The Tempest

Prospero uses his words to control Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda. He is able to say exactly what is needed to keep them under his power. For example, when Ariel says, “Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, Which is not yet performed me,” he is telling Prospero to let him free because he had finished his part of their deal. However, Prospero is able to manipulate Ariel into doing another task for him. Prospero is able to use guilt to control both Caliban and Ariel. For example, he says to Ariel, “Dost thou forget From what a torment I did free thee?” when asked about the year of freedom, which leads Ariel to comply with Prospero’s additional demands. Caliban is also reminded of what Prospero has done for him when he curses at Prospero for imprisoning him on the island that had once belonged to his mother. Prospero calls Caliban an ungrateful slave, and explains to him how he taught him as if he were his own child. The guilt is too much for Caliban to handle and it causes him to wilt. Prospero is able to control Miranda by manipulating Ferdinand. When Prospero says, “What, An advocate for an impostor? Hush! Thou think’st there is no more such shapes as he, Having seen but him and Caliban. Foolish wench, To the most of men this is a Caliban, And they to him are angels,” he is able to keep Miranda from Ferdinand simply by claiming Ferdinand is not the true Prince of Naples. Even though Ferdinand draws his sword, Prospero simply tells him to obey and he is left defenseless. How the scene ends also sums up Prospero’s grip on Miranda. What Prospero says, “Come, follow. Speak not for him,” explains the true power of simple rhetoric in commands.