The relationships between fathers and daughters are usually particular. This connection is greater when a father have to bring up a daughter himself. It is obvious that no matter how old a daughter is a father always considers her as a small girl who needs care and protection.
The appearance of one more man near a lovely daughter is usually considered as the attempt to still the dearest person in the world, that is why many fathers are usually against their daughters’ relationships with other men no matter how good these men are. The denial is the first reaction fathers usually experience and their desire to check a man is understood.
One of the main conditions according to which a daughter is going to be protected in the future is the strong assuredness that a daughter is in good and loving hands, protected like under the father’s care. Reading the play The Tempest by William Shakespeare, it becomes obvious that the same situation is happening among Prospero, Miranda and Ferdinand.
Starting the discussion with Prospero and Miranda it should be mentioned that living on the island, Prospero understands how cruel the surrounding world may be. However, Miranda is really naïve and cannot distract the simple problem from the real disaster.
Taking care for a daughter, Prospero is ready to create the fake problems and put the intentions of loving Ferdinand under question just to make sure that the man is ready to fight for his daughter and to win in this battle.
At the very beginning of the play Prospero says the following to Miranda,
I have done nothing but I care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who
Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing
Of whence I am: nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,
And thy no greater father (Shakespeare 7).
This phrase directs the further relations between Prospero, Miranda and the men who surround her. Everything Miranda knows is the merit of her farther. Being educated, polite and well bread, Miranda is a great example of an ideal daughter and a wife. It seems that father is going to be glad when she meets a person with whom they are going to live together, however, everything is absolutely different.
Trying to make sure that Miranda is going to be safe and protected, Prospero in interested in pleasing her at the island. Still, he could not predict the appearance of Ferdinand who spoiled all the dreams of the father. Each father wants their daughters to be happy, however, at the same time, many fathers are sure that their children are going to be near them all the time.
The appearance of Ferdinand on the island and the first scene where Miranda and Ferdinand meet each other seems too dangerous for Prospero. Prospero cannot trust Ferdinand and tries to check his intentions.
Prospero understands that Miranda is going to fall in love with Ferdinand as there is no another way out. A girl has been at the island for the last 12 years (since she was 15) and the natural desire of a young woman to love and to be loved is essential. However, Prospero does not want Ferdinand to get such a great woman as his daughter for free, without battles.
Prospero understands that being restricted from the whole world, Miranda is not going to reject Ferdinand’s courtship. At the same time considering his daughter as a great prize, too expensive and unique, Prospero uses his magic to force Ferdinand to suffer. Even though Miranda has never been fallen in love, she understands that she is ready to do anything for her lover,
[I weep] at mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give, and much less take
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling,
And all the more it seeks to hide itself
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence.
I am your wife, if you will marry me.
If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow
You may deny me, but I’ll be your servant
Whether you will or no (Shakespeare 60)
The further dialogue is the expression of the feelings where two young people exchange the desire to be together “a thousand thousand” hours (Shakespeare 60). Even though this scene presupposes that two lovers are not going to meet any difficulties, that these people are not going to suffer, Miranda’s father thinks differently.
The story of love discussed in the play is like any other love-story has to suffer greatly to have a happy end. Being able to control everything and everyone on the island, it is difficult to imagine that Prospero is not going to use an opportunity to create difficulties for the fiancé if the bride is not ready (or is not taught) to create those.
It is impossible to say whether it is the desire to make sure that all the rules are followed as when people love each other they are to be together. It seems that the author of the pay intentionally creates the sarcastic situation. Lovers can be together without any difficulties, however, the usual estate of affairs is different and there is a person who can create the complications.
Still, the lovers are predicted to be together. The author shows the reader that it is Prospero who unites two lovers to underline the fact that everything on the island is under his control.
Therefore, it may be concluded that the romantic relationships between Miranda and Ferdinand are possible only because Miranda’s father allows them. At the same time, looking at the situation from the perspective of the acknowledgeable audience, it becomes obvious that Prospero is exactly the person who has created additional circumstances on the way for lovers’ union.
Why is it necessary? Whether the desire to create the situation which usually appears is that great? Reading the final words Prospero expresses to the audience, it becomes obvious that Prospero believes himself the director of the destinies of people who surround him.
Miranda and Ferdinand’s love is neither predicted nor directed by Prospero, that is why he wants to make sure that all the occasions which happen on the island (like it was before Ferdinand and his family arrived) are caused or controlled by him.
“Our revels now are ended. These our actors…” (Shakespeare 82) are the final words in the play which support the idea of Prospero’s desire to control the whole island with people there. Therefore, the love of two people sometimes depends not on the circumstances which appear, but on people who surround them as sometimes the desire to be the main person in the lives of others may put under question the positive intentions.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. New York: Cricket House Books LLC, 2010. Print.