essays, in dealing with Prospero and his magic reveal things about Prospero that only enhance the mystery of his character.

Prospero also punishes Trinculo and Stephano for no reason. Trinculo and Stephano have no reason to be on the island besides aiding and abetting Caliban in his plot to overthrow Prospero. Because Prospero originally made the different groups of people who stayed on the island, he must have wanted Trinculo and Stephano to meet Caliban, and in turn punish them for a crime that he made them commit, implying that Prospero wanted to use his magic to further harm more people.

Prospero's intent throughout the course of The Tempest is neither to revenge himself upon his enemies, nor to reconcile himself with his estranged brother. It is, rather, to orchestrate the reclamation of his lost duchy, Milan, through both his magic and a shrewd manipulation of both the shipwrecked party and the islanders (Caliban and Miranda).

Originally, he was a fair duke that showed love to everyone he met; however, his love of magic gets him exiled by his own brother. Once on the island of his banishment, Prospero develops monstrous characteristics of greed and domination. He imposes his beliefs upon initial inhabitants by teaching them his own language so that they could communicate with him (Tempest. I.ii.352-364). Prosper felt he had the superior form of communication and higher level of intellect, so the previous occupants should have to learn his language. He also forced his self-proclaimed authority on this creature who was the birth-right land-owner. This creature, Caliban, is upset and claims, “This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother, / Which thou tak’st from me” (Tempest. I.ii.331-332). Just as Prospero’s kingdom was taken from himself, he retaliated by taking Caliban’s kingdom from him. To do this, Prospero enslaved Caliban as well as another he finds on the island through use of his magic and forces them to do his menial tasks. It is through his exploiting and dominating actions that Prospero is seen as a monster. He cultivated his supremacy over everyone to a malicious extent that he was a malevolent monster disguised as a

In the same fashion, Prospero had also been told by society that the only way he could live a good and prosperous life was to get his dukedom back. Without this fancy title, society convinced Prospero that he was unimportant. Prospero had the whole island to himself, a slave, a magical spirit, and his daughter, but yet, society tells Prospero that this was not enough. During the play Prospero said, “Now my charms are all o'erthrown, And what strength I have’s mine own, Which is most faint” (Act 4 Scene 1 lines 320-322). This quote shows the incredible heights Prospero went to in order to get his

Banished from his grand duchy by the King of Naples and his traitorous brother Sebastian, the Right Duke of Milan and Sorcerer Prospero finds refuge with his daughter Miranda to a forsaken island.

In the Tempest Prospero has given his whole life to his magic, daughter Ariel and the island he had been secluded on. Prospero had always loved his magic so he would study it in great depth, which would lead to him losing his dukedom. When he first tells Miranda of how they ended up on the island he says, “I, thus neglecting worldly ends, al dedicated to closeness and the betting of my mind.”(1.2.110-111) His magic was the reason he would be pushed into isolation. While secluded Prospero would continue to refine his craft, but would also rule over his daughter, Ariel and Caliban. He cared for Ariel and Miranda, but ostracized Caliban. The island and the people on it were all he had now, but one day he would have to marry daughter and move

In the story Masque of Red Death Prince Prospero was punished for neglecting his duties as a prince. Prince Prospero didn’t think of his dominions he only thought of himself and the one thousand nobles that he save. Without a second thought he went into hiding with his one thousand nobles to a very secure abbey where the doors were bolted shut allowing no one to enter or leave. No matter how secure the abbey was Prospero and the nobles couldn’t escape the red death.

After breaking his staff and throwing his books into the sea, Prospero is left with little to no power of his own. It is in his last speech in the play, in the epilogue, that he realizes that his magic is nothing without outside help. He no longer has the outside power of his books and staffs to make his magic work so he is weak and vulnerable. Prospero realizes he will never get off

Prospero’s intentions throughout the play was to seek out vengeance towards his brother and all those who helped him in his betrayal. Through the work of Ariel, Prospero was able to capture those he shipwrecked but decides to forgive them. He also forgives Caliban after plotting to kill him while serving another master, these acts of change are key to the improvement and empowerment Prospero learns after being on the island. The is a growth and arch shown about the character as he states, “ The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.” Prospero also shows enrichment of character when he sets Ariel free after commanding him to make smooth sailing upon the return to Naples and Milan, contrasting to the beginning of the play when Prospero seems ungrateful about the service of Ariel. The problem Prospero had that paved the way to him being exiled, was his obsession with studying his art/magic. It is through his experience on the island where he finally comes to realize that the source and self-improvement that he needed to make was giving up his magic. This is symbolized by the throwing away of his books and his plea to the audience to “release him from his bands”. By giving up his magic,the reason he couldn’t be an affective Duke, shows how his alienation on the island benefited him by allowing him to focus on his role and duty as

Even though Prospero may use his power for good and for his justified revenge, he seems to enjoy controlling the nobles more than necessary for example during the sub-plot when Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano attempt to kill Prospero. He enjoys moving the characters around the island almost as if they are his puppets or chess pieces in which he gets his fun from by playing with them. This over-use of power could make him seem like he is a very merciless ruler and treats others worse than they treat him.

Near the end of Act 4 Scene 1, we meet Prospero, Miranda and Ferdinand talking to each other again. In this part Prospero becomes almost like a different character, as we haven’t seen this side to him. He becomes mindful, courteous and wistful towards Miranda and Ferdinand’s relationship. This could be Prospero making a breakthrough with his and Miranda’s relationship, as he seems to have forgotten about his enemies, or he could have thought about the situation into more depth, and could be using Miranda’s naivety and innocents, to his advantage as a way to get back to his dukedom, or a direct placement to the throne.

The character of Prospero underwrites the theme of black magic or in other words liberal arts. In difference from those who, by a group made with devil, agree to be his instruments, paying for the enjoyment of the supernatural power then gaining the salvation from their souls. however we find Prospero using his power through the spirit of Ariel in most cases but in some cases h3 use his boundless knowledge about liberal art in the case of defeating the witch Sycorax.

Not only that, Prospero would probably like to form a government system and even try to take control and manipulate the Heevons into doing his “dirty work.” Prospero would indicate that the Heevons’ love for each other is a joke because he, himself stated “so dear the love my people bore me” (The Tempest 12), which clearly means that he does not even love his people because they are basically useless and boring, and loving your people will not be beneficial. Prospero would argue that even siblings do betray, so there is no hope in trusting them. He states that his brother has wrongfully dethroned him of his position of being the duke and has resentment towards him (The Tempest 12), which will ultimately result in anger and betrayal. Thus, Prospero’s train of thought lies with critiquing the love of the

Altogether, Prospero gave up his position as Duke of Milan because he chose to study black magic instead of taking care of his responsibilities to his people. The quest of knowledge of the black magic made Prospero become so studious that it seems that he completely forgot about his kingdom. In Act 1, Scene 2 Prospero acknowledged that he was caught up in his occult books, and as a result, he let his control of the government slip into Antonio’s hands. Prospero allowed his brother to help him run the government so he could get more involved in the occult. Antonio, Prospero’s brother, was able to take advantage of the situation by dethroning Prospero and becoming the new Duke of Milan. Antonio also decided that he would send Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, to live on an island. Magic had already become a major part of Prospero’s life, and being exiled to the island only helped him pursue it more. On the island, there was a witch, Sycorax, that ruled over it, and when Prospero defeated her, he gained the service of Ariel and Caliban.