The Tempest of corruption is a classless ill By: Justin Steen Within The Tempest, Shakespeare leaves a trail of human corruption and lust for power which suggests that these ills pray on all classes. Deception and murder are conspired throughout the play by both savages and noble dukes. There are three strong examples of this in the play: Stephano's deceptive enslavement of Caliban, Prospero’s torturous reign over the spirits and Antonio's greed for political power. In the tempest Stephano is used to confirm that the lower classes are corrupt. During the first scene Stephano is introduced to the audience, he stumbles in and proves himself to be a lowly drunk of a butler. When he finds Trinculo and Caliban he gets them drunk …show more content…
Prospero is a strong example of this. Prospero projects an image of being a firm, yet grateful ruler throughout the play. In the first scene that Ariel is introduced a cruel ruler is suggested to be lying just beneath Prospero’s façade. In this scene Ariel brings up his freedom and he is met with a harsh reminder of Prospero’s powerful reign over him. Prospero threatens him and says “If thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak/ And peg thee in his knotty entrails till/ thou hast howl’d away twelve winters.” (1.2. 294-296). This gives a glimpse into Prospero’s search for complete dominance and power over those who serve him. It also shows that he is easily angered and can be corrupted by power quite easily. Another, more understanding side of Prospero is shown at the end of the play. Prospero willing gives up his magic and frees Ariel which casts a shadow of doubt over whether Shakespeare was really suggesting all classes are corrupt with power. The epilogue where Prospero ask the audience to forgive him shows that the lust for power may not be a classless corruption. However, Prospero did many things in the play that leave him undeserving of the audiences forgiveness. For instance, torturing Caliban. The audience will surely clap for Shakespeare and therefore will be forgiving Prospero of his misdoings. His torturous reign over Caliban and Ariel leave