William Shakespeare's last play The Tempest is a story about Prospero, who was the Duke of Milan. He is betrayed by his brother Antonio and left on a ship with his daughter Miranda to die. Only things are not going according to plan and Prospero and Miranda arrive on an island safe and alive. Also Gonzalo had provided them with many things like some food, fresh water and Prospero's book which he loves very much. Prospero in every way is the most intricate character as he plays many roles in The Tempest. Prospero is the king, the ruler of the island, he is the father, he is the master and also he is the teacher and the magician throughout the play.
The Prospero's major character is that he is powerful man. He is able to take control of the island, he frees a trapped spirit Ariel and in turns makes the spirit his slave. Prospero also enslaves a native monster named Caliban and takes control over the island. Previous to Prospero's arrival on the island , Caliban was his own king. The island was left to him by his mother, Sycorax. Nevertheless, Prospero took charge of the island and imprisoned Caliban. An example of this is when Caliban says to Prospero:.
"This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,.
Which thou tak'st from me .
Which first was mine own king;"(p.25-26). .
Prospero is a very powerful person and by using his books he is able to make magic. Possibly the most powerful thing he controls is Ariel. Ariel had the power to create a.
great sea storm, play magical music, misdirect people, turn invisible and Prospero has the power to control Ariel who gave him great power. He is able to move everyone, however he wanted through the agency of Ariel. .
Prospero is a master over Caliban and Ariel. He greets them with the words "slave" and "servant" Prospero doesn't treat Ariel nor Caliban well, but we can see from the text that Ariel is the best treated of the two. And it is best illustrated what kind of words he used when he call them.
