A Midsummer Night's Dream Research Paper

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Marycruz Flores AP English and Language Mrs.Jaeggi The role of magic in The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Shakespeare’s comedic plays The Tempest and A Midsummers Night’s Dream the topic magic and the supernatural plays a significant role in characters actions, environments, and personalities.In both plays dominaAnt charcters such as Prospero and Oberon use magic to seek revenge and gain power among others. Oberon uses magic to prove his manhood by seeking comedic revenge on his wife, Titania, and by “teaching her a lesson”. He proves that he is the man in the relationship, after his wife is under his force of magic. Oberon’s supernatural vengeance is inflicted when Titania prefers a child that isn’t hers rather than her…show more content…
As stated in the play, “Ariel: Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, let me remember thee what thou hast promised, Which is not yet performed me… Prospero: if thou more murmur’st I will rend an oak, And peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howled away twelve winters” (The Tempest. 1.2.340). Prospero is infuriated when Ariel mentions his freedom and threatens Ariel if he mentions his liberty that he’ll torment him. Prospero needs Ariel to regain his throne in Milan because the more magic Prospero gains the more powerful he is. Prospero actions are affected by Ariel’s forthcoming freedom because since the more magic he has the more powerful he is therefore he is controlling over Ariel. Prospero also manipulates Ferdinand into a charm by accusing Ferdinand of a spy in order to make Miranda's and Ferdinands love have challenges. Prospero states, “Soft, sir, one word more. They are both in either’s powers. But this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning, Make the prize light. One word more. I charge thee, That thou attend me. Thou dost here usurp. The name thou ow’st not, and hast put thyself. Upon this island as a spy, to win it, from me, the lord on’t (1.2.541). Not only does Prospero use the help of Ariel to arrange the young couple of Ferdinand and his daughter, Miranda, Prospero also has power among their relationship. This…show more content…
As stated before magic is very powerful but no ownership of any land means no throne therefore he isn't as powerful as he seems to be. This affects Prospero’s future actions by seeking revenge upon his enemies with the aid of Ariel. As Prospero states, “ And these mine enemies are all knit up, In their distractions. They now are in my power” (3.3.110). Having control over the people who have betrayed him will lead him to eventually gain his land and control whomever he
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