'The Tempest is concerned with government - of the self and of the state' Discuss with reference to Act One.

        However being a good political ruler is associated with the idea that you have control over others and it is clear to the audience that Prospero can control Miranda, Ariel and Caliban. He controls Miranda through who she does and doesn’t see in regard to Ariel and Ferdinand, with Ariel he harnesses his magical abilities for this own profit and he uses Caliban to carry out his general labour

        Antonio is another character that concerns himself with government of self and state. Unlike with Prospero, Antonio’s lack of self-discipline at taking the dukedom from his brother actually leads him to be quite and astute political leader. Antonio ‘new created the creatures’ that were Prospero’s and ‘set all hearts i’ the state/ To what tone pleased (Antonio’s) ear’. Antonio is able to remould Prospero’s men to follow him he even creates allegiances with Prospero’s enemy Alonso the king of Naples proving he is very clever when it comes to government of the state. Yet wanting power means Antonio has ‘awakened an evil nature’ this kind of language suggests that Antonio is not a noble character he is interested only in power. Antonio can’t control himself ‘his needs will be/ Absolute Milan’ he has completely neglected self-discipline letting political government take him over, and arguably he is just as guilty as Prospero on focusing on one and not achieving a balance between self and state. However it is Prospero that describes Antonio’s behaviour here and Prospero is likely to be biased and bitter at having his dukedom usurped. Antonio could be seen to be acting in the best interest of the state in the absence of Prospero which could be seen as an admirable quality rather than Prospero’s neglect of the state through selfish reasons. I believe that it could be seen that Antonio is not neglecting self-discipline as it does involve the idea of being true and doing what is best for yourself and generally people do like and want power and if there was the opportunity to take it you would. I think this idea would be understandable to both Shakespearean audiences as well as those of the present day because of the change in monarchy at the time and with today’s power, money orientated consumerism. I feel that Antonio’s supposed lack of government of the self is more justified then Prospero’s lack of government of the state.