William Shakespeare s The Tempest - 1267 Words

Government legislation has always been a social topic throughout the years. Thus, the bond in which a government creates with its people is vital in order to create a functioning society. This has led many scholars to provide social commentary on government legislature, allowing complex issues to be portrayed in different mediums, generating a greater audience. During the Enlightenment Era, William Shakespeare’s writing were a form of social commentary on the English Government. Endorsed by the king, Shakespeare’s works told tales of tragedy and whimsy, incorporating both fiction and nonfiction elements. One trademark of Shakespeare s plays were the subtle allusions to the concurrent events in the English government. This is evident in†¦show more content†¦The purpose of revealing its metaphorical nature is to display the true purpose and meaning of Shakespeare’s famous final play. The play attributes supernatural powers to the Prospero, the protagonist, allowing him to be able to convey his actions and regain his lost dukedom. In The Tempest, there are various tricks and illusions that unravel on the island. In context to the era, magic and witchcraft were slowly displacing itself from the mainstream practices. Nonetheless, Shakespeare attributes this characteristic to Prospero. These conjurations all stem back to Prospero and his goal to returning things back to the natural order. In his time on the island, Prospero uses magic to bully the island and its inhabitants. These actions are abusive to nature. Prospero’s character contrasts that of other Shakespearean roles because his actions and intentions are selfish and controlling in nature. This is because his character is modeled after a selfish monarch. As previously stated, Prospero uses his power to manipulate people and events on the island. These acts of magic could relate those powers given to governmental legislation. Governments have always possessed the ability t o prevent social disorder through surveying and policing the public. Social commentary around the abuse of these powers root back to their origin. Similarly, Prospero appears as a king ruling over the island. Although merely illusions, these actions creates an unstable relationship with