The Predominate Puppet Master
“Shakespeare makes an unanticipated appearance in the Tempest in the shoes of Prospero”(Elvis).
Prospero plays the role of both the victim and the victimizer. Prospero likes to do what any normal human does, participate in activities that interest and make him happy. The only difference is Prospero attempts to control his surroundings while not doing anything at all. This gives the reader a sense of dominance and knowledge through Prospero, but causes a loss of interest due to his constant demanding personality. Not even his daughter seemed to take interest in his speeches due to her ease of distraction from his lectures. Prospero has everyone’s best interest at heart, and only plots to put them all under his wing to better and enlighten them. Prospero, however, doesn’t understand his approach is a little harsh and too forward. What may not matter to him may strongly anger or hurt another. In “The Tempest,” Prospero draws a surprising parallel between his victimized and victimizing behavior in order to emphasize his approach towards a unique placement of order in the world.
Prospero was overthrown from dukedom due to his unsuccessful attempt at multitasking with hobbies and work. He got preoccupied with his hobbies and neglected his job landing him in the position he is in. Prospero will live on an island with nothing but his daughter and books. Prospero now uses his books to put his hobby to good use. He plans to get revenge on everyone who betrays him using his magical powers. So,
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this causes the reader to make a quick analysis of Prospero’s place in the story as a victim or the victimizer. Prospero may be the victim, but certainly doesn’t portray it. His actions controlling fate and playing puppet master show his true colors. Prospero continues his controlling behavior on the island with his daughter and the inhabitants of the island. Prospero gets too occupied with this behavior that he does not realize he just did the same thing that was done to him to the self-proclaimed ruler of this island. He overthrew Caliban and made him his slave. However, Caliban seems to rebel against Prospero. “Now, when Caliban endangers Prospero’s power by cursing him, Prospero punishes him physically” (Kathomps); in one case he promises “side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up” (1.2.330). “Prospero despises Caliban because he threatens his authority on the island, so he imprisons him and plagues him with pain” (Kathomps).
Little by little Prospero becomes mad with power and decides to dominate everything in his path.
This still leaves a blank of whether or not Prospero is one of the good or bad guys. This blank can only be filled personally through looking at the facts. Prospero feels his way is the right way and bases life according to his point of view. This doesn’t make him a bad person because he does this for the good of the people like a true leader; it’s just a bad habit. Prospero’s problem is his knowledge gets him into trouble, but his knowledge is what gets him out of these situations. Prospero pursues redemption through reconstruction of other’s thoughts, but maybe its Prospero who needs to rethink his thoughts and become comfortable with everyone else’s.
Prospero views and treats everyone as unworthy and ignorant but feels they have the potential to change. This is what causes him to abuse his power, and be so controlling. He uses his powers to get his point across pretty well through a long, but necessary process. It’s unfortunate for him however that the powers he previously used for pleasure are now used for revenge and redemption. Prospero is very manipulative with everyone especially Caliban, Miranda, and Ferdinand. Caliban is tortured through spirits to teach him a lesson of respect. Miranda’s free will is stolen by Prospero to the point where he even determines when she will sleep and wake up. Prospero even says to Miranda, “Here cease more questions./ Thou art inclined to sleep” (1.2.186-87).
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... power. Prospero, even with his velvety language, only equals Caliban in eloquence. In that sense, they are equals, even though Caliban is being unwillingly controlled ... family reunion or the mysterious stranger, smiling at nothing. William Shakespeare always wrote of these observations. His characters in each of ... Lust for Power Any good story starts with an observation: an observation of the silent ...
Finally Ferdinand is tricked into loving Miranda through a rebellious attitude against Prospero. All are manipulated, but for good reasons that better each individual. Prospero separates the shipwrecked victims into groups so he can individually deal with them with the appropriate punishment or manipulation.
Prospero sets up his plot for a happy ending in a very interesting manner. He uses a dramatic approach that leaves the reader guessing with suspense the whole time. However, this approach is a very good one because it allows Prospero’s victims to show their true colors and helps him determine who has the potential to change, and who’s hopeless. Shakespeare uses Prospero’s various schemes to design the ultimate plot to put everyone in their place and to provide the reader with a perfect ending to a very suspenseful story. Prospero was not always this controlling, but when Antonio and Alonso interfered in his peaceful habits and put him in such a situation, he changed. This is what made the unstoppable puppet master Prospero. He lines everything up without every laying a finger or personally confronting any of them. Once everything was set up, Shakespeare prepares to end The Tempest with an unanticipated resolution.
Prospero gets redemption when his daughter is set to become the Queen of Naples, and he is to return to his rightful position as Duke of Milan. This marks the end of Prospero’s controlling and negative behavior. After all is said and done Prospero surprisingly decides to forgive the traitors, free his slaves, and go back to his ways. Prospero can now live his life without fear of a recurrence of these events. Prospero ends up being both the good and bad guy, by negatively putting everything back in its rightful place. Shakespeare takes his final bow as Prospero and gains the audience’s farewell.
Works Cited
Elvis, Rowan. “The Tempest.” Index of /. Web. 29 Jan. 2012.
Kathomps. “TheTempestNew.” Shakespeare’s The Tempest: How Prospero Abuses Power. Web. 27 Jan. 2012.
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... playwright himself being presented as Prospero. Is The Tempest an allegory to European colonization, or is it Shakespeare, presenting his formal farewell to ... The reasoning behind why Caliban was enslaved, and Ariel was set free from the pine tree was that Caliban was a ... of the island, whether good or bad, are not achievable through primitive scenery as there was in Shakespeare's day, so therefore are ...
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Evanstin, IL: McDougal Littell, 2002. Print.
