Shakespeare shows how authority is determined, not only by one’s knowledge of life at its most basic state, but also by the ability to use it. In Prospero’s case he uses Ariel as his instrument in exercising his authority. Ariel is shown as being Prospero’s eyes as he uses her to oversee all that is happening on the island. Ariel does Prospero’s bidding in the hope that she will have freedom once it has all been done. When Prospero asks Ariel if she has done what he ordered here to do: “Hast thou, spirit, performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?” Ariel replies with: “To every article”. Ariel shows that she has done all Prospero has asked her to do and even goes on to list what she has done as an emphasis of her deeds: “I boarded the king’s ship. Now on the beak, now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin I flamed amazement”. The use of commas in between the line shows a break in the flow and also implies that a lot has been done. This gives the audience a sense of how it is directed on stage as Ariel can only narrate her action and portray herself as being an eager servant flitting around Prospero. Prospero’s hold over Ariel is the promise of freedom and this is what gives him authority. His authority over Ariel also gives him overall authority over the island as, assisted with Ariel’s magic, he can control all that happens on it. Shakespeare shows us that superiority can only exist when acknowledged by those who are inferior. Another example of this is the way Gonzalo accepts Alonso as King and, later on, when Caliban promotes Stephano and Trinculo (two base characters) to a superior level.
Through the interaction between Alonso and Gonzalo, the audience realise that authority and superiority can only be acknowledged by those without it. In Alonso and Gonzalo’s case, the way in which Gonzalo addresses Alonso as “sir” shows the respect he holds for Alonso and also indicates Gonzalo has less authority than Alonso. This would have been considered as rightfully placed respect in that period in time because Alonso was the King. However, the way in which Sebastian and Antonio address Alonso is nothing short of disrespectful; when Alonso grieves for his son’s apparent death, Sebastian states “The fault’s your own (Alonso’s)”. In situations like this, the common reaction of people would be to comfort the person who is grieving, but Sebastian and Antonio show a totally disrespect for authority and, instead, make snide and sarcastic comments whenever Gonzalo speaks: “He (Alonso) receives comfort like cold porridge”. This was said when Gonzalo tried telling Alonso to be grateful for having survived the tempest, “Beseech you, sir, be merry”. The way in which Antonio and Sebastian plan to kill Alonso and Gonzalo, in order for Sebastian to become the new King of Naples, shows how they are both willing to do blasphemous deeds in order to be their own leaders. Their lack of respect for those with more authority to themselves helps the audience to understand that there is no authority or superiority without those who are inferior to acknowledge it.
The case of Caliban and Stephano and Trinculo shows the audience that some people were born to serve, but that they wanted to the freedom to choose their leader. Caliban never wanted to be free, he just wanted to have the freedom to choose who his controller was to be. We see this when he tells Stephano and Trinculo he will “serve thee” if they “bite him (Prospero) to death”. Caliban’s hatred for Prospero is justified as the treatment he receives from Prospero is nothing short of degrading; Prospero constantly refers to him as a slave, “Thou poisonous slave”. The speed in which Caliban was willing to accept Stephano and Trinculo as his new leaders shows his naivety as they are much more inferior than Prospero could ever be. Caliban begs them to take him as a slave as he says he’ll “Kiss thy foot” and asks them to be his “god”. When Caliban confronts Prospero at the beginning of the play, he shows emotion in the form of sadness as he says he “showed thee […] the fresh springs” and all he got in return was banishment from the island. However, when he speaks to Trinculo and Stephano, he says he’ll “show thee the best springs” as he believes they would never betray him like Prospero did.
Authority and inferiority are also portrayed throughout the play through the characters’ use of language. The interaction between the characters and the language they use helps the audience to differentiate between who has authority and who doesn’t. The way in which Caliban and Prospero interact with each other is a great indication to the audience of their status. As has been previously established, Prospero is shown as being a powerful and magical being who demands authority from both the audience and the characters in the play. The audience can tell, before Caliban even comes on stage, that he has little to no authority on the island. This is because of the language Prospero uses when describing him: “Caliban, my slave”, and “T’is a villain”. By addressing Caliban as his slave “slave”, the audience realise that Prospero controls Caliban and therefore is far more superior to him. The abrupt and callous manner in which Prospero talks to Caliban suggests to the audience that Caliban is unworthy of Prospero’s attention and time. Snappy lines, such as: “What, ho! Slave! Caliban” and “Thou earth, thou, speak”, show how impatient Prospero gets when having to spend time conversing with Caliban. It is for this reason that Caliban is unwilling to serve Prospero but is eager to serve Stephano and Trinculo. Caliban chooses to serve them both as he believes them to be “fine things” and to be “Brave gods”. It is his belief that they will kill Prospero and treat him well in enough. Although they both address Caliban as “monster”, the way they say it makes it seem as if it’s a term of endearment. This is proven correct when they leave the stage with: “O brave monster! Lead the way”. Caliban has never been spoken to in such a way and the use of “brave” and “Lead the way” implies that Caliban is needed by them.
One key scene to outline Shakespeare’s overall thoughts on authority and inferiority is the first scene of ‘The Tempest’. This scene outlines the fact that authority and inferiority is transient and unstable as it changes according to the situation and who is involved in the situation. Where Antonio, Sebastian, Alonso and Gonzalo would have the most authority in any social situation, their authority dissipates in the face of a raging storm. In this opening scene, the royal party is harshly addressed by the boatswain: “Do you not hear him? […] Keep your cabins! You do assist the storm”. The use of a rhetorical question shows how in a life or death situation, niceties will not do. The boatswain is more interested in getting out alive rather than adhering to the rules of hierarchy. He orders the four to get to their cabins as they “mar” his “labour”. This scene shows that even in the face of danger, Antonio and Sebastian are more concerned with the correct respect shown to them due to their statuses in society. The Boatswain’s only interest is saving himself and the ship, so his language is abrupt and short: “Work you, then”. He is speaking directly to Sebastian after Sebastian gets affronted with the disrespect he is shown. Sebastian shouts insults at the Boatswain “A pox o’your throat”. It is his pride which was injured due to the lack of respect he was shown. Sebastian and Antonio were never used to this treatment as they were usually held in high regard in society. What the audience realise is that authority means nothing when in the face of danger as the ultimate authority is help by Mother Nature.
In conclusion, one can assume that authority and inferiority is determined by a number of things, but mostly the situation and circumstance a person is in. Caliban is a victim of circumstance and thus has no authority, but if Prospero hadn’t come to the island, Caliban may have been his own king. It is Prospero’s magic and the fear he instils in Caliban which gives him the superiority he has on the island. Authority and Inferiority can also only be determined by those with less authority, as without inferiority there cannot be superiority.
Bibliography – The Tempest by William Shakespeare.
