Defending Prospero in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay -- Tempest essay

reason Prospero in The Tempest In William Shakespeares The Tempest, the character of Prospero brings about a salient deal of debate. Modern literary critics are quick to call him as a poster child for English colonial practice in the sixteenth and ordinal century. Many see him as person who desires sub control of everything around him from the fish-like monster Caliban to his spirit servant Ariel, level(p) his receive daughter Miranda. Others believe that Prosperos sole motive is revenge on his buddy Antonio and those associated with the established power in Naples and Milan. Taken out of context, these are intelligent conclusions. However, in the development of the play, it is quite clear that these critics are incorrect. Shakespeare does not use Prospero as the symbol of European expansion westward and although Prospero is quite powerful, he is not a power hungry egomaniac. Instead, Prospero is the very figure of a noble father. He loves his daughter so much that he sac rifices everything to regress her the best opportunities for a uncorrupted life. He is the slave of duty, working for the good of his people. His desire for revenge is also clearly not a motif as he finds the strength to forgive his brother at the plays conclusion. thusly it seems that Shakespeares character is not being used to show the dark expression of humanity, but rather the nobility of humanity and the model of a seventeenth century father. When it comes to Miranda, Prospero can never do enough for her. Prosperos second lines states, I have done nothing but in care of thee, of thee, my pricy one, thee, my daughter (Prospero, I, ii, 19-20). Although this line can be interpreted many ways, even as an outright lie, the assumption has to b... ...ritical Study. 336-82. Cambridge Cambridge UP, 1991. Curry, Walter C. The Characters of Shakespeares The Tempest, Early Early Modern literary Studies. Vers. 5.1. May 1999. Dzelzainis, Martin. Shakespeare and Political Thought. A Companion to Shakespeare. Ed. David Scott Kastan. Massachusetts Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 1999. 100-116. Gervinus, G.G. A critique of The Tempest. Shakespeare Commentaries. (1877)787-800. Rpt. Scott. 304-307. Sacks, David Harris. Political Culture. A Companion to Shakespeare. Ed. David Scott Kastan. Massachusetts Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 1999. 100-116. Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Ed. Rex Gibson. Cambridge Cambridge UP, 1995. Snider, Denton J. A review of The Tempest. The Shakespearian Drama a Commentary The Comedies. (1890). Rpt. Scott. 320-324.