The Power of Evoking Fear
Prospero is first presented in act I scene ii of The Tempest wearing his magical cloak. Prospero and Miranda witness the ship wreck, he starts to explain to Miranda where she comes from as well as his background. While conversing with Miranda, she starts feeling sleepy and actually ends up falling asleep.
Ariel, the spirit is introduced and it becomes known to the reader that he was responsible for the storm brought upon the ship when Prospero asks, “Hast thou, spirit, performed to the point the tempest that I bade thee?” (1.2.537). As Prospero is speaking with Ariel, Ariel reminds Prospero of the promise he had made him in exchange for creating the tempest he desired, “Remember I have done thee worthy service, told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served without or grudge or grumblings. Thou did promise to bate me a full year,” (1.2.539). Prospero responds by stating that if Ariel questions his demands he threatens to imprison him for twelve years, “if thou more murmur’st, I will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howled away twelve winters,” (1.2.541). Ariel gives into Prospero’s threat and says he will obey his demands and not speak a word against them. Prospero evokes fear on Ariel by firstly reminding him of the huge favor he did him by saving him from a punishment imposed by the foul witch Sycorax, and also by threatening to imprison him if he does not obey his orders.
Another instance where Prospero evokes fear to have greater power over someone is when speaking to Caliban. Caliban approaches Prospero by insulting him, “As wicked dew as e’er my mother brushed with raven’s feather from unwholesome fen drop on you both! A southwest blow on ye and blister you all o’er! ” (1.2.542). Propsero says he will punish him later that night, “For this, be sure, tonight thou shalt have cramps, side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up. Urchins shall forth at vast of night that they may work all exercise on thee. Thou shalt be pinched as thick as honeycomb, each punch more stinging than bees that made ’em,” (1.2.543). Prospero then asks Caliban to retrieve firewood and threatens him with more aches and cramps if he refuses to do so. Caliban obeys him to avoid further punishment, this is another instance where a threat made allowed for the character to obey the orders made to avoid any type of punishment giving Prospero power over their behavior. Will evoking fear and making threats generate a sense of control/power over other characters as the play goes on? How will this affect the behavior of the characters? Will the alliance between Prospero and Ariel, the spirit, allow Prospero to have a slightly greater leverage over his enemies?