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Freedom and Slavery in The Tempest
Freedom and Slavery in The Tempest
Cldraru Delia Florentina First Year, 5th Group First Language: Romanian
his new leader, find wood and pick berries (Act II. Scene II. Lines 172-180). Caliban job is to do material tasks for his masters. In the end he becomes the slave of Prospero because the act of usurpation is not done, because Prospero is in control of everything. Everyone in this play is a slave or a captive socially, emotionally, geographically or otherwise. One may say that freedom for most of the humans on the island is equally to gaining power for themselves but a much finer idea of freedom emerges in the relation between Ferdinand and Miranda.( Stanley Wells and Lena Cowen). The relation between them reveals another type of slavery, the slavery of love. Miranda is typically viewed as being completely deprived of freedom by her father. Her only duty in his eyes is to remain chaste. Ann Thompson argues that Miranda, in a manner typical of women in a colonial atmosphere, has completely internalised the patriarchal order of things, thinking of herself as subordinate to her father. Ferdinand is humiliated by Prospero and forced to take a slaves job in order to prove his love for Miranda. In Act III, Scene I, lines 60-86 we see him pitied by Miranda, this scene defines both the limits of her fathers powers and the richest idea of freedom in the play. Ferdinand assures Miranda that he is a prince and probably a king now, though he prays his father is not dead. She seems unconcerned with Ferdinands title, and asks only if he loves her. He replies enthusiastically that he does and although he is a prince he accepts to be imprisoned by her love. He enjoys his labors because they serve the women he loves: The very instant that I saw you did/ My heart fly to your service, there resides/ To make me slave to it, and for your sake/ Am I this patient log-man. (Act III, Scene I, lines 64-67). Miranda disobeys her father in revealing her name to Ferdinand, and, more startlingly, in offering to marry him : I am your wife, if you will marry me (Act III, Scene I, line 83). Some critics may say that : slavery is transfigured, for in this higher voluntary <service> of love is found true freedom. The wiling acceptance of the service of love in the bond of marriage constitutes a noble conception of freedom. (Stanley Wells and Lena Cowen) The entire play is an experiment of Prospero. In the conclusion, all the main characters are brought together before Prospero, who forgives Alonso. He also forgives Antonio and Sebastian, but warns them against further betrayal. Ariel is charged to prepare the proper sailing weather to guide Alonso and his entourage (including Prospero and Miranda) back to the Royal
Cldraru Delia Florentina First Year, 5th Group First Language: Romanian
fleet and then to Naples, where Ferdinand and Miranda will be married. After discharging this task, Ariel will finally be free. Prospero pardons Caliban, who is sent to prepare Prospero's cell, to which Alonso and his party are invited for a final night before their departure. Prospero indicates that he intends to entertain them with the story of his life on the island. Prospero has resolved to break and bury his magic staff, and "drown" his book of magic, and in his epilogue, shorn of his magic powers, he invites the audience to set him free from the island with their applause. To conclude, freedom and slavery are the most important themes in The Tempest because the entire play is an experiment of Prospero, hi is in control of everyone and everything on that island, but slavery and freedom become one and the same when are put in service of love. In the end slavery is abolished and the natural order is reestablish.
Cldraru Delia Florentina First Year, 5th Group First Language: Romanian
Bibliography
Stanley Wells and Lena Cowen An Oxford Guide: Shakespeare, Oxford University Press, 2003; Andrew Sanders- The short Oxford history of English literature ,Oxford University Press, 1994;
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, January, 1994;