“She did confine thee.... into a cloven pine”.
Here Prospero is reminding Ariel of what he’s been through (Sycorax)
Prospero is conveying his power and mercy upon Ariel. Prospero keeps using blackmail against Ariel (so Ariel can stay and serve Prospero).
Prospero quotes “Once a month recount what thou hast been”
Here Prospero is convincing Ariel to once a month recount and remind himself of what he’s been through and that Prospero has helped Ariel through his bad times.
This now gives Ariel no chance but to listen to Prospero under pressure and for giving short answers (or what Prospero wants to hear).
e.g. “Ay- sir” and “I thank thee master”
Example two:
Prospero dominates Ariel with abrupt questions and a log reproachful speech – Ariel is reduced to giving the short answers Prospero wants to hear
“Hast thou, spirit, performed to the point the tempest that I bade thee?
Prospero is anxious, and hurls questions at Ariel, Prospero is relying on Ariel to do all his work and tasks for him.
Prospero fires Ariel a series of short and fast questions such as:
“But was not this nigh shore”?
“ But are they Ariel, safe”?
At this point Prospero is shown to be anxious, impatient and urgent about his work.
Prospero gives Ariel long and reproachful speeches because he wants to keep Ariel in line and make her understand.
At one point in act 1 scene 2 Prospero bestows a long speech to Ariel, talking again about sycorax and how Ariel was entrapped by her.
Ariel now can no longer talk about his freedom, after being indulged by this powerful speech from Prospero. Ariel can no longer say anything in his own favour.
Like Ariel Prospero is exited by the shipwreck. When he hears about the storm he uses exclamations and questions to congratulate Ariel and prompt him to tell him more of his story.
Prospero quotes “My brave spirit! Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil would not infect his reason?
Also: Why that’s my spirit!
Prospero is prompting Ariel to say more and more about the work by praising him.
Prospero is saying this so then Ariel can go and work more.
Prospero is using Ariel and trying say that Ariel has done a very good job, so then Ariel can carry on doing more good work like this more often.
Prospero uses a threat to maintain control over Ariel.
Quote:
Dost thou forget, form what a torment I did free thee?
Prospero threatens Ariel at certain times because he wants Ariel to stay inline and maintain his place as a loyal servant.
When Prospero threatens Ariel, he blackmails as well, to remind Ariel of the incident involving sycorax. That way Ariel understands how generous and merciful prosperos is.
The way Prospero addresses Ariel and Caliban is a sign of his power and authority.
Quote:
Why that’s my spirit!
Quote:
Come forth, I say!
Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam, come forth!
Prospero sees a lot of difference between Ariel and Caliban. Ariel is a humble, loyal, dependable SERVANT
And Prospero hates Caliban, and so calls him a SLAVE
Prospero addresses Ariel with a sign of respect. As Ariel is loyal, and listens to everything Prospero says.
Prospero has no respect for Caliban, as Caliban tried to rape Miranda; Prospero addresses him as slave, and hates him.
This shows that Prospero has a lot of power over both Ariel and Caliban.
And his authority is much higher than both.
