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5 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Sympathetic
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He is a sympathetic character in that he was wronged by his usurping brother, but his absolute power over the other characters and his overwrought speeches make him difficult to like.
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Controlling
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He is insistent that Miranda pay attention suggest that his story is boring her.
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Pursuit of Knowledge
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The pursuit of knowledge gets Prospero into trouble in the first place. By neglecting everyday matters when he was duke, he gave his brother a chance to rise up against him.
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Powerful
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His punishments of Caliban are petty and vindictive, as he calls upon his spirits to pinch Caliban when he curses. When Ariel reminds his master of his promise to relieve him of his duties early if he performs them willingly, Prospero bursts into fury and threatens to return him to his former imprisonment and torment. He is similarly unpleasant in his treatment of Ferdinand, leading him to his daughter and then imprisoning and enslaving him.
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Playwright
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Despite his shortcomings as a man, however, Prospero is central to The Tempest’s narrative. Prospero creates the whole play due to his power and experiment. Prospero’s final speech, in which he likens himself to a playwright by asking the audience for applause, strengthens this reading of the play.
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