Prospero Essay

main character Prospero lives on a deserted island with his daughter Miranda. Prospero used to be the Duke of Milan until he has been usurped by his brother Antonio with the help Alonso the King of Naples and his brother Sebastian. Prospero and Miranda were banished to sea in a rotten boat and eventually lands in a deserted island who was once ruled by a witch named Sycorax but is now only inhabited by her son Caliban and a spirit named Ariel. Since arriving at the island, Prospero has been ruling

kindness. Prospero calls Caliban “my slave” during Caliban’s introduction (Tempest, 1.2.308). He constantly insults Caliban, gives him orders for menial tasks, and imprisons him, “keep[ing] from [him] the rest o’th’ island” (Tempest, 1.2.344). Miranda further expresses that Caliban cannot be good because of his disposition, that his “vile race … had that in’t which good natures could not abide to be with” (Tempest, 1.2.357-359). Through these examples, it becomes clear that Miranda and Prospero view Caliban

Caliban’s mother, Sycorax, ruled the island before Prospero and his daughter. Therefore, the deserted island technically belongs to him. Caliban says “This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother, which thou tak’st from me.” (I.ii 19). It is a common theme for the nobility to suppress the other people on the

Prospero's gift of magic. In Act 1, Caliban states, "I must obey. His art is of such power" (1.2.448-450). Caliban is terrified of Prospero, and hence is forced to fulfill all of his orders, against his own will. Prospero constantly terrorizes Caliban with the aid of his powers, and compels Caliban to perform all of his bidding, causing Caliban to conspire against Prospero. This is a direct aftermath of Caliban believing himself to be a victim of colonization and his anxiousness towards

to continually drink. Caliban drunkenly admits to wanting revenge against Prospero and plots against him. “As wicked dew as e’er my mother brushed, With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen Drop on you both! A southwest blow on ye And blister you all o’er”(Shakespeare 16). Caliban is shouting ill will toward Prospero and Ariel praying for injury on their voyage, another example of how Caliban thrives for revenge on Prospero. Throughout The Tempest, Caliban demonstrates the side of black magic inherited

In literature, the theme that everything has its opposite is a well-repeated one. Following this theme is the one that, with value comes the meaningless. Shakespeare brings this theme up numerous times in his play, "The Tempest"--sometimes blatantly, other times hidden through extended metaphor. Using the motif of insubstantiality in everything, Shakespeare brings attention to the tangibility of all that is wanted. He focuses on how all can end and easily be taken away, regardless of its purpose

Explain how Ariel and Caliban serve as character foils for each other. Be sure to consider their physical appearance and their roles as servants to Prospero.      In the world of The Tempest , Ariel, the airy spirit, and Caliban, the earthy monster, can be described as character foils. Unlike and contrasted as they are, they have some traits in common. They both have an aversion to labor and a longing for liberty. Also, they have a primitive sense of humor, a fondness for

the uncontrollable behavior springs from Prospero’s mentality. He sees Ariel as acting disorderly and uncontrollably by demanding his liberty from Prospero. From Ariel’s perspective, it is just fair pay for his loyalty, goodwill and service. He even says so, Ariel’s character, as uncontrollable as it might be, has every right to demand from Prospero his freedom. However, Prospero’s plans need to be carried out, so he decides to abuse his power with Ariel. He exerts authority by calling upon the

the idea of the way in which Prospero treats Caliban and Ariel, Caliban's first encounters with Stephano and Trinculo, and finally the way in which both plays have different endings. In both A Tempest and The Tempest Prospero arrives on an island with his daughter, Miranda. The island has been previously inhabited by Caliban and Ariel, who are thus the natives of the island (a point which Césaire focuses on much more than Shakespeare does) but it does not take Prospero long to gain power and ultimate

Troubles of an Expanding Society: Slavery, Language, and Imperialism In England, 1611, William Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest debuted in the city of London. England, at this time, was experiencing exploration with the founding of the New World and the strange inhabitants it provided. The timing of this play is crucial to understanding the motifs and themes presented. The English had just invaded Ireland, had not yet colonized New England, had made contact with the Indians, but had not yet experienced