The Tempest - Act 1

Throughout the first act there are many examples where Prospero is able to manipulate the people around him through the stories he tells them. One example would be the story he tells his daughter Miranda. Prospero is able to create a fictional story to tell his daughter because when he asks her what she remembers about her life before coming to the island she replies "tis far off, and rather like a dream than an assurance that my remembrance warrants" (Act 1 Scene 2 page16). When Miranda tells Prospero that she only remembers a little, however, it is a bit hazy he is able to tell her anything he wants because she does not remember which will make her believe anything. He then goes on to tell her that his own brother, Antonio took control of Milan and put him and Miranda out to sea. Through this story Prospero is able to control Miranda because he makes her believe that his brother Antonio is evil which in turn make her hate him even though she does not find out what he really did that was so horrible.

Another example of Prospero's manipulation is towards his servant Ariel. When Ariel had asked if he could have his freedom soon it drew an angry response from Prospero who replied "thou dost...I must once in a month recount what thou hast been which thou forget'st" (Act 1 Scene 2 page 34). Prospero feels that Ariel has forgotten that he saved him and must tell him the story again. He uses this story to control Ariel because he says that he saved him from a witch who stuck him in a tree. Prospero thinks that since he saved Ariel he must work for him or else he "will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howled away twelve winters" (Act 1 Scene 2 page 36).

The last example from the first act that shows Prospero's control is towards his slave Caliban. Prospero orders Caliban to do chores for him or else he will "rack thee with old cramps, fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar that beasts shall tremble at thy din" (Act 1 Scene 2 page 44). Prospero threatens to inflict pain on Caliban if he does not follow orders. He also says that he was always good to Caliban until he took advantage of his kindness and tried to rape Miranda. However, Caliban says that Prospero actually took the island away from him when he first came there.