This first act of "The Tempest" brought many questions to my little head. I believe that Prospero uses many superlatives and hyperbolies in his stories. For example when he is speaking to his slave, Caliban, he tells a story about the creatures past. There is no way for the creature to prove this in the wrong or write so he must remain subservient.
Also Prospero is very manipulative towards Miranda. He is constantly making sure she is listening and heeding to his every word with, "Thou attend'st not?" and "Dost thou hear?" (Shakespeare 38) It is almost as if he thinks that his actions are pure heroism and they deserve a trophy... which is not the case. All he has deone in reality is use a few magic spell to create a setting in whch he can dominate. He made it possible to seemingly "rescue" Miranda from a bade situation. Even though he would have been able to get her years later by the use of his storm. He has almost a magical gift of getting people to believe whatever he has to say. He poses her story to her as if he was the knight in shining armor, taking her from her immediate family. His tone while telling this story makes her melt into his manipulation.
The same is true with Ariel. He was promised early freedom, but Prospero tells his story in the form of threats so that Ariel will be respectful again. These threats are very convincing because the reader notices right away that Ariel swiftly changes his objectives and turns 180 degrees around and thanks Prospero for keeping him as a servant. This was only half unexpected. I knew something was up from the beginning but Prospero's power really went through the book and into my soul when he could manipulate soooo many with one action.
This was strange but an altogether great beginning to an interesting play.
First of all I'd like to say that we are going to make kick butt bread!!!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I really liked your post because, it seemed like we had some of the same thoughts. But one thing that I found confusing is when you said, "taking her from her immediate family." It seems like your saying that Prospero isn't her father; which could possibly be true later in the story (i don't know, just a guess), but for now he is her father. But i completely agree with you that he uses his powers of manipulation and also his magical powers to control the lives of the people around him plus his enemies.