Research Paper on Love in the Tempest
Love Throughout the Storm
In the Tempest, by Shakespeare we see the love of family, love of country, and personal love dominate The Tempest and inform nearly every significant action. Caliban loves the island, Ariel loves natural freedom, Prospero loves his daughter, Alonso his son, and so on. But the traitors Antonio and Sebastian are also defined by love, or really the lack thereof. They are in love with power, or the potential for it. In this play, each player is on a quest for some kind of love or another, fulfilling their own version of what it means to be appreciated and, in the case of the best, to appreciate others. Love is something that everyone should obtain because without it we will not be able to love one another. In The Tempest by Shakespeare, we tend to come across with love, a good example is when Miranda the daughter of Prospero meets Ferdinand who she falls in love with. Is there love at first sight? We witness how Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love unnaturally being the result of magic. In awe we see how Ferdinand asks Miranda if she is a virgin as one of the prerequisites of their marriage. Ferdinand: “O, if a virgin, and your affection not gone forth, I’ll make you the queen of Naples. [Ferdidnand-1.2.538-540](Shakespeare,A.,andWerstine 538-540). Is it okay for Ferdinand to ask such question? Well yes it is, in the play a woman’s virginity is central to her being able to love is a virtue. Virginity is a symbol of purity, and a woman’s first love should be her only love. Miranda also asks Ferdinand if he is a virgin, he later admits he has known many women. It seems like double standards are timeless. Miranda also does not give Ferdinand a lot of choice. Whether he agrees or not, she is his:
“I am your wife, if you will marry me.
If not, I'll die your maid. To be your fellow
You may deny me, but I'll be your servant
Whether you will or no.[Miranda-3.1.100-108]. She is also very open about her attraction to him. She feels she does not
In the Tempest, by Shakespeare we see the love of family, love of country, and personal love dominate The Tempest and inform nearly every significant action. Caliban loves the island, Ariel loves natural freedom, Prospero loves his daughter, Alonso his son, and so on. But the traitors Antonio and Sebastian are also defined by love, or really the lack thereof. They are in love with power, or the potential for it. In this play, each player is on a quest for some kind of love or another, fulfilling their own version of what it means to be appreciated and, in the case of the best, to appreciate others. Love is something that everyone should obtain because without it we will not be able to love one another. In The Tempest by Shakespeare, we tend to come across with love, a good example is when Miranda the daughter of Prospero meets Ferdinand who she falls in love with. Is there love at first sight? We witness how Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love unnaturally being the result of magic. In awe we see how Ferdinand asks Miranda if she is a virgin as one of the prerequisites of their marriage. Ferdinand: “O, if a virgin, and your affection not gone forth, I’ll make you the queen of Naples. [Ferdidnand-1.2.538-540](Shakespeare,A.,andWerstine 538-540). Is it okay for Ferdinand to ask such question? Well yes it is, in the play a woman’s virginity is central to her being able to love is a virtue. Virginity is a symbol of purity, and a woman’s first love should be her only love. Miranda also asks Ferdinand if he is a virgin, he later admits he has known many women. It seems like double standards are timeless. Miranda also does not give Ferdinand a lot of choice. Whether he agrees or not, she is his:
“I am your wife, if you will marry me.
If not, I'll die your maid. To be your fellow
You may deny me, but I'll be your servant
Whether you will or no.[Miranda-3.1.100-108]. She is also very open about her attraction to him. She feels she does not