How Does Prospero Use Language In The Tempest

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Language is a powerful tool that can be both of power and subjugation. In Shakespeare's play The Tempest is a story of power and servitude. Language plays a great role in the power that Prospero exerts over his slaves Ariel and Caliban. Prospero a powerful wizard uses his knowledge of spells and that of mind trickery to maintain in control of the life of those in his kingdom. The Tempest is a great example of the use of language to subjugate people to the rule of a person. Prospero's use of language and his magic spell allows for him to subjugate those around him and maintain in control of his kingdom. Throughout the play Prospero uses harsh language when communicating with Caliban. Prospero insults Caliban to show his superiority and to keeps himself feeling in control. At the beginning of the play Prospero calls out to clalliban "Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!". Since the begging of the play we see that Prospero treats Caliban poorly to keep him in control. Prosperos uses insults is to remind Caliban that he is viewd as a monster who has no right to give and opinion but must obey Prosperos orders. His insult work just like a bully today would, hey use…show more content…
At the begging of the play we begging with the storm that Prospero caused to bring about emotional harm to Antonio and Alonso for overthrowing him out of his power in Italy. Prospero's ability to control the environment around him is due to the book that was presented to him when he first arrived to the island. Caliban knowing that the spell book was the source to his power and wanted to destroy it and kill Prospero in his sleep. The spell book which is control of language to control that around Prospero is the greatest example of how language can subjugate others, it is the main symbol to describe how words and language can be a powerful tool to control those around

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