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The Tempest Power Essay

647 Words3 Pages

Those who are considered the underdogs are the ones whose power is greatly underestimated. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest power is demonstrated as one of the main themes of the play. The fight for free will and domination of the island is manipulated by each character. In Act III, Scene 2 the slave Caliban sees an opportunity to gain freedom in a new power role. In the scene his form as a “servant monster” is quickly transformed into that of a trusted counsel. The lowly deformed figure seems to build character strength and decides to take matters of his freedom into his own hands. His knowledge as the original native, of the inhabitants and the magic around the island, proves to be his key to being powerful. In the opening of this scene Caliban is having a conversation with Stephano and Trinculo, during this time Caliban is persuading the two to kill Prospero and take over the island. Firstly, he quickly gets the undivided …show more content…

He has the power of persuasion and he knows how to use it, “the beauty of his daughter” (3.2.99) and “ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant” (3.2.104). This can be interpreted as a challenge to Stephano, in which if he does as Caliban says and kills Prospero then he will get Prospero’s daughter as his queen. He is using the promise of a queen as a reward to Stephano. Caliban continues to sway Stephano by stating “and bring forth brave brood” (3.2.105) while speaking about Prospero’s daughter. This line urges Stephano to go ahead with their plan because he will have a brave brood, meaning strong children and family. He goes on to declare “thyself shall be viceroys” towards Caliban and Trinculo. This statement gives Caliban power, because as a viceroy under Stephano he will have the freedom he craves and the ability to govern his own colony, something he initially has on the island before Prospero

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