In the William Shakespeare play "The Tempest" the character Prospero has two contrasting sides, he is both good and evil. Prospero is the central character in the play and everything that happens involves him in some way. The two contrasting sides to his character can be seen in the ways that he interacts with the other characters. In the beginning of the play the audience meets Prospero as the father of Miranda. In the audience's first encounter with Prospero he is shown as an evil schemer who has no feelings. This is because he orders a ship to be sunk. When his daughter finds out about this she is emotionally distraught. "Against my very heart! Poor souls they perish'd! ( 1, 2, 9.) However this deed was done for her benefit. "Be collected. No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart there's no harm done." (1,2,14-16.) This is the evil side that Prospero is well known for. It is in the same scene that we see a different side to Prospero. He talks of being plotted against by his brother Antonio. "The government I cast upon my brother And to my state grew stranger, being transported And rapt in secret studies-thy false uncle- Dost thou attend me?" (1,2,75-78.) This shows an innocent side to his character that conflicts with the evil image that is shown in the same scene
             These two sides to his character make him one of interest. The evil side seems to be a byproduct of the mistreatment he suffers in his innocent side. These two sides conflict throughout the play. At times he seems to be evil and heartless and other times he makes the audience feel sorry for him. In the play he manipulates people with these two emotional sides. He is evil in many things that he does. He orders the ship to be sunk. This is an evil deed to do because it is an attempt to take away the lives of others. He is evil in keeping the fairy Ariel as his servant. "Hast thou,spirit, Perform'd to point t...