The definition of moral character rests on an individual’s sense of morality: the principles of right and wrong behavior, and the goodness or badness of human character. Political authority is reflected in individuals who are able to attain their power in a fair and reasonable way, and use this power in order to rule for what they believe is right for the general good. Therefore, one cannot be seen as a legitimate political authority without displaying a highly moral character. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the plot follows Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, cast away to a remote island by his usurping brother Antonio. Prospero makes a life for himself and his daughter on the island using his magical powers, as well as his spirit servant Ariel,
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Ariel is the spirit that has agreed to temporarily serve Prospero due to the fact that Prospero had freed Ariel of imprisonment by the witch Sycorax. While this trade can be seen as fair, Prospero uses Ariel’s service to carry out actions that are clearly immoral by taking advantage of both is own, as well as Ariel’s magical abilities. Ariel’s service is used only for Prospero’s personal gain as he sends Ariel out in numerous different magical forms in order to manipulate Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian on the island. When Ariel requests freedom from Prospero after serving him faithfully for many years, Prospero uses harsh rhetoric in order to assert continued power over Ariel, reminding him of his debt from being freed from Sycorax’s imprisonment, saying, “Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot/ The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy/ Was grown into a hoop? Hast thou forgot her?” (1.2.258-260). Ariel is thus forced to continue to serve Prospero in his quest to regain power as Duke of Milan. Prospero’s manipulation of Ariel can be seen as blackmail, and is clearly immoral as he puts Ariel’s magical powers in use to further disrupt the natural world in order to reclaim power over Milan take revenge on Antonio, along with Alonso and
Ariel is the spirit that has agreed to temporarily serve Prospero due to the fact that Prospero had freed Ariel of imprisonment by the witch Sycorax. While this trade can be seen as fair, Prospero uses Ariel’s service to carry out actions that are clearly immoral by taking advantage of both is own, as well as Ariel’s magical abilities. Ariel’s service is used only for Prospero’s personal gain as he sends Ariel out in numerous different magical forms in order to manipulate Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian on the island. When Ariel requests freedom from Prospero after serving him faithfully for many years, Prospero uses harsh rhetoric in order to assert continued power over Ariel, reminding him of his debt from being freed from Sycorax’s imprisonment, saying, “Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot/ The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy/ Was grown into a hoop? Hast thou forgot her?” (1.2.258-260). Ariel is thus forced to continue to serve Prospero in his quest to regain power as Duke of Milan. Prospero’s manipulation of Ariel can be seen as blackmail, and is clearly immoral as he puts Ariel’s magical powers in use to further disrupt the natural world in order to reclaim power over Milan take revenge on Antonio, along with Alonso and