Themes of Power in Act II, Scene I of Shakespeare's "The Tem
"The Tempest" takes place on an island ruled by the right Duke of Milan, Prospero. Although the island is far from the political machinations of Milan the island is not without of the political structure which existed there. It is quite evident that Prospero dominates the island as he may have done in his Dukedom. Power is one of the central themes; it incorporates other themes such as usurpation and colonisation. In this scene Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, Adrian, Francisco, Gonzalo and their servants appear on the island after Prospero's storm causes their ship to wreck. This in itself links to power. Prospero uses his magical power to create a storm as revenge on his brother Antonio, the usurping Duke of Milan. They are out searching for Alonso's son, Ferdinand whom they believe to be dead. Alonso is quite despondent and unreceptive to the good-natured Gonzalo's attempts to cheer him up he tells the group that they should "be merry...for our escape". "He receives comfort like cold porridge" is the simile that Sebastian uses to describe the King's reaction. Gonzalo meets resistance from conspiring Antonio and Sebastian as well. These two mock Gonzalo's suggestion that the island is a good place to be and that they are all lu
Prospero has the power of intelligence. Even when on the island Prospero retains his status, he usurped Caliban and is now referred to as "great master". It could be seen that perhaps Gonzalo's natural goodness borders on naivety in its failure to recognise the unavoidability of predatory scum like Antonio and Sebastian. Sebastian and Antonio continue to provide little help. This is quite ironic in many respects as Prospero is making Antonio do exactly what he condemned him for. The initial response of the characters to their arrival on the island illustrates this idea. In some respects Caliban thinks the same "When thou cam'st first/ Thou strok'st me, and made much of me". Prospero says "The king of Naples, being an enemy"; therefore, he would very much like it if Alonso died. Caliban was taught to speak in poetic form in return for showing Prospero the Island. Gonzalo however, has less power but uses it in want of a commonwealth, where everyone can live happily in a utopia. Antonio uses his power to corrupt the mind of Sebastian and to plot the murder of Alonso and Gonzalo. It would be a utopia of equality with no marks of wealth or social status. It starts at the very beginning when Prospero causes a storm as revenge on his usurping brother. Sebastian believes he is "standing water" which is a metaphor for him wanting to be moved in a certain direction but will not do so until he has the motivation or purpose to do so. Most, like Prospero, Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian use it for self purposes, and end up harming someone in the process.
Common topics in this essay:
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Antonio Sebastian,
Prospero Miranda,
Sebastian Antonio,
Gonzalo Ariel,
Francisco Gonzalo,
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Prospero Island,
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alonso gonzalo,
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Acceptance Essays
