Love in 'The Tempest' and 'Translations'
Prospero's hatred for his brother Antonio stems from the fact that Antonio seized the right to be Duke of Milan that was rightfully Prospero's. However, despite Prospero's hatred for his brother, we see him eventually forgive his brother. Prospero says,
"Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th' quick,
Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
Do I take part. The rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance"
Fury and vengeance are natural feelings for a man who has been treated by his brother as Prospero has, but Prospero is able to subdue these instincts and exercise a higher and rarer quality, forbearance. In Shakespearean times, it was widely thought that to be a master of other men, one must first be the master of oneself, and we can see the difficulty and nobility of Prospero in achieving this in his relationship with his brother.
The relationship between Prospero and Antonio has the same emphasis on sibling rivalry that can be found in 'Translations' between Owen and Manus.
There is a continuous friction between Owen and Manus in 'Translations'. This is immediately identified as Owen arrives back in Ballybeg after many years away. Very few words, and even fewer sincere words of love are exchanged between the brothers. Owen is the deserting brother where Antonio is the usurping brother. Manus is constantly critical of Owen's English identity, and he says, "but there are always the Rolands, aren't there?" suggesting a dishonest duplicity on the part of his brother. It is also significant that Owen is the man who introduces Yolland to Maire, a relationship that is the source of much discontent for Manus.
Prospero's hatred for his brother Antonio stems from the fact that Antonio seized the right to be Duke of Milan that was rightfully Prospero's. However, despite Prospero's hatred for his brother, we see him eventually forgive his brother. Prospero says,
"Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th' quick,
Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
Do I take part. The rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance"
Fury and vengeance are natural feelings for a man who has been treated by his brother as Prospero has, but Prospero is able to subdue these instincts and exercise a higher and rarer quality, forbearance. In Shakespearean times, it was widely thought that to be a master of other men, one must first be the master of oneself, and we can see the difficulty and nobility of Prospero in achieving this in his relationship with his brother.
The relationship between Prospero and Antonio has the same emphasis on sibling rivalry that can be found in 'Translations' between Owen and Manus.
There is a continuous friction between Owen and Manus in 'Translations'. This is immediately identified as Owen arrives back in Ballybeg after many years away. Very few words, and even fewer sincere words of love are exchanged between the brothers. Owen is the deserting brother where Antonio is the usurping brother. Manus is constantly critical of Owen's English identity, and he says, "but there are always the Rolands, aren't there?" suggesting a dishonest duplicity on the part of his brother. It is also significant that Owen is the man who introduces Yolland to Maire, a relationship that is the source of much discontent for Manus.