Essay Sample: The Importance of Magic in The Tempest

đź“ŚCategory: Plays, The Tempest
đź“ŚWords: 795
đź“ŚPages: 3
đź“ŚPublished: 24 June 2022

In William Shakespere’s The Tempest,, Propero lives a complicated life, and his connection to his art is one of the many distractions in his daily life. The Duke of Milan has to persevere through hardships while simultaneously dealing with enemies, being a father, and being stuck on an island. Throughout the play, Prospero is in constant conflict between his magic and his values. Prospero’s books not only possess magical power, but have the ability to control his  life. In order to maintain a healthy mindset, Prospero must realize that he needs to drop his magic due to the enormity of the magic’s strength and how it interferes with his priorities.

Due to the magical power the books hold, along with the power that those same books hold over the life of Prospero, he must realize that he needs to drop his magic due to the enormity of the strength and how it interferes with his priorities.

Throughout the Tempest, Prospero uses the magical power that his books hold in order to perform extreme, unbelievable and extroinirardy   acts.  His books can do a lot more than the normal magical acts that are constantly put on in society. For example during the play we see Prospero use his magic to create a big storm, destroy/manipulate his enemies and to set up a wedding with his daughter and the king of Naples. In Act 1 Scene 2, when Miranda is talking to Prospero about life and the storm, she says “Heavens thank you for it, And now I pray for you sir for still tis beating in my mind, your reason for raising this sea storm.” This quote shows that not only do Prospero's books indeed have the power and ability  needed to create a storm that has the magnitude to kill thousands of people, they also have the power to inflict damage that should not be taken lightly. Another quote which shows the magical power of the magic is when Prospero says

While Prospero has a very important job as being the Duke of Milan, throughout the Tempest, he displays more care and more dedication towards his books above his prized job as the Duke of Milan. Although the books have the potential to inflict damage to his life, the power that the books hold in Prospero’s life inflict greater damage to him. Another example of Prospero's addiction to magic in his life, and the magic taking power over him is when we first see evidence of Prospero addiction is in Act 1.2.77. In this scene Prospero is explaining to his daughter Miranda the reasons as to how he lost his dukedom. Prospero says, “The government I cast upon my brother And to my state grew stranger, being transported And rapt in secret studies.” In this quote Prosepro is talking about his “secret studies” which most likely mean his magic. While he does put some of the blame on his brother for the loss of his dukedom, he admits that he cared more about his “secret magic” than he did about controlling and leading Milan.  Another example of Prospero's art having an impact on his life is when he is talking to Miranda about how they survived the terrible storm, and displays his priority, love, and dedication towards the books. Prospero says,  “Knowing I’d lov’d my books, he furnish me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.” This quote proves that Prospero’s obsession with the books is harmful. The fact that Prospero is dedicating himself and his time towards caring about his magical books then his important job as a duke shows that he needs to drop his magic in order to maintain a focused mindset. If Prospero were to set all of his time towards his magic, he would have none for caring for the people of Milan.

Due to Prospero's magic having a powerfully negative  impact on his life, and not having his priorities straight, he realizes that he needs to let go of his magic in order to maintain a healthy mindset.  Not only did the magic have a negative impact on his life, it took a toll on Prospero's strength to the point where he had nothing beside (save this for leora)

Prospero has the realization that he does not need to enforce his power and his magic in order to torutre and manipulate his enemies but approach them with a kinder manner. In act 5.1.25-28, while talking to Ariel in his magic robes, Prospero says, “Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th’ quick, yet with my nobler reason against my fury do I take part. The rarer action is in virtue than in Vengeance.” This quote shows that Prospero is realizing that he is taking advantage of his books and using the books in a way that they should not be utilized. Prospero knows that he could be a better person if he were to drop his magic and treat his enemies with kindness instead of manipulating them, torturing them and using his books in a poor way.

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