Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of the theme of power and control in Act 1 of the Tempest
“The Tempest” is a tragic comedy and was written by William Shakespeare in 1611. The title “Tempest” means a violent windy storm and gives us an idea that the play is about a storm. Shakespeare’s presents the theme of power and control throughout Act 1 in the play.
In Act 1 Scene 1 the King of Naples and his men are heading back from his daughter’s wedding on a ship when they are swept up in a huge storm. When this storm takes place the boatswain is in control of the ship and has the power to tell everyone what to do even the King of Naples “Do you not hear him? ...keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.” This suggests how the Boatswain is ordering Gonzalo and Alonso to go back down to their cabins and does not show them any respect and blames them for getting in the way of their work. “What cares these roarers for the name of king?” this suggests that even the waves do not care about the king and the class system and that everyone is equal on the boat. When Gonzalo reminds the boatswain to respect who’s on the boat with them he replies “None that I more love than myself.” This shows how his attitude towards Gonzalo changes because status has no value on the ship. Alonso does not appear much throughout this scene and has no control over his men it’s as if his existence doesn’t make a different because no one is listening to him and he doesn’t have much to say this shows how he is not a good ruler and has no power or control over his men. In this scene the power of the storm causes a rift between the power of relationships among nobles and servants
At the start of Act 1 Scene 2 we find out that the storm wasn’t a natural disaster but it was Prospero using magic to control the storm. “My dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.” Throughout the play Prospero has the most power because he rules the island and controls everything by using magic or by manipulating people even when he tells Ariel and Miranda of the past events
In Act 1 Scene 1 the King of Naples and his men are heading back from his daughter’s wedding on a ship when they are swept up in a huge storm. When this storm takes place the boatswain is in control of the ship and has the power to tell everyone what to do even the King of Naples “Do you not hear him? ...keep your cabins: you do assist the storm.” This suggests how the Boatswain is ordering Gonzalo and Alonso to go back down to their cabins and does not show them any respect and blames them for getting in the way of their work. “What cares these roarers for the name of king?” this suggests that even the waves do not care about the king and the class system and that everyone is equal on the boat. When Gonzalo reminds the boatswain to respect who’s on the boat with them he replies “None that I more love than myself.” This shows how his attitude towards Gonzalo changes because status has no value on the ship. Alonso does not appear much throughout this scene and has no control over his men it’s as if his existence doesn’t make a different because no one is listening to him and he doesn’t have much to say this shows how he is not a good ruler and has no power or control over his men. In this scene the power of the storm causes a rift between the power of relationships among nobles and servants
At the start of Act 1 Scene 2 we find out that the storm wasn’t a natural disaster but it was Prospero using magic to control the storm. “My dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.” Throughout the play Prospero has the most power because he rules the island and controls everything by using magic or by manipulating people even when he tells Ariel and Miranda of the past events