Prospero --A Good Father

For centuries since the play The Tempest was written, a long debate about whether Prospero is a good man or not has continued. While the vast majority might argue for Prospero's virtue, critical readers might point to his arrogance and bitterness to demonstrate his vice. Despite all the different views on Prospero, the fact that Prospero loves his daughter and wants the best for her does not change. Successful parents raise their children as best as they can even under hard circumstances and ensure their safety. I believe that although Prospero made some wrong decisions he shows great love and care to Miranda, giving a great example of a loving father.

Prospero shows his love toward Miranda by educating her into a gentle girl although she grew up isolated on the island. Many single parents often times raise their children into a twisted, depressed, and wounded child. However, even though Miranda grew up with alone with her father, she has a beautiful and gentle heart, unlike a child who grew up from isolation and lack of a mother. For instance, when Miranda sees the shipwreck, she pleads her father to stop before anyone gets hurt, showing her kindness even to those she does not know (Shakespeare 1.2.1-14). Also when Prospero enslaves Ferdinand, Miranda obeys her father’s will and comforts Ferdinand saying, “Be of/ comfort. /My father’s of a better nature, sir, / Than he appears by speech” (1.2.604-606). If Prospero has not raised Miranda with love and educated her well these past twelve years, Miranda might have stood up against her father when he mistreated Ferdinand. Instead, Miranda respects Prospero’s decision, which shows how Prospero successfully raised his daughter to respect him. Through Miranda’s obedience and respectfulness toward Prospero, the audience could understand Prospero educated Miranda successfully and this makes him a great parent. 

Just as Parents want their children to have a happy life, so does Prospero; after the lonely life they lived together on the island, he wants to protect Miranda and marry her to someone who would really love and cherish her. When Prospero found out Caliban wanted to hurt Miranda, he raged with anger and enslaved Caliban so he could not hurt Miranda ever again, which demonstrates his eagerness in ensuring Miranda’s safety. Continuing, Prospero shows protection toward Miranda when he realized Miranda and Ferdinand fell in love. Even though Prospero was happy to see the couple, he wanted to test Ferdinand to see whether he had a genuine love for Miranda. So he enslaved Ferdinand and watched how the couple engaged with each other. Ensuring Miranda’s safety at the same time, Prospero tries his best to achieve a better future for Miranda as any loving parents would.

However, some audiences might protest Prospero tried to control Miranda with his magic and he hid their pasts from her for twelve years, which does not show an example of an honest parent. When it comes to family, dealing each other with complete honest maintains a good relationship, but Prospero hides their past from Miranda and casts a spell on her so she would fall asleep instead of asking more questions, “Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions. / Thou art inclined to sleep” (1.2.219-220). Many audiences find that Prospero casting spell on Miranda terrifies them, arguing that he should not control Miranda with magic and instead answer his daughter’s question. All parents have secrets, and many hide them because it could either hurt the children or bring disadvantage situations, so does Prospero. Even though Prospero neglects to tell Miranda their past as a child, he waits until the right time, when she has grown mature enough to understand the politics involved in their exile. Also, while Prospero knows he needs to tell Miranda everything, he does not; he keeps silent and watches Miranda as she follows the plan he had made for her. Thus, through “dishonesty” Prospero shows the audience the need for patience in timing when it comes to educating children, which many parents lack.

Overall, Prospero demonstrates a great example of a parent through his education, protection, and patience toward Miranda in The Tempest. Many people debate on what kind of man Shakespeare wants to audience to see Prospero as. However, they easily ignore Prospero as the most important role in the play—a father, a parent. Throughout all the difficult times Prospero went through on the island, all of his decision was based on Miranda and whether it could bring happiness for her in the future. And that qualifies him as a great father.

Work Cited

       Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Folger Shakespeare Library, Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and            Paul Werstine, The Folger Shakespeare Library, 1994, United Sates of America.

       Rose