Prospero’s Loss in Shakespeares The Tempest Essay

Prospero’s Loss in The Tempest Shakespeare’s The Tempest is a play about loss - more specifically, Prospero’s loss. Prospero is a tragic hero, in a sense, because he makes the transition from having everything to having nothing. He loses his daughter. He brings his enemies under his power only to eventually lose control and release them. In the end, he gives up his influence on the world – including his incredible power over nature itself. The Tempest can be seen as a tragic play because of a few elements – Prospero is a dominant figure who must have revenge in return for the wrongs inflicted upon him, and, in his fury, he manages to destroy his enemies as well as his own humanity and his daughter’s future. Prospero is†¦show more content†¦Prospero is unsettled even though his plans are reaching fruition. In his talk with Ariel for the first time we see an actual conversation take place. In addition, in the line ...And mine shall. (Shakespeare V.i.20) we see a change of heart on the part of Prospero, and in the following monologue the audience is privy to introspection and contemplation even beyond that of the end of the masque in Act IV We are such stuff as dreams are made on...(Shakespeare). To begin, one notices how the beginning of Act V is rhetorically different than the other acts. There are four important facets of this difference. The language is much less colorful than that of previous acts, and is easily understandable by modern audiences. We also see Prospero randomly switch from one topic to another, showing his edginess. In addition, on several occasions Prospero is forced to finish incomplete lines, demonstrating that he is not controlling the conversation. The given lines provide an interesting counterpoint and complexity of meaning. The language used at the beginning of Act V is surprisingly simple. It is direct, and in its simplicity conveys the state of affairs and the characters feelings. In the first thirty-two lines, during Prosperos and Ariels conversation, only two expressions can be considered highly figurative. In lines 2-3 Time is personified as a man carrying a heavy load: ...and Time/ Goes upright with his carriage. Later, ArielShow MoreRelatedThe Tempest By William Shakespeare1603 Words   |  7 PagesAnthony Koranda Professor Lori Branch ENG 2010 10 October 2014 In Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, power is manifested in several forms: the investigation of the power of love, the power of magic and illusion, or the power of nature. However, in The Tempest, power is most clearly defined as dominance. Throughout the play, there is a universal pursuit of dominance over other people, dominance over property, or dominance over cultural ideals. These pursuits of dominance are used in an attempt to furtherRead More The Genre of The Tempest Essay952 Words   |  4 Pages The Genre of The Tempest The Tempest is customarily identified as the William Shakespeares last piece. These marginal issues aside, The Tempest is the forth, final and finest of Shakespeares great and/or late romances. Along with Pericles, Cymbeline and The Winters Tale, The Tempest belongs t the genre of Elizabethan romance plays. It combines elements of Tragedy (Prosperos revenge/Loss of a royal son) with those of romantic comedy (the young lover Ferdinand andRead More Deception in The Tempest Essay1469 Words   |  6 Pagesbelow is found in the opening act of one of Shakespeares most illusive plays of control and manipulation. The word deception is defined as the act of misleading or to trick, cheat, lie, and mislead. From this definition, it is obvious that deception is normally perceived to be evil and results in the harm of others mentally and physically. It leads to broken hearts, untold truths, or even unpunished murder. However, in Shakespeares The Tempest, deception is used as a virtuous art to manipulateRead MoreThe Tempest Critical Analysis1133 Words   |  5 PagesThe process of discovery is largely impacted by a shift in personal and cultural perspectives, enhancing an individual’s understanding of themselves and others in their world. Shakespeare’s 17th century tragicomedy ‘The Tempest’, explores how the disruption of the traditional order of societ y and the transformative power of forgiveness both facilitate personal discovery. Similarly, Peter Weir’s 1989 film ‘Dead Poets Society’ portrays how questioning one’s personal and cultural context allows an individualRead More Prospero in William Shakespeares The Tempest Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesProspero in William Shakespeares The Tempest Prospero has long been read as one of Shakespeare’s most cherished and provocative protagonists. His timeless role in â€Å"The Tempest† has provided readers and critics with insights into many attributes of Shakespeare as a man, his works, and the political views that are personified in his play. The historical context of â€Å"The Tempest† is one that convincingly conveys the political views of the English people of his time, relating to the colonizationRead MoreThe Tempest Literary Analysis Essay 721 Words   |  3 Pagesalluring is a true indication of appreciation for life, but can at times result in consequences. In Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, Prospero commands one of his spirits, Ariel, to summon a tempest as an act of revenge for being deposed as the rightful Duke of Milan by Antonio and Alonso. Although the tempest causes isolation between characters, Ferdinand, Miranda and Ariel are blessed by the tempest; receiving opportunities achieve a better life. Although the King’s son, Ferdinand loses his luxuryRead MorePost Colonial Translations Of The Tempest : Colonial Society s Universal Mirror1672 Words   |  7 PagesTranslations of The Tempest: Colonial Society’s Universal Mirror Shakespeare’s The Tempest has been viewed through many different lenses, and each translation brings with it a new and differing understanding of Shakespeare’s complex original work. Two specific translations, Coetzee’s novel Disgrace and Cesaire’s play A Tempest, do an exemplary job at translating The Tempest, because both translations looked at a different aspect of the colonizer-colonized relationship. Cesaire s A Tempest translates theRead MoreIn William Shakespeares The Tempest, the line between the realm of reality and illusion is blurred900 Words   |  4 PagesIn William Shakespeares The Tempest, the line between the realm of reality and illusion is blurred by Prospero, who through the use of his magic is able to manipulate and control both the island and those who are stranded on it. The duality between illusion and reality, the contrast between the natural and unnatural are being represented and questioned by Prosperos magic. Throughout the pla y, Shakespeare is stating that illusions can distort reality, but in the end reality will always makes itselfRead MoreShakespeares Influence on the Audiences Response to Caliban in The Tempest1268 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeares Influence on the Audiences Response to Caliban in The Tempest My essay hopes to draw into focus one of the most complex characters in Shakespeares play The Tempest, - Caliban. Shakespeare influences the audiences response to Caliban using in turn, humour and pathos to make the audience relate to the various strands of his character. Caliban can be interpreted in many ways, and only when examining his character as a whole, can we truly understand how ShakespeareRead More The Role of Language in Shakespeares Play The Tempest Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of Language in Shakespeares Play The Tempest 1 The role of language in Shakespeare’s play â€Å"The Tempest† is quite significant. To Miranda and Prospero the use of language is a means to knowing oneself. Caliban does not view language in the same light. Prospero taught Caliban to speak, but instead of creating the feeling of empowerment from language, Caliban reacts in insurrectionary manner. Language reminds him how different he is from Miranda and Prospero, and also how they have changed