Aadit Aheer
The tempest essays
Essay 1
"In The Tempest, Shakespeare makes important
suggestions about power, control and relationships."
By referring to at least two relationships and the theme of
power in The Tempest, write an essay of 500-600 words in
which you critically discuss to what extent the above quote is
true.
Throughout the play of the tempest, the theme of power and control is prevalent, it acts as
a central driving force to the plot and the actions of various individuals throughout the play.
The need for control and the use and abuse of power is coerced through actions and is
manipulated, achieved, and seen through various relationships over the course of the plot
and rising action. The use of magic and altering the course of nature causes discourse
throughout and is the foundation for the power and sense of control and its need among
the characters.
This is first evident through the relationship between Prospero and the sprite Ariel. Ariel
was a spirit on the island who was entrapped by the spell of the deceased witch, Sycorax.
Through the use of his magic and subsequently his power, Prospero was able to set ariel
free, however it is ironic that Ariel was not truly free, as he was to serve Prospero to pay off
his dues. Prospero essentially entrapped Ariel and used him to help gain control over his
enemies who were shipwrecked on the island. Prospero used ariel to manipulate the men as
well as start the tempest which landed them on the island initially. {insert quote}. This
abuse of power by Prospero landed him in trapping Ariel to do his bidding in his quest for
power and essentially becoming an overlord in control of the entire island through the
manipulating of the relationship between himself and Ariel.
The theme of power and control is also evident in the relationship between Prospero and
his brother Antonio. The power-politics relationship between the brothers can be viewed as
the simple quest for power and control by Antonio. The series of rebellion between the
relationship begins with Prospero the rightful duke of Milan, being driven to exile by his very
own brother Antonio whose main aim was to take the thrown in his pursuit of power and
control over Milan. The betrayal as a result of Antonio’s yearning for power is what lead to
the events of Prospero landing on the island and perfecting his magic (his power). The
aggressive nature of Antonio’s actions for power almost justifies the use of power and
control by Prospero later on in the play. Prospero is even seen as judicious rather than
arbitrary in his use of power “For you most wicked sir, whom to call brother would even
infect my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault” (Prospero, act 5). This constant striving for
power and control leads to the aftermath of the incidents on the island and the power
The tempest essays
Essay 1
"In The Tempest, Shakespeare makes important
suggestions about power, control and relationships."
By referring to at least two relationships and the theme of
power in The Tempest, write an essay of 500-600 words in
which you critically discuss to what extent the above quote is
true.
Throughout the play of the tempest, the theme of power and control is prevalent, it acts as
a central driving force to the plot and the actions of various individuals throughout the play.
The need for control and the use and abuse of power is coerced through actions and is
manipulated, achieved, and seen through various relationships over the course of the plot
and rising action. The use of magic and altering the course of nature causes discourse
throughout and is the foundation for the power and sense of control and its need among
the characters.
This is first evident through the relationship between Prospero and the sprite Ariel. Ariel
was a spirit on the island who was entrapped by the spell of the deceased witch, Sycorax.
Through the use of his magic and subsequently his power, Prospero was able to set ariel
free, however it is ironic that Ariel was not truly free, as he was to serve Prospero to pay off
his dues. Prospero essentially entrapped Ariel and used him to help gain control over his
enemies who were shipwrecked on the island. Prospero used ariel to manipulate the men as
well as start the tempest which landed them on the island initially. {insert quote}. This
abuse of power by Prospero landed him in trapping Ariel to do his bidding in his quest for
power and essentially becoming an overlord in control of the entire island through the
manipulating of the relationship between himself and Ariel.
The theme of power and control is also evident in the relationship between Prospero and
his brother Antonio. The power-politics relationship between the brothers can be viewed as
the simple quest for power and control by Antonio. The series of rebellion between the
relationship begins with Prospero the rightful duke of Milan, being driven to exile by his very
own brother Antonio whose main aim was to take the thrown in his pursuit of power and
control over Milan. The betrayal as a result of Antonio’s yearning for power is what lead to
the events of Prospero landing on the island and perfecting his magic (his power). The
aggressive nature of Antonio’s actions for power almost justifies the use of power and
control by Prospero later on in the play. Prospero is even seen as judicious rather than
arbitrary in his use of power “For you most wicked sir, whom to call brother would even
infect my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault” (Prospero, act 5). This constant striving for
power and control leads to the aftermath of the incidents on the island and the power
