Prosperos Redemption in The Tempest Essays - 2368 Words

Prosperos Redemption in The Tempest By him Ill be great Emperor of the world --Marlowe, Faustus Prosperos 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). Prospero promotes both the mutual affections of Ferdinand and Miranda and the two regicidal conspiracies (Antonios and Calibans). Through the establishment of the graver conspiracy, and through the overwhelmingly magical nature of the island, he drives Alonso into a state of confusion†¦show more content†¦It is Ariel who calls the storm and wrecks the ship, it is Ariel who brings its passengers to shore. Prospero uses Ariel to position the wrecked nobles; in so doing he arranges the two conspiracies, as well as the meeting between Miranda and Ferdinand. But Prospero (through Ariel) has done more than simply arrange for Miranda and Ferdinand to meet. He has cast a glamour on Ferdinand (our garments . . . drenched in the sea, hold . . . their freshness (II.1 60-61)), which leads Miranda to call him a thing divine (I.2 418). Miranda herself has been groomed by Prospero to be what men desire (pure, virtuous, beautiful), even men as unmanlike as Caliban. The question of whether or not Gonzalo, in his benevolence, thought to pack along with the books and food and the clothes that fit yet more clothes, for Miranda when grown, raises the question of whether or not a glamour might have been cast on her as well. (It is safe to say that Ferdinands mistaking a child who has been raised immersed in magic a goddess is not as far off base as it may at first seem.) Ferdinand and Miranda experience a love at first sight; their affections are based solely off physical attraction. If a glamour has been cast upon Miranda, then the girl Ferdinand is fal ling for does not exist outside of Prosperos allowing her to exist (i.e., outside of the spell which has been cast upon her). If one has notShow MoreRelatedThe Tempest by William Shakespeare1271 Words   |  5 PagesIn Shakespeare’s The Tempest, in Act 5 Scene 1, lines 33-57, Prospero’s speech shows his redemption by giving up his book, the oak tree, and his power over water. At this point in the play, Prospero is about to get his revenge on the people who have caused him pain. However, as he is giving the soliloquy, he seeks redemption and attempts to reject his powers and revenge. Though he has been living for the past twelve years with wrath and a desire for revenge, he turns away from that path and seeksRead More biblical themes in shakespeares the tempest Essay1713 Words   |  7 Pages Biblical Themes in Shakespeare’s The Tempest nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Shakespeare is one of the most prolific and admired writers who ever lived. He certainly knew his craft and was familiar with all of the literature available at the time. One of the greatest books ever written was of course the bible. Written over the course of more than a thousand years it is a miracle in itself that the book exists. 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The play portrays the illusory struggle of power and conscience through the character of Prospero and his egocentric motives. Politically, the play can be seen as an analysis of important political issues relevant to that of oppression and imperialistic tendencies of the time. Artistically, The Tempest emphasizes the nature of art, more prominentlyRead More Conflict and Harmony in The Tempest Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesConflict and Harmony in The Tempest   Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare describes a utopic world saturated with supernatural images and ideas which works to create the mysterious island where The Tempest takes place.   This is one of Shakespeares best examples of how a natural harmony reveals itself through the actions of discourse and confusion.   To illustrate this idea best one must examine the historical context upon which The Tempest is based.   Because this play was published in the early 1600sRead MoreThe Tempest By William Shakespeare1640 Words   |  7 Pages Brown’s insistence that The Tempest is a play of steeped in ambivalence and contradictions is not entirely unfounded, however. Prospero himself is an extremely powerful magus whose power borders on the transcendent and divine; he is also a man obsessed with perfecting his â€Å"art† that, at times, can be base and wicked. He demonstrates compassion and generosity, yet his apathetic and sometimes contemptuous treatment of other characte rs raises questions about his moral sensibilities. Within the dramaRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Tragicomedy The Tempest1935 Words   |  8 Pagestragicomedy The Tempest (c:1611) is a play that uses intertextuality to enhance ideas about natural order. Banished to an island, Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, conjures up a tempest that brings him his usurping brother, Antonio in an attempt to restore his Dukedom. The play’s amalgamation of tragicomedy and the pastoral genre allows Shakespeare to warn his audience about unbalance, criticising the lavish lifestyle of his Jacobean audience and emphasizing the opportunity of redemption. The island