How Does Shakespeare Present the Relationship Between Prospero and Miranda?
‘The Tempest’ was one of the final plays of a playwright and an English poet, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English Language, William Shakespeare. The first performance of ‘The Tempest’ was on November the 1st 1611, there was a great demand for entertainment such as plays during the Elizabethan Era. Patriarchal Society plays a key role in ‘The Tempest’ in which Prospero holds authority over Miranda. Another aspect of how patriarchal society is shown is that Miranda is the only female character in the play however Sycorax, Caliban’s mother and Miranda’s mother are mentioned briefly. There are many themes explored throughout the pay such as love, betrayal, loyalty, greed, affection, protection, desire, conspiracy, envy, authority, rape and magic. The presentation of the relationship between Prospero and Miranda questions and debates the family love between them. Miranda shows a loving, warm nature towards her father which consists of great respect as well. This is depicted in Act 1 Scene 2 as she addresses her father, ‘My dearest Father, you have the put the wild waters in this roar... and now I pray, you sir.’ Miranda lacks trust in her father this is clear to the reader as she simply assumes that he is the result of ‘The Tempest.’ The superlative ‘dearest’ shows her affection toward her father in addition this she addresses him as Sir which shows her immense respect toward him. Miranda is often referred to her as ‘wench’ a colloquial term for a lower class woman. This portrays her as the ideal Elizabethan woman. Miranda is represented in the light of the ultimate lady through her obedience to Prospero’s’ orders for example, ‘I pray thee, mark me’. This is known as the omission of syllables when an unstressed syllable is sometimes omitted. This happens especially after a marked pause thus either in the first foot, or after an emphatic monosyllable often an imperative. Miranda reply to this is,