Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Essay on Master-Servant Relationships in the Tempest

ENGL 2310.24 Master-Servant Relationships The theme of power is prevalent in The Tempest with the help of the master-servant relationship between many of the characters. The play is full of instances where the relationship is disturbed. In the play the servant shows lack of regard to the master’s authority or influences a choice that the master makes. The servants’ actions are to show that they had control over something or that they wanted to have control over something and they end up giving a new perspective to the masters. In the opening act there is a scene of upheaval brought by a storm. During the storm the noblemen are shown by the Boatswain that they had no authority over the storm: None that I more love than myself. You are†¦show more content†¦To Prospero there was no harm done. Prospero taught Caliban language so he could be a civilized person, but Caliban curses him for doing so. â€Å"†¦ My profit on’t / Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you / For learning me your language† (1.2.437-439). The master-servant relationship between Prospero and Caliban was disrupted when Caliban expressed his dislike of his treatment and it led to Caliban serving another person. Caliban told Stephano to be his god in scene 2 of Act 2. Caliban said to Stephano, â€Å"I’ll kiss thy foot. I’ll swear myself thy subject† (2.2.158). Stephano gave Caliban some of the liquor. Stephano’s actions toward Caliban are appealing to Caliban because there is no threat to his health. Caliban is willing to serve another person because he would be treated better. Though Caliban is serving throughout the entire play, it is noticeable that he is not a servant by nature. He wants freedom and he knows that Prospero will not set him free. That enabled him to be a subject to someone else who probably would grant his wishes at a later time. The witch Sycorax imprisoned Ariel inside of a tree until Prospero rescued him. Prospero then enslaved Ariel by making him his servant. Ariel uses magic to do all that he is asked to do by Prospero. In Act 1 Ariel reminds Prospero that he is to be freed after his services are done: Remember I have done thee worthy service, Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, served WithoutShow MoreRelatedThe Power Of Master And Servant Relationship In The Tempest1219 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tempest, written by William Shakespeare in 1610, is a tragicomedy that thematically focuses on power. Throughout the play, power is manifested in several different ways: the power of love, the power of master-servant relationships, the power of magic, and the power between men. The power of the master and servant relationship is portrayed through the political characters, while being mimicked through the comic characters. Specifically, Stefano and Trinculo serve as the comic characters. 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