The acquisition and exercise of power can be either legitimate or immoral, and the mechanics governing this authority can be inscrutable, elusive and incredibly hard to discern; similar to Shakespeare 's play, The Tempest, the exercise of power is often illustrated with unclarity. One means of gauging the legitimacy of power [acquisition?] is to scrutinize the motive and the result? if the person is driven by what William Golding called “mankind’s essential illness” and he/she committed crimes with these powers, then it is morally wrong; otherwise, it is justified Antonio’s subversion over Prospero’s dukedom in this case, cannot be considered legitimate since it was greed that drives him to usurp Prospero. Same for Stephano, Stephano’s appetite for Miranda and the island that lead to his decision of supplanting Prospero. However, Prospero and Ariel’s allegiance do consider as a rightful method to gain power, because not only Prospero and Ariel followed their pro-quo contract, Prospero forgives the Antonio, the antagonist that caused him and his daughter to exile. The practice of power is very abstractive and unclear, but by analyzing each character’s motive and objective, the the nature of authority will become more apparent. First of all, Antonio’s practice of power is considered sinful and unscrupulous due to the weaving greed. In the cave, Prospero confessed to Miranda about Antonio’s betrayal that led him to this island. “I pray thee, mark me. I, thus neglecting