Sunday, February 15, 2015

How does Prospero use magic to exact his revenge?

In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, we encounter Prospero living on an island with his daughter Miranda and two quasi-supernatural creatures, Caliban and Ariel. Prospero explains that he is actually the rightful Duke of Milan, but that his dukedom was usurped by his brother Antonio with the help of Alonso, King of Naples. Not only does Prospero have knowledge of magic, but he has compelled Ariel to be his servant.


Alonso and Antonio are voyaging together...

In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, we encounter Prospero living on an island with his daughter Miranda and two quasi-supernatural creatures, Caliban and Ariel. Prospero explains that he is actually the rightful Duke of Milan, but that his dukedom was usurped by his brother Antonio with the help of Alonso, King of Naples. Not only does Prospero have knowledge of magic, but he has compelled Ariel to be his servant.


Alonso and Antonio are voyaging together with Alonso's son Ferdinand and members of their court near the island where Prospero was shipwrecked. Prospero instructs Ariel to conjure up a giant storm to bring the ship to the island, preserving the ship and mariners intact, but casting the others into the sea and dispersing them around the island. When Prospero has his enemies in his power, he uses illusions to play upon their emotions, but eventually relents, agrees to the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda, claims his dukedom, and renounces his magic. 

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