Prospero In A Midsummer Night's Dream Essay

Creative Statement
Prospero and his Paternal Power
I chose to write this new scene because Prospero is seen from the begging of the play to be a powerful character. He is controlling and dominant and shown to have no flaws. However, fundamentally like any father, his daughter is his biggest weakness. Prospero is commanding and often shown controlling other characters, so I chose to write this scene because I wanted to show a sympathetic and sensitive side to this character who ultimately cares dearly for the happiness of his daughter. To have this affectionate scene, will contrast with the rest of the play, to show the audience that even in a state of Prospero being puissant to others, he will always put his daughter first. Prospero and his
daughter Miranda have been trapped on an island for almost all of her life. He is the only man or even person that she can remember. Only the spirit of Ariel and the creature Caliban live with them. Prospero's past has been a mystery to Miranda, who questioned him about her mother for many years. He eventually reveals he was a duke. Prospero’s brother Antonio seized him of his crown and evicted him and Miranda from Milan during the night. They were put on a boat and cast away to the island. As seen with other Shakespearean plays, the women are not as powerful and influential as the male characters, It is useful to compare father-daughter relationships of other plays in disparity to Prospero and Miranda’s relationship.
In ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ the relationship between Egeus and his daughter, Hermia, is one that seems common in a Shakespearian play. Egeus treats Hermia as if she is his property and as if she is not as virtuous as himself. Egeus is outraged because his daughter believes she is eligible to make her own decisions. If she disobeyed Egeys and married the man she actually loves, rather than the one he picked out for her she would face consequences. It is seen that the male characters dominate their female counterparts, it is significant and important to note that the relationship between Prospero and Miranda is not the same. Their relationship is atypical, Prospero seems to actually respect his daughter. Miranda refers to Prospero as “sir” and Prospero to Miranda as “dear lady”. It seems that they both have a lot of respect for each other which is something that is rare in Shakespearian times. When Prospero does not want Ferdinand to court Miranda, he says it is because Ferdinand is a traitor. Unlike Egeus, Prospero has an actual reason for not wanting a certain man for his daughter. Prospero is looking out for his daughter, he tells her she deserves someone better. I am interested in the relationship between Prospero and Miranda and throughout
The Tempest, Miranda is able to make choices for herself. An example of Prospero showing his dedication to the happiness of Miranda, In Act 1, scene 2, Miranda asks Prospero if he caused the storm, Prospero does not admit or deny it, but he explicitly tries to explain and justify his actions by saying that he was doing it all for Miranda.
"No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee". Prospero has done everything in his power for Miranda, either to keep her safe or happy. Prospero has been cautious with giving Miranda information about her past. Following that scene in Act 1, scene 2, Prospero says he caused the storm to teach Miranda about
herself, "More to know did never meddle with my thoughts."
He is trying to show her naivety and how in his eyes she is still an innocent child with a lack of experience in the real world. He has had full control on her upbringing and as formed her into his ideal image. To some extent, he has had control over her sexuality and thoughts. In certain scenes, Prospero can be seen to be a malevolent character, however when Miranda asks Prospero is she was a burden when they shipwrecked, he responds with,
"Thou wast that did preserve me" This presents Prospero to be an affectionate loving father, not a tyrant, which contrasts with the rest of the play. Prospero appears to have been a caring father, as he assures Miranda that she; “Art ignorant of what thou art”, and that he has taken full responsibility for her, as a father ought to do. Miranda sympathizes with her father when her father explains his past of being banished to the island. Miranda, a teenage girl, in her innocence always believes what her father tells her, as children normally do until they get new ideas from others. She has not had many choices in her life since Prospero has taught her everything she knows till this day.
Prospero has imposed his beliefs and opinions onto Miranda. His paternal power justifies this. Prospero has had all the power of controlling and teaching Miranda what he wants to, until Miranda meets other people, like Ferdinand and Caliban. Prospero paternalism can be seen with Caliban as well, he claims it is due to his wisdom and intelligence. Miranda’s character continuously attains knowledge from her father, which she used to rebel against her father. Prospero wants to influence and control her love and desire for Ferdinand. He wants to protect her in a traditional sense, as he does when he scolds Caliban for trying to rape his daughter as seen in,
“Thou most lying slave… In mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate The honor of my child”
This is also especially hurtful for Prospero because he raised Caliban like a son. Prospero has the constant need to protect his daughter, as a father ought to do, however, Miranda sometimes shows that she is exhausted by her fathers controlling attitue. Miranda feels that Prospero impedes within her and Ferdinand's encounters when they first meet and start to develop interests with each other, seen in Act 1 scene 2,
“ Why speaks my father so urgently? This
Is the third man e’er I saw, the first
That e’r I sighed for. Pity move my father
To be inclined my way!”
Prospero has regarded Caliban as a threat to Miranda with his sexuality, he is afraid that Ferdinand is the same danger. Prospero is threatened by men’s desire for his daughter. Prospero wants to be in full control of Miranda and her emotions. Ferdinand is the third man that Miranda has met after Caliban and her father, she feels infuriated by Prospero’s constant involvement in her life and keeping her as this ‘delicate’ creature. At the end of the play, Prospero is able to get off the island, however, without being powerful and forgiving Prospero might not have gotten off the island. Even though he must sacrifice his magic, his daughter's happiness is more important to him than revenge, so he forgives his enemies. Ariel is set free, Prospero regains his dukedom and Miranda and Ferdinand get married. I believe the play ends on an optimistic tone, and it is because of Prospero and his obligation to make his daughter happy.