Systems Of Top-Down Political Authority Portrayed In Shakespeare’s The Tempest

The Tempest William Shakespeare is one of the most influential authors in English literature. He established his writing through the one hundred fifty-four sonnets, thirty-eight plays, as well as two epic poems. Shakespeare’s writing has redefined the English language and is studied all over the world in the modern era. In Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, Prospero the former Duke of Milan lives on a Mediterranean Island with magical powers. On this island, Prospero has two servants that work for him. Ariel who is an ayrie spirit as well as Calaban who is a salvage and deformed slave. Prospero, who has been exiled by his brother Antonio, uses his magical powers to create a storm in the sea that would create a shipwreck for Antonio and his men. Prospero, however, assimilates power and control among his servants as well as others that are on the island with him. Prospero, the protagonist of the play, is perhaps one of the more influential characters in the play. Prospero is essentially on a quest to right the wrongs that he and his daughter Miranda have had to suffer after being cast out. He sees himself as a bringer of justice, and that he is morally correct in doing what he is doing. He was the former Duke of Milan until his brother Antonio stripped that away from him.

As a result of this, Prospero and his daughter Miranda end up on an island. The island is already inhabited by a witch, Sycorax, and her son Caliban. Prospero, an extremely powerful man, looks down on Sycorax because she is a witch, and he proceeds to take over the island and run it as himself. Since Prospero overlooks the witch and chooses to take control, this helps bridge a connection between Prospero seeking out to regain power because he lost his ability to rule over others in Milan, so he looks to restore his power by controlling the island. Sycorax eventually passes away, and Prospero enslaves her son, Caliban, to do all of Prospero's bidding and slave work. As a result of this, Prospero takes over the island which can be connected to how the European settlers came to discover the western world and colonized it from the Native’s. Prospero also comes across a prisoner, Ariel, who has been imprisoned for twelve years and decides to free the spirit. As the play advances, Ariel is oppressed by Prospero who reminds the spirit that “If thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak... Thou hast howled away twelve winters. This makes Ariel remain cautious around Prospero when asking for his freedom, because Prospero doesn’t give immunity to the others easily. Prospero utilizes his magical powers to get others to aid him with his selfish acts and desires. Prospero maintains control over his servants by commanding them to do things for him. On the contrary, Caliban serves Prospero by working as a servant for him. Caliban, however, plots on overthrowing Prospero. Caliban refuses to take orders from Prospero. Thus, Prospero threatens Caliban stating that “If thou neglect’st or dost unwillingly what I command, I’ll rack thee with old cramps”. He threatens Caliban to obey his command otherwise he will be punished. Furthermore, as a stipulation for Ariel's freedom, Prospero enslaves Ariel, along now with Caliban. It is becoming more and more evident that Prospero's ideal government does not include working as a unit to help the people and the environment to prosper, Prospero uses anyone and anything that he can to achieve his own, ultimate goals. Prospero is essentially running a dictatorship. This does not seem to be an impressive means for a person who was put into a similar position himself. Prospero uses his powers to make Ariel and Caliban do his bidding, even going so far as to physically abusing Caliban with his gift of nature.

Prospero has now put his own daughter, Miranda, under the subject of his dictatorship. He does not allow Miranda to be a free person. He controls her in every aspect of her life. He makes her decisions for her and does not even help her to leave the island, which could possibly be a good thing for her for her. Though he thinks that he is doing the right thing, Prospero is clearly drunk with power. His ability to govern those who are weaker than he convinces Prospero to remain on the island. Eventually, Prospero experiences an epiphany where he discloses his inside thoughts where she says “Our revels now are ended..as I foretold you, were all spirits” and “as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” From this point on, Prospero talks repeatedly of the “end” of his “labours”, and of breaking his staff and drowning his magic book. This provides the reader a deeper understanding of the character and how it develops throughout the play. From the beginning of the play, Prospero seems like he wants revenge and justice for his past, but as the play develops, his thoughts gradually transition that the world he created around him is a fake reality as if it is just a dream. Prospero might also believe that since he has so much control of the island, it will be pointless if he returns back to Milan giving him a feeling of despair after everything he has built on the island.