For millennia, human societies have mostly been patriarchal. Men have always been in dominant leadership roles where they have all of the power. Women, on the contrary, have been typically portrayed in literature as they would be in normal society: subordinate and weak. This is no different in 17th century England; however, The Tempest contradicts this. William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest in the early 1600s when this cultural stigma was present. The Tempest is a play about a former Duke, named Prospero, with magical powers on a mostly uninhabited island who uses his powers to shipwreck the person who stole his dukedom, Antonio. Prospero lives on the island with his beautiful daughter, Miranda, the spirit Ariel, and the bastard son of the
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Miranda is the teenage daughter of Prospero, former Duke of Milan, who wields magic and control over spirits. She has spent most of her life on the island and has never met a human male other than her father. She embodies innocence, purity, and, most importantly, virginity. These traits, alongside her beauty, make Miranda very attractive to Ferdinand. Prospero knows this, so he devises a plan to make them fall in love with each other. If they marry, Prospero would have influence on his son-in-law, who is the prince. This would give Prospero more power and the ability to regain his dukedom. Without Miranda, this will not be achieved. Because of this, Prospero constantly tries to protect her. Prospero tells Ferdinand, “Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw/ To the fire I’ the blood: be more abstemious,/ or else goodnight your vow!” (4.1 53-55). Prospero threatens Ferdinand to call off the wedding if he takes Miranda’s virginity. This is to make sure that Ferdinand actually wants to marry her and doesn’t just want her as an indulgence. Though Miranda isn’t outgoing or very proactive, she has power over Prospero. She plays a key role in his plans and can have him at her will if she wanted to; however, she doesn’t realize this power. She is too innocent and loving of her father. This is the …show more content…
Women of 17th century England are supposed to be subordinate to men; however, Shakespeare reveals that it is the women who give power to men. The three women present in The Tempest exemplify this. Men are threatened by Sycorax, since she realizes her power and is an independent woman who refuses to give up her power to men. She is consequentially viewed as evil and a threat to society. On the other hand, Miranda maintains her role as the servant to her father and then Ferdinand. Despite this, her bachelorette status plays a key role in giving Prospero power over the Dukedom. Her marriage to Ferdinand gives Prospero the connection to Alonso he needs in order for his plan to be successful. Lastly, Claribel represents the ideal woman of England who obeys her father with her participation in an arranged marriage. Nonetheless, she has power, as she acquires political and economic ties between the two countries that only a marriage could achieve. The overall make-up of the play also factors into Shakespeare’s message because Claribel and Sycorax don’t have any lines. Similar to how women are subjugated despite their importance, Claribel and Sycorax are speechless throughout the play. However, these two female characters are powerful in that they lay the foundation for the entire plot. In conclusion, Shakespeare’s use of female characters in The Tempest conveys the message
Miranda is the teenage daughter of Prospero, former Duke of Milan, who wields magic and control over spirits. She has spent most of her life on the island and has never met a human male other than her father. She embodies innocence, purity, and, most importantly, virginity. These traits, alongside her beauty, make Miranda very attractive to Ferdinand. Prospero knows this, so he devises a plan to make them fall in love with each other. If they marry, Prospero would have influence on his son-in-law, who is the prince. This would give Prospero more power and the ability to regain his dukedom. Without Miranda, this will not be achieved. Because of this, Prospero constantly tries to protect her. Prospero tells Ferdinand, “Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw/ To the fire I’ the blood: be more abstemious,/ or else goodnight your vow!” (4.1 53-55). Prospero threatens Ferdinand to call off the wedding if he takes Miranda’s virginity. This is to make sure that Ferdinand actually wants to marry her and doesn’t just want her as an indulgence. Though Miranda isn’t outgoing or very proactive, she has power over Prospero. She plays a key role in his plans and can have him at her will if she wanted to; however, she doesn’t realize this power. She is too innocent and loving of her father. This is the …show more content…
Women of 17th century England are supposed to be subordinate to men; however, Shakespeare reveals that it is the women who give power to men. The three women present in The Tempest exemplify this. Men are threatened by Sycorax, since she realizes her power and is an independent woman who refuses to give up her power to men. She is consequentially viewed as evil and a threat to society. On the other hand, Miranda maintains her role as the servant to her father and then Ferdinand. Despite this, her bachelorette status plays a key role in giving Prospero power over the Dukedom. Her marriage to Ferdinand gives Prospero the connection to Alonso he needs in order for his plan to be successful. Lastly, Claribel represents the ideal woman of England who obeys her father with her participation in an arranged marriage. Nonetheless, she has power, as she acquires political and economic ties between the two countries that only a marriage could achieve. The overall make-up of the play also factors into Shakespeare’s message because Claribel and Sycorax don’t have any lines. Similar to how women are subjugated despite their importance, Claribel and Sycorax are speechless throughout the play. However, these two female characters are powerful in that they lay the foundation for the entire plot. In conclusion, Shakespeare’s use of female characters in The Tempest conveys the message