The Dictatorial Prospero of Shakespeare’s the Tempest Essay Example

he then uses his magic to control her into lulling her into a sleep when he is done talking to her.

Is this the action of a loving or a controlling father, a question which individually you can answer differently. Even Miranda's romantic affairs are not free from her father's meddling and controlling. Prospero admits, "It goes on [Ferdinand and Miranda's amorous glances], I see, as my soul prompts it". Even though he has created this love affair through his magic, he plays with both Ferdinand's and Miranda's emotions by enslaving Ferdinand to menial work while the rest of his evil demise is carried out.

Driven only by selfish motives, Prospero is not concerned with his daughter's state of well-being but how she can be used as a pawn within his games. As the play progresses Prospero gives his daughter away in marriage to Ferdinand without even consulting first with her. His selfish motives become more apparent when he extensively warns Ferdinand against pre-marital sex. Prospero view upon Miranda's virginity is that it is a prize for him to give away. Without her virginity, she would not be a valuable asset to him, which is why Prospero calls upon the help of the three goddesses Iris, Ceres, and Juno to protect Miranda's virginity.

Prospero's relationship with his daughter displays how he is an authoritative figure, caring not for his daughter, but working only for his own selfish motives. In gaining political power and status with King Alonso through his daughter's magically arranged marriage, Prospero is sacrificing his relationship with his daughter. Not only must Prospero have power over his daughter's life, but

he also must control Ariel and Caliban through their enslavement in order to gain power over the land that is not rightfully his. Prospero's racism is evident through his discriminatory treatment of Ariel and Caliban.

Though Ariel is a slave of Prospero's, just as Caliban is, he is treated better because Ariel represents "white magic", while Caliban is associated with "black magic. " Nonetheless, Prospero enslaves them both because of his selfish motives of being in complete ruling power over the island inhabited by only four people. Ariel is a spirit and though enslaved by Prospero, is treated with more respect and eventually released. Caliban, on the other hand, is viewed as a brutish native, both enslaved and scorned by Prospero and Miranda.

Though Caliban is an aboriginal inhabitant of the island, Prospero does not give him special treatment solely because his mother was a witch, a characteristic of which Caliban has no control. By creating the tempest that puts the plot in motion, Ariel performs magical tasks, which makes him more valuable to Prospero. Still, Ariel is Prospero's servant and endures Prospero's impatience through his constant demands to "[g]o hence, with diligence! " (1. 2. 307). Prospero's discriminatory attitude towards his two slaves is apparent in how he chooses to call them.

Ariel's master, Prospero, affectionately calls him "[d]elicate" "my spirit", and also "quaint". Caliban does not receive such "royal" treatment; instead, he is called "my slave", "thou poisonous slave", "thou most lying slave"(1. 2. 348), "beast Caliban" , "a born devil", and my "thing of darkness". Like many other colonists, Prospero views the native Caliban as a "savage"  and who

does not "know thine own meaning", so he of course feels compelled to impart on him his own meaning and allows his daughter to instruct him on certain things like language and literature.! Caliban receives harsher treatment because he was "got by the devil himself" (1. 2. 323), as Prospero claims. Born of Sycorax, a witch demon, Caliban represents black magic to Prospero and suffers the plight similar to African slaves during pre-Civil War times. Prospero sees this "black" magic differently than the magic he has taken up and discriminates against Caliban based on this racist attitude.

Ariel has magical powers also, but his magic is supposedly "white magic. " Thus, Prospero's racist views are evident in his differing treatments of Ariel and Caliban. Because Ariel represents the more desired "white magic" he is treated like an indentured servant; however, Caliban is treated like a barbaric slave because he epitomizes "black magic" because of his family, which is beyond Caliban's own control. Prospero's attitude towards his homeland also displays his somewhat selfish attitude.

When he held the title of Duke of Milan, Prospero did not care for his citizens and ignored them; however once this title was removed from him, it became the object of his desire. Driven by titles, Prospero will seemingly do anything to win back his title of Duke, though it is unclear why he relishes this title so much. Once again, he is ruled by completely self-centered motives. He is not trying to gain back his power for the sake of the citizens, but for his own ego's sake. Prospero admits in the first act, "He [Gonzalo] furnished me

[f]rom my own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom"

. Before Prospero's brother, Antonio, usurped the title of dukedom, the title had little meaning to Prospero. He also admits that his studies at magic ranked higher in importance. Since the title has been wrongly taken from him, however, he has now made getting it back his narrowly focused project. Prospero never gives clear evidence as to why he wants or deserves back his title. Prospero's treatment of his homeland, Milan, again shows his self-centered ways. He did not patriotically act like a good ruler while he held the title of duke, but now he menacingly plans for his revenge and return to power.

Prospero's dictatorial and racist attitude is evident in his relationships towards Miranda, Ariel, Caliban, and even his homeland. Others may argue that Prospero redeems himself in the end by his forgiveness of all his enemies; however, one should remember that his generosity is not coming out of the kindness of his heart, but rather the black abyss that is his ego. Prospero creates the tempest as an invitation to his enemies to an island where he could be in ultimate control. He grants forgiveness because it is a necessary, pre-determined step in gaining what he passionately desires, his dukedom back.

Prospero should be asking all of them for forgiveness because of his egocentric activities that cause pain and madness during everyone's unexpected stay at the island. If Prospero had not forgiven them, he would not have any subjects to bring him back to Milan and verify his rightful dukeness. One should remember Prospero's countless acts of

tyranny and self-centered motives before falsely believing that he is a changed man. Every act of Prospero's, even his mass "forgiveness" is an act based on his personal, selfish goals of obtaining back political power through his former office of Duke of Milan.