According to the reference made to the play, ’’The Tempest’’ by Shakespeare, David Bevington is justified to claim that Prospero uses the knowledge he acquires from magical books to subdue his enemies by renewing their faith in goodness. He wittily uses Ariel to carry out divine tasks that could put him at par with a god.
For instance, he instructs Aerial to fly around the boat in which Antonio, Alonso and their acquaintances are, to cause a storm and consequent shipwreck, but finally manages to save all the occupants of the ship.
The latest revelation that he was responsible for all this is to make Antonio and Alonso perceive him as a good man. Prospero says to Miranda “I have with such provision in mine art.So safely ordered that there is no soul– No, not so much perdition as a hair.B etid to any creature in the vessel.W hich thou heard’st cry, which thou saw’ st sink” (Shakespeare 4).
Prospero’s magic is intended to create an impression that he is more powerful than both Antonio and Alonso. Ariel tells him when he inquires about the ship’s occupants,” Just as you left them: all prisoners, sir. In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell; they cannot budge till your release” (Shakespeare 7).
After the shipwreck, Antonio, Alonso and their subjects are desperate, have lost hope and prepared to sink to a watery grave. Antonio says “Let’s all sink wi’ the King”. But Prospero uses his magic and they do not sink (Shakespeare 9).
He saves Aerial from the tree, although he later exploits him. He saves Gonzalo and Alonso from a plot to kill them by Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo. He even forgives Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian and promises to free Aerial upon preparing proper sailing weather to guide them back to Royal fleet and finally to Naples. “And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales, And sail so expeditious that shall catch.Y our royal fleet far off” (Shakespeare 10).
The major beneficiaries of Prospero’s magic are himself and his daughter, Miranda. It is quite evident that his magic is intended to help him, and Miranda finds their way out of exile, he tells Miranda “I have done nothing but in care of thee,” (Shakespeare 11).
He employs his magic to execute his plan of returning to the royal land. Although Alonso and Antonio together with the other occupants are saved from the wreck, two things are quite evident; the whole storm was as a result of Prospero’s magic, and it was meant to make Alonso and Antonio guilty of plotting to move him out of the land as he later forgives them. Since he is the most powerful, he sends Aerial to prepare sailing weather.
Several characters have been developed through Prospero’s magic. Ariel is loyal and obedient as he obeys Prospero and exorcizes his magic as per instructions. He says “Remember I have done thee worthy service, Remember I have done thee worthy service”.
Caliban is brought out as rebellious since, after being compelled to servitude for attempting to rape Miranda, he perceives his master resentfully and usurper. He wishes “A south-west blow on ye, And blister you all o’er!” (Shakespeare 15).
Finally, Prospero’s magic helps bring out the cordial relationship between him and Ariel through how they cohesively co-operate to execute Prospero’s magic. Ariel says” I will be correspondent to command, and do my sprinting gently.”
Prospero is depicted as a loving and caring father who does all he can, including magic to secure his daughter. He says “I have done nothing but in care of thee, of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter” (Shakespeare 14). The friendly coexistence between Alonso and Antonio is also brought out in the as they used to spend most of their time together.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. New York: Pocke. 2004. Web.