The nature of
justice is one of the most prominent themes of The Tempest. Shakespeare
uses various characters and miniature plots to explore the complications of
achieving justice as well as the definition and limits on just action. The main
objective of the protagonist, Prospero, is to achieve justice by correcting the
injustice done to him by his brother, Antonio. Antonio collaborated with other
lords to overthrow Prospero, the reigning Duke of Milan. Prospero and his
daughter Miranda are then banished and end up on a deserted island. Prospero
seeks justice by taking back his title from Antonio, which constitutes the main
plot of the play.
Prospero’s acquisition of power from his usurping brother represents the ideal
enactment of justice. Most importantly, he is the rightful Duke of Milan. While
he later usurps power from others, in this situation, he is the victim of
injustice. In Act One Scene Two, he explains to Miranda that he trusted his
brother to help his manage his affairs while he focused on his secret studies.
Antonio took advantage of Prospero’s distraction to change the allegiance of
his subjects and ultimately usurp his power. Here, Prospero admits to the
mistake he has made in allowing himself to be consumed by his study of magic.
Following his return to power, he accounts for his previous error by abandoning
the practice of magic (Epilogue). In the meantime, however, he relies on magic
and his fairy slave, Ariel, to ensure the return of his dukedom. His carefully executed
plan allows his just and right return to power yet it is not tainted by
vengeful motives. Instead, Prospero forgives his brother. In most cases of
betrayal, the betrayer would be punished rather than simply admonished. Herein
lies the righteousness of Prospero as he seeks simple justice in restoring
himself to his rightful dukedom. Justice as it is characterized in The
Tempest is accompanied by forgiveness rather than revenge. Prospero briefly
addresses Antonio: “most wicked sir, whom to call brother/Would even infect my
mouth, I do forgive/Thy rankest fault, all of them, and require/My dukedom of
thee” (132-135). Through Prospero, Shakespeare characterizes the ideal of
justice as the restoration of righteousness and the forgiveness of the wrongdoers.
There are several other examinations of justice in The Tempest that do
not conclude quite so satisfactorily as that of Prospero and Antonio’s tale.
While Prospero’s restoration to the title of Duke of Milan is right and just,
his practice of these same principles on the island is hypocritical and skewed.
Prospero enslaves Ariel and Caliban against their will, which is certainly not
fair or just from their perspectives. Caliban’s relationship with Prospero is
complex. Originally, Prospero was nurturing and kind to Caliban, and Caliban
returned affection by introducing him to the island. Caliban uses this history
to direct Prospero’s attention to the injustice being done to him. Prospero
then tells us that he stopped treating Caliban as a son because Caliban
attempted to rape his daughter, Miranda. Here, the discussion of justice is
highly subjective; the distribution of justice depends upon choosing to trust
either Caliban or Prospero’s version of events. Though it doesn’t seem right
that Prospero enslaves Caliban, the rightful and original inhabitant of the
island, it is also understandable that Prospero would treat Caliban differently
once he has endangered his daughter. Caliban desperately desires justice and
the return of his rights on the island.
He is easily pulled in by the fantasy plotting of Alonso’s servants
Stefano and Trinculo. Stefano gives him alcohol, the effect of which makes
Caliban believe that Stefano is a celestial god. Caliban subsequently vows: "I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject, for the liquor is not earthly" (2.2.116-117).
Drunk and wooed by the idea of finally gaining power, Caliban helps Stefano
plot to overthrow Prospero and rule the island. Ultimately, they are foolish in
their scheme and distracted by Prospero’s set up of beautiful royal garments. Prospero sets spirits upon them, but announces that he will have mercy for the plotters. Whether or not it
would have been a just action to kill Prospero, his oppressive master, is a philosophical and subjective question that I cannot answer without personal bias. However, Caliban
ultimately achieves his purpose in the end as he is left on the island to do
what he will. In this play of power between man and monster, justice is in the
eye of the beholder.
Prospero’s
enslavement of Ariel, however, is more clear-cut in that it is definitively
skewed to Prospero’s idea of justice. Prospero rescues Ariel from imprisonment
by the witch Sycorax, which he uses to justify Ariel’s enslavement. This
concept of justice is definitely questionable because Prospero acts as the
ultimate judge of power and control. Prospero capitalizes on the misfortune of
the airy spirit. Despite the uncomfortable fact of the spirit’s enslavement,
Prospero and Ariel have a relatively equitable and friendly relationship. While
Prospero is disgusted by Caliban's monstrousness and views him as a lesser being,
he shows a respect and appreciation for Ariel. He often compliments and thanks
Ariel for his assistance and promises his freedom, which he finally awards him once
he has completed his own quest for justice. I think Prospero knows that he is
taking advantage of Ariel unjustly but he sees it as a necessary means to the
end of retrieving his dukedom. While justice on the island is highly subjective to
Prospero’s perspective, Prospero's mercy and departure from magic promises that justice will be rightfully restored in the real
political world of Naples and Milan at the end of the play.
No comments:
Post a Comment