As seen in 1984, Prospero manipulates the past in order to get people to do things for him. Anything he wants he can get, because of the control he has over everyone.
Firstly, Prospero "explains" his and Mirandas' story to her, making it sound like it was gruesome and haunting. Automatically, Miranda pities her father, believing every word that comes out of his mouth, "Oh, my heart bleeds To think o' th' teen that I have turned you to, Which is from my remembrance! Please you, farther." As Prospero goes on, manipulating the story, he gets Miranda's opinion formed about him and his enemies. Just as in 1984, the people of Oceania believed everything in "the book" because it was all they knew. Miranda was too young to have any memory of how she came to live with Prospero, so she believed everything from his story.
Similarly, Prospero "reminded" Ariel of how horrible his torture was, how he saved him, and how he is so much better than Sycroax. The fact that he has so much power and is so forceful, Ariel agrees with what he tells him. When reminding him, he manipulates the story to make him sound like the "good guy", "It was mine art, When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape The pine and let thee out.". For saving his life, Ariel has no choice but to perform every task he asks him to. Even though he treats him badly, making him his slave instead of merely freeing her, he has brainwashed him into believing he is not mistreated.
By making the stories unfold the way he wants them to, Prospero can make anyone believe what he tells. Ariel and Miranda look up to him, because according to his stories, he "saved" them, and now have a better life thanks to him. Even though he mistreats Caliban now, Prospero has still assured him that if it weren't for him, "I have used thee, Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee In mine own cell...". His false narratives allow him to maintain power because none are able to test his authority. All believe he has done good to them, and therefore must "repay" him with labor.
YES! You said pretty much what I was thinking/posted, just in different words. Yes. Prospero totally jumps at the chance to take advantage of a clean-slate mind; since Miranda knew nothing of the situation that occured when she was so young, Prospero did what he could, in his power, to get her to view the story from the same standpoint as he saw it. SO MANIPULATIVE. Drives me nuts.
ReplyDeleteSame with the situation with Ariel. Well, kinda. Prospero words his dialogue in such a way that one can't help to fall for the side he's coming from. Poor, vulnerable Ariel is the same as any other victim, and he falls for Prospero's story, believing Prospero is the good guy. (YEH, RIGHT)
Dumb. Such a manipulator. Anyway, I agree with you. Same ideas. Nice blog. Love you.