The Tempest Research Paper

In The Tempest, Prospero is characterized by the power he holds and control he has. Since he has the lost position of Duke of Milan to his brother, he found other ways to gain that power back. He is controlling the other characters and the events that happen to them throughout the play. He had the ability to do so through his magic and manipulation of others. This power is seen when he creates the storm that leads to a shipwreck. And through his treatment of his slaves, Caliban and Ariel. It is also seen through his relationship with his daughter Miranda. He loves her very much, to him she is “a cherubin/ Thou wast that did preserve me”. (1.2.183-184) However his controlling nature is still present in their relationship. There is still an imbalance of power between them, …show more content…
Which does not prove to be much of a problem for the first twelve years of them living on the island. The only person besides Prospero that Miranda has connect with is Caliban. Prospero had controlled this relationship and cut off the contact between them. But he has good reason for this, due to the fact Caliban “didst seek to violate The honor of my child.” (1.2.417-418). This act of control came from his love of Miranda, he was seeking to protect her from harm. But this situation is different when he tries to control the contact she has with Ferdinand. She “falls in love” with him the moment she meets him, simply because he is the first man she has ever seen besides her father and Caliban. This relationship poses no imminent danger to her, and Prospero is secretly pleased that Miranda is falling for Ferdinand. Upon seeing their interaction he says aside “They are both in either’s powers. But this swift business/ I must uneasy make, lest too light winning/Make the prize light.”(1.2.542-545). Because while he wants them to end up together ,he still seeks to manipulate her and the situation because it is not happening on his