Although Ferdinand is a prince, he must bow to Prospero’s authority, similarly to the characters of Ariel and Caliban. Prospero has control over his slave Ariel, whom he controls by the promise of freedom. This type of master-slave power is a dominant form of power within “The Tempest”. Ariel is a spirit who is, similarly to Miranda, devoted to Prospero. He says to Prospero “All hail, great master, great sir, hail!” The repetition makes it seem dramatic and joyful, emphasising Ariel’s devotion to Prospero, and the fact that he will do whatever Prospero asks of him. As with Miranda, Prospero also controls Ariel using guilt, saying “dost thou forget/ from what a torment I did free thee from... thy groans did make wolves howl” This causes Ariel feel as though he is at Prospero’s service, with Shakespeare using terrifying imagery to remind us of the anguish Ariel had faced before Prospero freed him. Although he may appear truly devoted, Ariel may only act in this way because of Prospero’s promise to “discharge thee” when his service is complete. It is arguable whether Ariel is merely flattering Prospero in order to be freed. When obeyed, Prospero treats Ariel with respect and love, calling him “My brave spirit!” However, when Ariel shows a small amount of resistance against Prospero, saying, “Remember I have thee worthy service…thou did promise/ To bate me a full year”, Prospero immediately calls Ariel “malignant thing”, creating an image of a poisonous, evil inhuman being. This is similar to the treatment of Prospero’s slave, Caliban, whom Prospero calls “poisonous slave”.
Whereas Prospero’s relationship with Ariel appears predominantly positive, with Ariel showing true devotion to his master, in contrast Caliban deeply resents Prospero and is only a servant by force. Caliban believes “This Island’s mine…thou tak’st from me.” Prospero controls Caliban with threats, saying things such as “tonight thou shalt have cramps”, forcing Caliban to be a slave. Prospero could be blamed for Caliban’s demise into savagery, calling him “Abhorred slave” and treating him with disrespect. Caliban is often rebellious towards Prospero, refusing to do what he is asked. This is similar to the beginning of the play, in which the Boatswain, who is usually subject to power from authority, is controlling those on the boat, subverting the master-slave presentation of power. He says, “You mar our labour. Keep your cabins” and when Gonzalo says, “remember whom thou hast aboard” the Boatswain replies “None that I love more than myself”. Whereas he usually submits to the power of Alonso, the king, he reverses this and takes control.
Another example of this subversion of power is when Stephano and Trinculo, who are also servants to the king, convince Caliban that they are his masters. They use alcohol to gain power over him, Stephano saying, “Open your mouth. Here is that which will give language to you, cat” and are amused by Caliban, calling him “monster” and laughing when Caliban says, “I’ll kiss thy foot”. Caliban believes that they will able to free him from Prospero’s control over him, singing, “No more dams I’ll make for fish… Cacaliban/ Has a new master, get a new man”. Caliban is keen to get what he believes to be his island back.
Ultimately Prospero is able to control all of the characters in the play, because of his magical powers and the ability to know what each of them is doing, and the fact he put them there in the first place. A prominent symbol of Prospero’s power is the raging tempest at the start of the play. It is the tempest that shipwrecks the boat, and brings the other characters onto the island. The stage directions indicate that there is “thunder and lightning”, adding to the intensity of the storm. Ariel’s description of the tempest is mystical and terrifying, and he creates strong imagery by saying “I flamed amazement…. The fire and cracks/ Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune/ Seemed to besiege.” The tremendous storm echoes Prospero’s power, and also represents his anger towards those upon the boat who betrayed him.
Prospero, however, is not in complete control of his power, as without his staff and books, as Caliban says, “He’s but a sot”. Although Prospero eventually uses his powers for good, he is not often portrayed as an entirely suitable leader. The amount of trust he invested in his brother Antonio led to his demise as the Duke of Milan. He also showed trust in Caliban, who then attempted to “violate” Miranda.
Prospero acknowledges that he cannot continue using his magical powers near the end of the play, saying “But this rough magic/ I here abjure”. When he says “They being penitent/ The sole drift of my purpose doth extend/ Not a frown further”. Prospero knows that now he has gained the other character’s repentance, he has no more need to be angry, and can therefore give up his magical powers and “break my staff…drown my book”. This is emphasised by the description of the island. It often appears magical and mysterious, with Caliban saying “The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs” and the spirits add a surrealistic element. Ariel’s song “Full fathom five thy father lies,/ of his bones are coral made” creates a mystical image, with a use of alliteration and powerful imagery. However, he is ultimately living in a world of illusions, and at the end of the play must step out of it and back into the real world, where he can no longer use magic.
Although Prospero has seemed unforgiving with his powers throughout the play, at the end he forgives Alonso, saying “My dukedom since you have given me again/ I will requite you with as good a thing ”, showing Alonso that, contrary to his belief, Ferdinand is in fact alive. Prospero asks for our forgiveness. His speech makes it appear as though the audience has power over him, saying, “I must be here confined by you… Let your indulgence set me free.”
At first, Prospero is presented as having the most power within “The Tempest”. He is the cause of the shipwreck at the beginning and uses his magical powers to frighten Alonso and the rest of the party however it appears that he is only interested in revenge. He often only uses his powers to show off, and it is questionable as to how powerful he would be without magic, and the willingness of his servants, Ariel and Caliban, to comply with his demands. After all, it is Ariel who conjures the tempest at the start of the play, and as Prospero says about Caliban “We cannot miss him. He does our fire/ Fetch our wood, and serves in offices/ That profit us”. Prospero needs Ariel and Caliban in order to have power, and so throughout “The Tempest”, contrary to our beliefs at the beginning of the play, we begin to see that the main protagonist of power within “The Tempest” is not, in fact, Prospero.
Shakespeare presents many kinds of power in “The Tempest”. He demonstrates the control that Prospero has over Miranda using love, and also different kinds of power between master and slave. Sometimes the master and slave power is subverted, such as at the beginning of the play, when the boatswain takes control. Shakespeare also presents a change in the balance of Prospero’s power. The main reason Prospero has so much power is due to his magic, however at the end of the play he sacrifices his powers and sets free his slaves, Ariel and Caliban.
