Charlotte Pearce

Tatum
9th H Lit/Period 2
January 31, 2018
Scholar’s Journal Entries
Motif: Parent and child relationships (control)
Entry 1
Act: I
- Explaining to his daughter the reason for his harsh storm he cast upon the sailors,
Prospero exclaims, “Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,/ Thy father was the
Duke of Milan and/ A prince of power” (I, ii, 66-68).
- After Prospero has finished his story, he casts Miranda to sleep, so she won’t here his
conversation with Ariel: “Thou art inclined to sleep. ‘Tis a good dullness,/ And give it
way. I know thou canst choose” (I, ii, 220-221).
- When Prospero awakes Miranda, she voices that the story caused her to have a heavy
heart. He then commands, “Shake it off. Come on,/ We’ll visit Caliban, my slave, who
never/ Yields us kind answer” (I, ii, 367-369).
Commentary: Miranda’s father, Prospero, shows his authority over her by keeping secrets to
protect her view of him. He also casts spells on her to sleep and to wake in order to keep her
from hearing things and participating in certain conversations. He shows his control over her by
literally controlling her actions (sleeping and waking) and by choosing to not inform her of
certain circumstances and events.