Character of Miranda in the Tempest

... 's The Tempest provides a historical reference of the social expectations and stereotypes enforced upon women in Elizabethan times. Despite having only one predominant female character, Miranda, the play serves to illustrate the characteristics that epitomize the ideal woman within Elizabethan society. These characteristics however, support the fact that women were unequal to men, and rather, were seen as a prized possession for a man to have. Those who believe in the social, political and economic equality of the ... sexes, or feminists, can interpret the play however as a depiction of ...

• Word Count: 1829
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... 's character changes throughout the play. He grows wiser during his years on the island and realises that it is better to forgive those who have wronged him then to take revenge. A good example of this is when he says to his brother Antonio, "For you, most wicked sir, whom to call my brother would infect even my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault - all of ... forgive all Antonio's sins, even his worst, and Antonio is obligied to return the title of Duke of Milan to Prospero. Early in the first scene in which both Miranda and Prospero appear, Miranda enquires whether or not Prospero ha...

• Word Count: 712
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... , selfish character, but later in the book it is obvious that he loves his daughter and would do anything to protect her "I have done nothing but in care of thee - of thee my dear one" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 16/17.) He decides that it is time for him to teach Miranda about her past. This is very effective because not only does the reader learn about the reasons for the tempest ... , but also about Miranda and Prospero's history and their relationship together. It has taken Prospero many years to finally explain to Miranda what actually happened in the past. This may well be down to a lack ...

• Word Count: 1229
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... tough decision making that sometimes lead them down treacherous paths that result in their demise. There are good and bad parts of these characters, but many of them have a moment of clarity in their journey to destruction. Prospero, who occupies the leading role in The Tempest, is one such character who seems to have good intentions, but acts incorrectly in an effort to accomplish his own personal goals. Caliban and Ariel ... him to make some terrible and cruel decisions, he still has the ability to care for other people and form relationships. The lust that Caliban has and the love th...

• Word Count: 1545
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... can subsist with all people equal in a type of perfect existence. Gonzalo's character serves to keep the actions and thoughts of all of the other men in perspective to the audience, as he is constantly the voice of wisdom throughout the play. Another important issue that can be observed in The Tempest is the Machiavellian issue of whether the ends justify the means. The play ends with a relatively happy ending: Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love, Antonio and Prospero make-up and ... Prospero regains his title in Milan, and Ariel is ... ...

• Word Count: 1395
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... by audiences. Mr. Funke spends a great deal of time describing how wonderful William Hutt's performance of Prospero is. He describes the character as "stern and determined" , and, in general, quite masculine and powerful. However, the reviewer is most charmed by Martha Henry's performance as Miranda. She is "a vision of young beauty" and Mr. Funke seems quite taken with her. Of course, in the play, Miranda is almost totally helpless and her entire ... , they were still nowhere near equal to men in the eyes of the law. It wasn't until 1964 that an amendment was passed demanding full legal...

• Word Count: 1536
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to possess knowledge and purity. Yet Shakespeare also reveals the dark side of mankind as all characters are flawed. Prospero is in every way the most intricate character as he plays many roles in The Tempest. Prospero is a ruler, scientist, victim, sorcerer, father, master, politician, and slave throughout the play. His complexity is the core of humanism's appreciation for man. In the final Act of the play Miranda, Prospero's daughter explains spellbound, "O! Wonder! How many goodly ... creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has such people in't." Mi...

• Word Count: 1021
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the support of a man was generally inconceivable; however, the reign of the Virgin Queen, accompanied by the writing of William Shakespeare, became a platform in which people could begin to discuss the predicament of women.

The Elizabethan's paradigm of the 'ideal woman' consisted of several criteria that molded them to fit into their patriarchal society. Perhaps the most unvarying opinion was that a woman's worth was congruous with her virginity. 
In The Tempest, when Ferdinand first meets Miranda ... virginity and this confinement is not her choice. 
Given that there is little ...

• Word Count: 2000
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The purposes of Ariel's songs are to calm Ferdinand. The first one actually calms Ferdinand and he also believes it calms the storm. Ariel's first song is about the calming of the storm. It is an invitation to dance upon the sands with him. Also, Ariel invites the spirits of the island to sing the chorus with him. Cockerels already crow and watchdog bark during the chorus anyway. In the second song, Ariel sings about life after death and how death is a good thing from the dead person's point of view. This is because Ferdinand believes his father (Alonso) is dead, and is mourning him. Both of A...

• Word Count: 498
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School