Prospero’s Abuse of Power in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay

Prospero’s Abuse of Power in The Tempest In William Shakespeares The Tempest, Prospero lives with his daughter Miranda on a deserted island. On the surface, he appears to be a benevolent leader doing his best to protect and care for the inhabitants of the island, especially for Miranda. On closer inspection, however, Prospero plays God, controlling and creating each individual to fit the mold he desires. He takes advantage of his authority over the people and situations he encounters while wearing a facade of integrity and compassion to disguise his wily intentions and to retain love and respect. In Act I of the play, Prospero finally tells Miranda the woeful story of how she and he arrived on the island. From the†¦show more content†¦What seest thou else/ In the dark backward and abysm of time? (1:2, p. 4). He vacates Mirandas memory by causing her to doubt what she thinks she remembers; then he proceeds to give her new, slanted memories. Prospero deliberately causes Miranda doubt herself, for how could anyone be confident with a dark and backward abysm for a mind? Because Miranda has seen only one human being in the last twelve years (her father), Prospero has been able to construct Mirandas complete perception of reality by controlling her beliefs, her knowledge, and consequently her ignorance. He says to her, ...Here/ Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit/ Than other princess can, that have more time/ For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful. She replies with her characteristic gratitude, Heaven thanks you for t! (1:2, p.8). Miranda never que stions what Prospero teaches her, and even if she did, her circumstances on the island would not allow her to come to know the truth. Prospero understands this advantage but takes care to retain his daughters loyalty, for Miranda is his world, just as he is hers. Miranda is purely a product of her father and as her creator, so he enjoys inherent power. She becomes whatever he wants her to be. Soon after we learn that Prospero controls Miranda, we discover that he magically controls the weather and that he also commands a spirit named Ariel to do tasks for him. When a ship carryingShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s The Tempest1267 Words   |  6 Pagesaudience. During the Enlightenment Era, William Shakespeare’s writing were a form of social commentary on the English Government. Endorsed by the king, Shakespeare’s works told tales of tragedy and whimsy, incorporating both fiction and nonfiction elements. One trademark of Shakespeare s plays were the subtle allusions to the concurrent events in the English government. This is evident in his well known and final play, The Tempest. 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