Shakespeare

             In Shakespeare's The Tempest there are many within the play that can relate to today's modern life. The Tempest consists of themes like abuse of authority's series of rebellion, judgment, questioning authority and even bribery and obligation. These are all themes that can be related to the modern world.
             Prospero, the protagonist, had imposed himself on an island, already inhabited. Prospero is depicted as a worthy man, who was usurped from his throne. The reader has automatic sympathy for the character. This allows him more leeway for wrong doing by creating room for it within the reader's mind. Prospero came to the island with his daughter to find it already inhabited by two savages. Upon arrival, Prospero brought his "new" ideas with him, and began to force them upon these two savages, Sycorax and Caliban. He believed that his new ideas were better, such as slavery opposed to freedom, which he imposed on Caliban. Also he steadily reminds Ariel of what he has done for him and why he must remain his slave.
             This happens in everyday life. Imagine feeling like you owed somebody something and you are appreciative, but just do not want to do the deed. America has already been through slavery, but this is a different form of enslavement linked to obligation. Every time Ariel asked to be free, Prospero would steadily remind him that it was not time and he still had more to do.
             Power struggle is evident from the beginning, way back when Prospero's brother, Antonio, seized his status as Duke of Milan and banished him to a barren place and left for dead. "In scene 2.1, pg 141, Sebastian remarks, "I remember/you did supplant your brother Prospero." And Antonio replies, "True; and look how well my garment sit upon me." Antonio betrayed Prospero, and yet he feels no remorse for his treacherous act: 'I feel not/ this deity in my bosom", his conscience is not bothered by what he did...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
Shakespeare. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 04:17, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/26351.html