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The Tempest Vs. An Enemy Of The People

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The Tempest vs An Enemy of the People
The Tempest is a play that explores many different ideas about humanity. Two of the primary themes of the Tempest are knowledge and power. The entire play shows the power of Prospero and of his spirit, Ariel, and the power that Prospero uses to control the entire story. He is a bit of a control freak when it comes down to it. Using his magic to enslave Ariel and using his magic to control the actions of the crew on the boat, and seek revenge upon those who wronged him. All of his power comes the knowledge he learned from his books. Showing the classic “Knowledge is power.” An Enemy of the People shares the theme of power and knowledge and what it really means to have power and knowledge. The play shows a big struggle for power, primarily between the two brothers, but also includes side characters, who are just looking for the best opportunity for their own success. …show more content…

In the Tempest Prospero ends up doing what is morally right. However, the play shows how devious Prospero is and how much knowledge he possesses. Making the reader question if he only gave mercy to his enemies for his daughter's sake and so that they could get back to the mainland. It would not be very much of a stretch considering the amount of power prospero possesses. A small taste of it can be seen in this quote “ PROSPERO The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd The very virtue of compassion in thee,I have with such provision in mine art So safely ordered that there is no soul— No, not so much perdition as an hair, Be Tied to any creature in the vessel (1.2.33-38)” This quote explains that Prospero was powerful enough to destroy a ship in a very fierce storm, yet also keep the entire crew completely unharmed. Prospero’s power is

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Throughout both stories both Prospero, and Morbius are noticed to contain amounts of knowledge and power. In the beginning of The Tempest you can view Prospero as someone who is evil, and uses his power only for revenge which was his whole plan in the first place. Morbius, in the beginning he didn’t want the crew there in the first place. Morbius was not as inviting or seemed to want the Commander and his crew off the Island as quickly as possible, showing he was up to no good. Though as The Tempest slowly progresses you can see a change through Prospero’s action, thinking if he really wanted to go through with his plan.

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Vengeance vs. Virtue The play The Tempest, by Shakespeare, explores the values of vengeance and forgiveness through the story of Prospero. The main conflict of the story is Prospero's lack of forgiveness for his brother Antonio, who stole his throne. This causes him to seek vengeance on Antonio and all his allies. Through the events of the story, it is evident that there is more value in virtue compared to vengeance.

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In conclusion, both plays demonstrate tension between what are implied to be wild and civilized realms. However, The Tempest is much more assertive in its consideration and the question of which character represents civility is much more predominant. Montaigne’s essay undoubtedly inspired Shakespeare’s sympathetic portrayal of Caliban as the isle’s peaceful native and Prospero is characterized throughout as a colonizer, thus questioning the legitimacy of what he deems “civilized”. Although King Lear too draws on tension between what is considered wild and civilized, the boundaries are blurred; it appears Shakespeare contrasts both location and characterization to emphasize the potential for corruptibility in both realms. Nonetheless, The Tempest

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Many thought everyone on the ship had died. But the truth is that Prospero ; the protagonist who caused everything; made sure everyone on the ship would be safe after the shipwreck. Stephano on the other hand, who was on the ship. When they got to land, he thought he was being smart. He thought that no lived on that island and that he could become the king of that island.

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His insecurity with losing his daughter is putting him over the edge. But he will later realize that he did this to himself. Even though Prospero has experienced many forms of loss, he also experiences a form of loss in which helps him become a better person. He loses his hostility and vengeance for everyone who has wronged him in the past. He forgives everyone for what they have done and learns to become a better person.

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As the play begins, it seems as if the massive tempest is simply a random occurrence, catching the mariners and nobility by chance. However, as the act continues, Shakespeare reveals that the tempest was actually the work of Prospero and his ghostly servant Ariel, who stirred up the seas and set fire to the masts (1.2, 193-194). This establishes Prospero as the executor of a mess of ‘coincidences’ ranging from Ferdinand stumbling upon his daughter Miranda to King Alonso and his party walking directly into the former duke’s cell. Though Prospero may have the same control over the English language as the other characters, Caliban points to his specific source of power. He says, “… for without [his books] /

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The various ways Shakespeare dramatizes and explores power, allows us to obtain a richer impression of the theme of power in The Tempest. Government and authority both carry out important functions in the play. It is the subject of government that initiates the events in the play and it is also the foundation of the progression throughout the play. Prospero is the fundamental piece in the play concerning governance because he used to be the Duke of Milan, but loses his title to his brother Antonio when he devotes too much of his time learning magic rather than ruling his people and seeing his obligations through: “The government I cast upon my brother, [a]nd to my state grew stranger, being transported [a]nd rapt in secret studies,” (p.10). This is also the cause of Prospero and his infant

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