The Theme Of Freedom Versus. Control In free essay sample

The Tempest By William Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper THE Storm Explore the subject of Freedom versus Control in the Tempest. The Tempest is a drama that explores many subjects, one of which is the subject of freedom versus control. We can research this subject by analyzing the characters in the drama. Throughout the drama there are infinite illustrations of power and authorization through control, and the desire for freedom repeating strongly along with this is emphasised in many of the characters. All the characters in the drama suffer some kind of captivity before they are free. For a start, the characters in The Tempest are all on an island of which they have no control over. Prospero and Miranda are exiled at that place after Antonio usurps his place of Duke of Milan ; therefore they both suffer a deficiency of control in their lives. Prospero, in fact, although hankering for control himself, reigns superior over many of the characters. One of these characters is his retainer, Ariel, who he freed from Sycorax after she was imprisoned in a tree for 12 old ages. Ariel has to endure rough penalty when she so much as complains of her unjust intervention to Prospero ( Act 1, Scene 2 ) : If thou more murmur # 8217 ; st, I will lease an oak And nog thee in his knotty visceras boulder clay Thou hast howled off 12 winters. Prospero here is informing Ariel that if she dares to inquiry is authorization once more, he will incarcerate her in an oak tree for 12 old ages. Ariel, hankering for her freedom, agrees to run errands for Prospero in order for him to derive control and be free, through his programs of unifying Miranda and Ferdinand. Throughout the drama, mentions are made by Prospero that Ariel shall shortly be free every bit long as she carries out his instructions. ( Act 4 Scene 1 ) : Shortly shall all my labors end, and 1000 Shalt have the air at freedom. For a small Follow, and make me serve. Prospero has besides enslaved Caliban even though he states that the island is truly his by his female parent, Sycorax. In Act 1 Caliban Tells Prospero how he showed him all the good things on the island, and in return he imprisoned him. However Prospero accuses him of seeking to ravish Miranda, so hence he should be a slave. In the subject freedom versus control, Caliban is an interesting character to analyze, because he sees freedom in a different manner. In Act 2 Scene 2 he insists that he go Stephano # 8217 ; s retainer because that will let go of him from Prospero # 8217 ; s rough bids: No more dikes I # 8217 ; ll do for fish, Nor fetch in fire, At requiring, Nor flower stalk trenchering, nor wash dish, Has a new maestro, acquire a new adult male. Freedom, high-day, high-day freedom. Although Caliban is drunk at the clip of saying these words, it is clear that his version of freedom is exchanging Masterss. Another character that Prospero has control over is Ferdinand. To prove the love between Miranda and Ferdinand, Prospero subjects Ferdinand to harsh intervention. But Ferdinand does non care about his deficiency of control and freedom, stating that every bit long as he can see Miranda one time a twenty-four hours from prison, he is happy: All corners else o # 8217 ; th # 8217 ; earth allow liberty do usage of. Because he has adequate infinite and adequate freedom ; nil affairs to him except seeing Miranda. That is his signifier of freedom. At Prospero # 8217 ; s orders, Ferdinand has to transport logs all twenty-four hours, but he is so blinded by love that it doesn # 8217 ; t bother him. Prospero, being Miranda # 8217 ; s male parent, besides has control of her. In Act 4, Scene 1, Prospero once more emphasises his authorization over the two lovers by warning Ferdinand that if he is to interrupt her virgin-knot before matrimony, Miranda will no longer be his. In The Tempest, particularly in Act 1, some characters are disputing the control that others h ave over them, and demand for their freedom. The Boatswain orders the male monarch and courtiers to go forth the deck and confines all the crewmans underneath at that place. Prospero is angry at being overthrown by Antonio and conspires to alter it, through his control over Ariel, who inquiries his right of holding her as a slave. Caliban, excessively, inquiries his imprisonment, and Prospero accuses Ferdinand of stealing the island. Gonzalo has his ain version of what freedom should be, and he states it in Act 2, Scene 1, that he believes that work forces and adult females would populate together in harmoniousness and be freed from authorities and control. He says: I would with such flawlessness govern, sir T # 8217 ; Excel the Golden Age. He dreams of a Utopian democracy in which everyone would hold freedom. It is an interesting facet of the drama to hold Gonzalo # 8217 ; s view on freedom in researching the subject of freedom versus control. He thinks that there should be no control in our society, but Antonio and Sebastian mock him. Antonio is a character in The Tempest who has acquired control by assuming Prospero # 8217 ; s throne. He proposes a homicidal secret plan to Sebastian: he will kill Alonso so that Sebastian can go male monarch, and Sebastian must besides kill Gonzalo. By utilizing powers of persuasion, Antonio is a character that has gained control. Antonio has no scruples and every bit long as he has his ain freedom, he cares non about anyone else. However, although he is likely incognizant, Antonio easy loses his freedom and has a deficiency of control as Antonio, Sebastian and Antonio are all driven into lunacy. Other characters in The Tempest, excessively, are driven into close insanity. Caliban besides proposes a homicidal secret plan to kill Prospero. Stephano agrees and says that he will do Trincolo and Caliban his deputies. But Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban are haunted by Prospero # 8217 ; s liquors. Caliban complains in Act 2 Scene 2 how he is tormented by Prospero # 8217 ; s liquors: His liquors hear me.sometime am I All lesion with adders, who with cloven linguas Make siss me into lunacy. Once once more, Prospero has managed to derive control and make a deficiency of freedom in the lives of others. Throughout The Tempest, Prospero has aspired to accomplish many things: to unify Naples and Milan through the matrimony of Miranda and Ferdinand and so he will recover his dukedom ; to hold retaliation on Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio ; to get the better of the wicked natures of others ; to get away the island ; to liberate Ariel ; and by and large unite everyone. Prospero is basically a good adult male: through control he has been able to be successful in most of these things. However, Ariel persuades him ( Act 5 Scene 1 ) to hold commiseration on the male monarch and courtiers, so through Ariel, Prospero abandons his programs for retaliation and alternatively decides he will be merciful and give up all his thaumaturgy powers. In the terminal of the drama, Alonso asks for forgiveness and vacate all claim to Milan. It is merely Antonio and Sebastian who have non apologised and acknowledged their evil. The subject freedom versus control in The Tempest is really of import. There is a changeless interaction between both freedom and control. All the characters have some kind of freedom, and yet they all have some kind of control over them, excessively. Through the geographic expedition of the characters in the drama, it can be determined that Prospero is the chief provoker of both freedom and control. Prospero himself, nevertheless, is non free until the terminal of the drama. Prospero has been restricted from entire freedom from the beginning of The Tempest. Whether or non Prospero # 8217 ; s concluding words be repeating the concluding words of one of the universe # 8217 ; s greatest dramatists, William Shakespeare, Prospero asks the audience for forgiveness. As it is with many of the characters in The Tempest, it is merely with the credence of the control over them that they can so genuinely be free.