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Jacqueline Cornejo
Dr. Lee
English 305
November 24, 2014
Prospero the Manipulative Magician
The Tempest by Shakespeare is a tragicomedy play where we come to unfold several
characters within ACT I, Scene II. Within the beginning of Scene II, Prospero is unfolded as a
Magician who caused a horrible storm, while Miranda gets introduced as she is asking her father
whether or not he was responsible for the tempest. Miranda is introduced as a compassionate,
innocent individual portraying how different she is from her father. Miranda seems to sympathize
while feeling worried for those who are dying, while her dad seems not to care as much, he tells
her not to worry at all. Prospero also seems to be displayed as a caring, loving father as he
describes himself. But in reality, Prospero is an expert when it comes to manipulating the people
that surround him. Through the use of setting, character, and diction (style) we can see how
Prospero has power over people by manipulating and acting evil towards others.
The setting is set up in this play above the stage directions in italics as an unhabituated
island. The setting of an island could also be used as a symbol to contribute into a deeper
understanding of why Miranda does not know anything besides her father and the island. The
island represents a detachment from the mainland, where these characters find themselves
isolated away from a society. Prospero being the manipulative intelligent person he is, he knows
very well they are isolated on this island, therefore it allows him to manipulate Miranda while

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having power over his two slaves Ariel and Caliban. Prospero is able to manipulate his daughter
as long as he keeps her in this island because she is isolated from other humans. Miranda
believes everything her father tells her without questioning, she is very loyal and respectful to
her father. For example, we can see how loyal and respectful she is when she is asking her father
if he was responsible for the storm without ever accusing him of such a tragic event "If by your
art, my dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar, allay them" (Shakespeare 48).
Although, Prospero uses the setting of their situation to his advantage to manipulate his
daughter, he is very good in the sense he talks about himself. His character allows us to visualize
how he portrays himself so others dont question him at all. "I have done nothing but in care of
thee,-Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter" (Shakespeare 49). Prospero has characterized
himself into the portrayal a loving, caring responsible father who has always looked out for the
best interests of his daughter Miranda. Through this description we understand why Miranda
does not ever question her father, she believes her father is a caring dad who wants the best for
her. What Prospero really desires from his daughter is to get her into understanding certain
viewpoints he has, he does this by not allowing her for her to question him, while constantly
asking Miranda questions to make sure she is actually paying attention "Dost thou attend
me?"(Shakespeare 52), "Dost thou hear? (Shakespeare 54). Besides constantly asking Miranda
questions, he has also portrayed himself as a victim when he is explaining to Miranda the act of
him getting overthrown at night "The ministers for th' purpose hurried thence Me and thy crying
self" (Shakespeare 55). Prospero has portrayed himself as a victim with the intention of having
his daughter on his side as he even tries to manipulate Miranda into making her question the fact
that Prospero's brother should not even be called a brother "Mark is condition, and th' event, then
tell me, if this might be a brother" (Shakespeare 55).

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In addition to Prospero manipulating Miranda, he has also managed to keep both of his
slaves under his power through the use of manipulation. With the entrance of Ariel in Scene II,
"Come away, servant come! I'm ready now", "All hail, master, great master! grave sir, hail I
come to answer thy best pleasure" (Shakespeare 59). We get a sense of the great authority and
power Prospero has among Ariel, we learn that Prospero is a very demanding master by the way
he communicates with Ariel. Although, Ariel is a slave, Prospero had promised his freedom.
Prospero is not happy about the idea of Ariel's freedom, therefore he uses his manipulative
tactics into creating a guilt trip among Ariel. "Dost thou forget from what a torment I did free
thee?" (Shakespeare 62). "I must once a month recount what thou hast been, which thou
forgett'st" (Shakespeare 63).
Even though, the element of character has helped us understand how Prospero is a sneaky
manipulator, the use of language such as diction will help us reveal how much of a manipulative
person he truly is. Every manipulator must be an expert with their word choice if they want to
successfully convince another person into whatever it is that they are trying to convince them to
do or understand. For example, his use of language (diction) while he is talking about his brother
creates thoughts upon the audience/reader of actually getting this mental image of what a
horrible brother he has through his word choice "I pray thee, mark thee;-that a brother should be
so perfidious! -he whom, next thyself, of all the world I loved" (Shakespeare 52). Prospero's
word choice of "perfidious" helps to emphasize his point of how untrustworthy his brother could
be. Perfidious has a strong sound while reading it out loud, making it stand out while reading the
play, he could of said untrustworthy, yet he chose perfidious as his word choice to emphasize his
main characteristic about his brother. Prospero has also become an expert in using word choice
for his benefit when it comes to talking about himself "... being so reputed in dignity, and for the

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liberal arts" (Shakespeare 52). His word choice of "dignity" was used to contribute his
description of how amazing he is as he is telling Miranda his story. Prospero clearly thinks of
himself as being worthy of honor for being this educated man while.
Prospero's portrayal of himself as an educated man through the use of his books and
liberal arts, also helps us understand why he is evil with his slaves. His books could be portrayed
as a symbol of power. Books symbolize knowledge, intelligence, and communication which
allows Prospero into thinking he has more power and authority among his slaves because they
are not educated with the skills he has acquired through the use of his books. Prospero's books,
and his word diction have allowed him to become the sneaky manipulator we know of. While the
setting and his character contribute into a deeper understanding of why he has been able to get
away with manipulating everyone around him, it does give him the right to manipulate everyone
for his own benefit.

Works Cited

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Shakespeare, William. "ACT I, Scene II." De Storm: "The Tempest", n.p., 1912. 48-66.
Print.

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