Shakespeare’s Powerful use of Characterization in The Tempest Essay

Shakespeares Powerful use of Characterization in The Tempest In The Tempest, Shakespeare investigates the process of creativity as nearly as the idea that acquaintance is equivalent to power. The Bard draws on both Christian and Aristotelian philosophy to support the premise that morality and creativity are made possible unless through the acquisition of knowledge. The characters of Prospero, Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda each represent a different factor in the creative process knowledge, creativity, medium, and final product, art. Yet they represent something else, as well the deep divide between the social classes. The same imagery used to illustrate the creative process is used to support the European class trunk and the subjugation of the native peoples of the new world.Prospero as KnowledgeProspero symbolizes the first step in the creative process. He is knowledge, thought, and idea (Neilson 105). It was his idea to bring about the ramp that would bring the ship to the isla nd, facilitating the reconciliation between himself, his brother, and the king. Through his scheming, Miranda and Ferdinand met and became betrothed. Yet his ideas could not be put into effect without the help of Ariel (103). Ariel was freed by Prospero, and became his instrument. Neilson writes, Prospero thinks-plans, but cannot practice. He involve a working agent to carry out his schemes (105). Caliban, Prosperos wayward servant, warns the co-conspirators in his plot to kill Prospero, Remember/First to possess his books, for without them/Hes but a inebriate as I am, nor hath not/One spirit to command (3.2.86-89). Without the knowledge he has gained from his books, Prospero would have no more power than Caliban. Prospero is a magician, yet h... ...om/servlet/LitRCJohnson, W. Stacy. The coevals of Ariel. Shakespeare Quarterly. 11.3 (July 1951) 205-210. Rpt. in Shakespeare for Students. Book II. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. Payson Lib., Malibu. 20 Feb. 2001. http/ /www.galenet.com/servlet/LitRCJones, Norman. Shakespeares England. A Companion to Shakespeare. Ed. David Scott Kastan. Oxford Blackwell, 1999. 25-42.Lee, Sir Sidney. Calibans Visits to England. Cornhill Magazine. 201 (March 1913) 333, 341-45. Rpt. in Caliban. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York Chelsea, 1992. 19-23.Martz, William J. The Place of the Tempest in Shakespeares Universe of Comedy. Kansas Coronado P, 1978.Neilson, Francis. Shakespeare and the Tempest. Rindge, NH Smith, 1956.Skura, Meredith Anne. The Case of Colonialism in the Tempest. Caliban.. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York Chelsea, 1992. 221-241.