The Tempest by William Shakespeare

The Tempest

In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Prospero is depicted to be a man who is educated in magic. He is said to have control over the weather. He uses this magic to control everyone on the small island. But this power ends up having others plot against Prospero. His weather magic and the use of Ariel ends up creating conflicts that affects everyone on the island.

In Act 1 of The Tempest by William Shakespeare there is a big storm that strike fear to the men of a sailing ship. This ship was struck by a powerful storm by the power of Prospero. “Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?”(1.2.230).He had sent one of his spirit servants, Ariel, to attack this ship because aboard it was enemies of Prospero. Attacking the ship meant that the people aboard it would be stranded on the island, were Prospero is “king”. He believes that he is the dominate man on the island because of his books which are of magic. Also everyone on the island goes with this and refers to him as “sir” or “master”.

In Act 2 of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, there is a storm coming in and Trinculo, one of the men who were stranded on the island because of Prospero’s magic, is walking along a path and meets Caliban for the first time. “Alas the storm is come again. My best way is to creep under his gabardine” (2.2.38-39, Trinculo) In the scene Trinculo decides to hide under Caliban’s cloak because he is the only thing that can protect him from the storm. Caliban was suppose to bring Prospero firewood but since the storm came thought he was delayed. Because of this he meets Stephano, another one of the men who were stranded on the island because of Prospero. Caliban begs to show him around the island and to serve him so he doesn’t have to serve Prospero anymore.

In Act 3 of The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Caliban Explains how Prospero gets on island and how he takes over it.

I say by sorcery he got this isle;

From me he got it. If thy Greatness will,

Revenge it on him, for I know thou dar’st

But this thing dare not. (3.2.59-62, Caliban)

He begs for Stephano to get rid of Prospero and that he will serve him forever. The whole time, Ariel is invisible toying with there minds.

STEPHANO

Trinculo, run into no further danger:

interrupt the monster one word further, and,

by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out o' doors

and make a stock-fish of thee.

TRINCULO

Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther

off.

STEPHANO

Didst thou not