The Importance Of Power In Shakespeare's The Tempest

Too much power causes a negative effect and leads to selfish desires. When people with power do not get what they want they lash out. In the play Antigone, Creon who is appointed king threatens Sentry because he does not get what he wants. On line forty Creon tells Sentry “I’ll string you up alive, and there will be certain way to make you discover your employer before you die.” Creon shows his true self when his power is tested by sentry. This demonstrates the mindset of people with power.

This is when the idea of greed completely hit me because it showed me that it can do disastrous to us and it required me to think harder about it. Having one theme is better than having multiple because it focuses on one idea instead of the distraction of multiple themes like The Wife Of Bath

In Antigone, and the rest of the world, emotions can control your actions. If you do not keep your emotions in check, especially when making an important decision, rash actions could be made. Acting rashly can lead to some pretty harsh consequences, even in a seemingly simple situation. Greed can be classified as several different ways, good or bad, right or wrong, and so on. Eteocles was greedy, and he wanted the throne that he promised to share with his brother to himself.

“A man with too much ambition cannot sleep in peace” as stated by Maxx Mitchell. This statement describes that the people will have some trade off in order to pursue something they have, to give up on something. However, the goal is really the choice It could lead to different consequences either positive or negative. Shakespeare's play Macbeth is described as a tragic character and his action has been influenced by his wife. Shakespeare believes that ambition, when taken too far leads to our destruction as shown through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Thomas Jefferson and Niccolo Machiavelli both believe that the actions of the people shape the characteristics of the ruler and define the type of authority that will be held towards the people. Machiavelli, the first great political philosopher of the Renaissance, argues all men are untrustworthy due to their selfish, self-interested and impulsive ways of life in his writing, The Morals of the Prince, and therefore, to keep the people under control the ruler must be prepared to be cruel and instill fear among the people. Opposing Machiavelli is Jefferson. In The Declaration of Independence Jefferson believes people can be trusted since they have the ability to make their own decisions. Whereas Machiavelli supports tyranny, Jefferson believes

Adams argument is another critical aspect into understanding the legacy of Caligula. The fact that Caligula was basically raised to understand ‘power’ as being an absolute entity, was dangerous in Roman aristocratic society. Caligula was simply acting the way he believed one should rule, especially when everyone was seemingly out to get him. However, aristocrats saw his acts as threatening, they wished to discredit him as best they could, and end up killing him over basically having the wrong upbringing. Geoff Adams offers a slightly distinctive focal point on Caligula’s life than that of Winterling.

Power is Insatiable A person’s true intentions rarely reflect how they present themselves to the public as shown in literature. Shakespeare highlights the difference between one’s private and public self using his tragedy, Macbeth. Macbeth’s soliloquy in act III scene I reveals his selfishness and paranoia after becoming king because the power he has doesn’t suffice. His distrust in Banquo and worries about his lineage expose humans’ natural dread of losing power and their determination to expand it regardless of the consequences. Banquo and Macbeth had a brother-like relationship; they fought together and spoke their “free hearts each to other”(9).

This really important quote in the play, Macbeth believes that if he murdered Banquo and Fleance it will prevent Banquo's sons from becoming king. Macbeth’s greed for power and retaining his power is the reason for his downfall. Macbeth is unable to control the power of being king. Macbeth also abuses his authority, and causes his people to lose respect for him. It is relevant today because we see this today with country that has dictators.

Power can quickly change a person. In Edgar Allan Poe’s “Cask of the Amontillado” the narrator has power over an intoxicated Fortunato as he leads him down it to the depths of his family vaults. The narrator has power over Fortunato and it ends up changing the narrator to be a different man from whom Fortunato knows. Power has also has changed characters for the worse in the Percy Jackson books written by Rick Riordan included but not limited to Kronos, Luke, and Ethan. They prove that people can be obsessed with the control, respect, and chance for revenge that power gives them.

Unlike Shakespeare’s other main characters, he is much more enigmatic. In they play Prospero is portrayed as the rogue who seeks revenge on his brother Antonio for his treachery. In this Shakespearean comedy it becomes clear that Prospero is the heart of power on the island. Evidently Prospero has been wronged by his brother’s usurping which he could not control and now uses his magic as a tool for controlling the events that occur on island throughout the play. The theme of power in this play is hugely significant as it clear that the violence interrogated in this play is in relation to power and the abuse of that power by the protagonist.

Also the barons would have been seen as undreaming the king’s power and authority. Henry took control of the situation by demolishing the illegal castles built in Stephens’s reign the barons saw this as an attack on baronial power but the king was asserting his authority and keeping the barons on a tight leash to prevent them from becoming too powerful. Furthermore Henry had the problem of resolving the splits in the country which had caused confusion. During Stephens reign there were resentments from supporters. Henry had to regain the support of his people as he would not have been able to

The reason for the viewership is the subliminal need for power. In one way or another we must see or hear about how others are suffering, so we can feel better about our situation. This can turn dangerous as some many feel they are deserving of more, so they go and create their self-righteous version of terror. Because of this powerful businessman and their rent-seeking activities and the abusers of the BlueServo project possess similar motives. But when people are the ones being viewed or spectated, humans attempt to escape reality to focus on irrelevant things.

Machiavelli uses King Agathocles as an example of how it is possible to rise to power maliciously; by crime, murder, and betrayal. Later in the text, Machiavelli talks about the importance of being loved and feared. He is quoted saying, “Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with… for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.” Although it may seem immoral to achieve power through evil, one must decide between being loved or being feared. In the case of King Agathocles, he was clearly feared by many based on his journey to power.