With close reference to the text, explore how Shakespeare presents the character of Prospero in Act
Uploaded by tiny_lil_pixie on Nov 22, 2003
Shakespeare uses the change between blank verse and prose as the most obvious differentiation between the characters in this play. Prospero is a noble character so speaks in blank verse which follows the pattern of iambic pentameter; this is shown most clearly when he is making longer speeches such as in the opening of scene 2, when he and Miranda are speaking. This style of verse is distinguished by the emergence of a soft sound followed by a hard one, repeated five times; Shakespeare occasionally bends this rule to suit the lines of the character, allowing the verse to flow more freely.
The scene begins with a conversation between Prospero and his daughter Miranda, both of whom use blank verse as they are noble characters. This is the first time that the audience have seen Prospero and Miranda, and she is the only female in the play, allowing the audience a change and a break in the midst of many male characters. Her emotions and the use of language which Shakespeare chooses for this character allow the audience to make a clear distinction between the male and female characters. Shakespeare uses many alliterations during Miranda’s speech, reusing a soft ‘S’ sound, this creates the sound of the sea but also sounds like she is sighing, reflecting her unhappy mood.
Shakespeare’s opening line for Prospero is a very authoritative line and instantly allows the audience to see that he is a commanding central character, his direct and almost harsh language draws the audiences attention away from Miranda and towards the character of Prospero. He is first seen to be putting Miranda in check and trying to stop her emotional outburst over her witnessing of the shipwreck, he says that ‘there’s no harm done’, which is the audiences first indication that the shipwreck in the opening scene was not what is seemed. The interaction between Prospero and Miranda allows the audience to understand not only the character of Prospero but also clearly installs the character of Prospero as the father and as a strong male character. He also uses these two characters to help the audience to follow the story as Shakespeare uses them to set the scene and explain what has happened.
By using the characters as narrators, it allows the audience not only to find out how they arrived on the island...