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Katherine E. Davis

Ashlyn K. Holman

Hailey R. Lindsey

Emily F. Price

Mrs. Tow

English 8

17 January 2020
Justice

Magically, the sea begins to pound, propelling them across the ship; hastily the

passengers plunge into the deep, dark, howling water. On an island, in the middle of the

Mediterranean Sea, the sorcerer, Prospero seeks revenge against his brother, Antonio, in

Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. This drama contains various themes that form a classic tale

about revenge and justice. Prospero, uses his magic to seek justice and revenge against his

brother, Antonio, for his exile. He creates a tempest to overturn the vessel only to realize magic

is not the way to solve his thirst for revenge.

Prospero and his daughter Miranda are exiled from Milan because of his obsession with

magic. Antonio, Prospero’s brother, betrays him by usurping him as a duke of Milan. “There

they hoist us, to cry to th’ sea that roared to us, to sigh to th’ winds whose pity, sighing back

again, did us but loving wrong” (Prospero 1.2.175). In the midst of packing the boat, Gonzalo

puts Prospero’s book of spells in the boat in hopes he and his daughter Miranda will survive the

harsh conditions of the waters. Meanwhile, Prospero and Miranda sit on a deserted island, the

desire for justice builds within him.

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Prospero believes he wants revenge against his brother, but in reality he seeks justice. “No.

For you, 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, which perforce I know thou must

restore” (Prospero 5.2.150). Prospero decides to bring justice upon his brother, Antonio, along

with the others-Sebastian and Alonso. Gonzalo saves Miranda and Prospero’s lives by putting

the book of spells in the row boat. Eventually, Miranda and her father find refuge on an island

where they discover Caliban, the offspring of a witch, Sycorax, and the devil. They discover a

spirit named Ariel. Caliban tries to get closer to Miranda causing Prospero to enslave him. Ariel

serves Prospero with respect and fortunately convinces Prospero to seek justice instead of

revenge on the unfaithful brother and friends who were. Before Ariel, Prospero wants nothing,

but revenge on the deceivers that usurped him and his daughter.

Revenge is lurking about in every corner of the deserted island. Prospero desires revenge

on his brother Antonio for stealing his dukedom and sending him and his daughter off on a boat

to die. Prospero creates a tempest when Antonio was passing by the island on his way back from

a wedding in order to make him suffer. Caliban, a deformed slave of Prospero, tries to get

revenge for his suffering. “I say by sorcery he got this is; From me he got it. If thy greatness will

Revenge it on him- for I know thou dar’st, but this thing dare not-” (Caliban 3.2.55).Trinculo and

Stephano team up with Caliban to attempt to kill Prospero while he sleeps in his cavern but fails

to do so. Antonio and Sebastian plots to murder the king, Alonso, in his sleep for revenge.

Alonso is the king of Naples, which is enough for Antonio and Sebastian to attempt to murder

him and to extend the throne. Prospero realizes that revenge is not the right path and instead

gives justice; the others follow his new desire for justice and decide to do what is right.

Magic, justice, and revenge are emotions stirring Prospero, due to his and Miranda’s
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exile. Prospero studies magic before he is overthrown, he soon becomes obsessed with it and has

to face the consequences. Ariel, the blissful spirit, convinces Prospero that he is amiss and

revenge is not the answer, but instead persuades him to seek justice. When Prospero faces the

consequences of his mistakes instead of making things right, he creates a burning desire of

revenge on those who betrayed his trust. Prospero has a new point of view and no longer wants

the worst for the group, but instead wants to forgive and forget the memories of the past.