How is the Character of Prospero Conveyed in the Opening Scenes of the Tempest?
How is the Character of Prospero Conveyed in the Opening Scenes?
Prospero is the protagonist of Shakespeare’s play ‘The Tempest’. At first, he is a sympathetic character because his usurping brother wronged him making him appear helpless, be that as it may, his possession and use of magical knowledge renders him extremely powerful. However, the fact that he uses this power over the other characters makes him not entirely sympathetic. Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan, who, along with Miranda, his daughter, was put to sea on "a rotten carcass of a butt" by his own brother, Antonio, twelve years before the play actually begins. Prospero and Miranda survived, fortunately, and found exile on this small island.
Prospero’s first impression is that he is a caring father “I have done nothing but in care of thee-” but as selfless as he may appear, his longer dialogues and speeches evoke another side of him, a more self-centered side. This is primarily revealed when he mentions his appreciation of magic and darks arts “for the liberal arts / Without a parallel; those being all my study, / The government I cast upon my brother” Thinking of himself, he left his city and his people in the hands of his brother so that he could focus on what he truly is fascinated by: magic. By doing so, he put his and his daughter’s life in peril.
Prospero continues to be revealed in the way he interacts with other characters in the play. At first Prospero praises Ariel “My brave spirit!” by this we can infer that, even though they have a master and servant relationship, he still appreciates the spirit’s efforts. Prospero imposes authority and dominance on Ariel, a spirit, which sets a hierarchy to the play. The subservient Ariel demands for freedom, which triggers a certain anger in Prospero, as if he believes that Ariel is challenging his authority. He is very demanding as he states, “There’s more work” as soon as Ariel had just completed a task. Prospero shows authority by
Prospero is the protagonist of Shakespeare’s play ‘The Tempest’. At first, he is a sympathetic character because his usurping brother wronged him making him appear helpless, be that as it may, his possession and use of magical knowledge renders him extremely powerful. However, the fact that he uses this power over the other characters makes him not entirely sympathetic. Prospero is the rightful Duke of Milan, who, along with Miranda, his daughter, was put to sea on "a rotten carcass of a butt" by his own brother, Antonio, twelve years before the play actually begins. Prospero and Miranda survived, fortunately, and found exile on this small island.
Prospero’s first impression is that he is a caring father “I have done nothing but in care of thee-” but as selfless as he may appear, his longer dialogues and speeches evoke another side of him, a more self-centered side. This is primarily revealed when he mentions his appreciation of magic and darks arts “for the liberal arts / Without a parallel; those being all my study, / The government I cast upon my brother” Thinking of himself, he left his city and his people in the hands of his brother so that he could focus on what he truly is fascinated by: magic. By doing so, he put his and his daughter’s life in peril.
Prospero continues to be revealed in the way he interacts with other characters in the play. At first Prospero praises Ariel “My brave spirit!” by this we can infer that, even though they have a master and servant relationship, he still appreciates the spirit’s efforts. Prospero imposes authority and dominance on Ariel, a spirit, which sets a hierarchy to the play. The subservient Ariel demands for freedom, which triggers a certain anger in Prospero, as if he believes that Ariel is challenging his authority. He is very demanding as he states, “There’s more work” as soon as Ariel had just completed a task. Prospero shows authority by