An Examination of Power from the Inferior

Who is Ariel?

Motivations?

Changes throughout the novel:
Assumptions:
Gain perspective
Defensive/Confident


Through the character Ariel and her responsibility as a
servant to Prospero, Shakespeare portrays how in a
relationship of disproportionate power, the inferior
subject (Ariel) can have significant, notable influence
over the superior subject (Prospero) and his actions.
Her own being
Independent
thoughts
Awareness?
Evidence:
My liberty (I, ii, 245)
Yet, though shalt have
freedom (V, i, 96)

Reputation & Mercy


Evidence:
Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou
performed, my Ariel. A grace it had,
devouring. Of my instruction hast thou nothing
bated in what thou hadst to say (III, iii, 83-86).

Trust in one another
More work = more
trust
Evidence:
that is you now beheld
them, your affections
would be tender (V, i, 18-
19)
And mind shall, hast
thou, which art but air, a
touch, a feeling of their
afflictions (V, i, 21-22)

Compares & Reflects

Queen Victoria & Abdul Karim







Influence:
Promoted beyond servant, meet with other European
monarchs
Used his Indian political beliefs

Shakespeare, William, and Northrop
Frye. The Tempest. Baltimore: Penguin,
1970. Print.
Lawson, Alastair. "Queen Victoria and Abdul:
Diaries Reveal Secrets." BBC News. BBC, 14
Mar. 2011. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.