In order to consider Prospero’s treatment of others it is important to understand who he is, his background and his character. A magician and former Duke of Milan, who was usurped from his position by his brother Antonio along with Alonso King of Naples. Forced to flee with his only daughter Miranda he finds himself stranded on the island in which the play is set. Bitterly disappointed by his plight Prospero is determined to regain his power and depends upon his magical skills to enforce this. It could be said that Prospero is a victim of the transgression carried out by his brother and Alonso but in turn he enslaves Ariel and Caliban in order to achieve his own ends. Although ready to admit he took more interest in his books than ruling Prospero feels betrayed and cheated, his strive for justice is mostly …show more content…
Ariel takes great delight in performing magic, this is shown with use of imagery, the pace and length of verse with which he speaks. Although resenting servitude and the power held over him by Prospero, desire to please his master and repay him for his freedom from Sycorax is Ariel’s mission ultimately in order to be free from Prospero too. Prospero’s treatment of Ariel is to use him for his own needs, having assured Ariel of setting him free after the storm, he reneges on his promise informing Ariel his services are needed for a few more days. It is entirely hierarchical, the autocratic master over servant, the servant having to do as the master says, despite the fact that Prospero also depends on Ariel to do his bidding. Ariel in his turn is initially pleased to do Prospero’s bidding, showing respect for the man who freed him from Sycorax, with the greeting ‘All hail, great master, brave sir,