William Shakespeare’s Play the Tempest

William Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest”, is a literary piece of which focuses on ruled and ruler relationships through his play. He alludes to the relationships by incorporating is own perspectives into the ruled and ruler bonds. Shakespeare’s idea of an exemplary relationship of a ruler and it’s ruled is determined by the willingness of the those who are ruled to be governed without erupting chaos and turmoil. This type of relation ideally must be positive where one follows another because the ruled must be willing to be governed. This is shown through an attempt in murder, a spirit’s loyalty to its master, and an ideal father and daughter relationship.

Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, and Caliban, a slave that serves under Prospero, have a very unstable relationship as master and servant. Caliban is unwilling to obey his master, resulting in an attempted murder. Caliban and Prospero have an equal exchange of hatred towards each other. Initially, Caliban and Prospero had a positive relationship exhibiting affection. Caliban begins to recall this time when disclosing, “And then I loved thee” (I.ii.43). Nevertheless, the way Caliban is treated in play (used and abused) clearly shows that there is no love between them any longer, if there was any at all. For example, Prospero would call Caliban upon summoning him, “Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself/ Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!” (I.ii.324–26). In response, Caliban says, “As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed/ With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen/ Drop on you both! A southwest blow on ye/ And blister you all o'er!” (I.ii.327–30). Later in the play, in act three scene two of “The Tempest”, Caliban expresses his feelings on the way he had been dealt with by his master to Stephano and Trinculo, a drunken jester and a butler, and asks to assist Caliban in h fulfilling his urge for revenge. Caliban begins to say, “There thou mayst brain him” or “with a log/Batter his skull; or paunch him with a stake;/Or cut his weasand with thy knife.” (III.ii.85–89). Once more, proclaiming his urge to kill Prospero. Caliban also says repeatedly to Stephano and Trinculo to be sure to burn Prospero’s books before killing him, “–for without them/He’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not/One spirit to command. They all do hate him/As rootedly as I.” (III.ii.90–93). Inferring that Caliban has attempted in killing Prospero before, but perhaps failed, also conveying how much he wants to eliminate Prospero. Therefore, Prospero and Caliban have a very unstable relationship as master and servant, as Caliban is unwilling to obey his master, resulting in his attempt in murder alongside Stephano and Trinculo.

Ariel, a loyal servant, and Prospero, Ariel's master, have an anchored relationship as master and servant, as Ariel is loyal and willing to serve under Prospero and obeying him, resulting in his