Prospero: Playwright and Puppet Master

In Shakespeare's The Tempest one character stands out as a symbol of power and of manipulation. This character, Prospero, acting as a puppet master throughout the entire play also serves as a surrogate for Shakespeare himself. Just as Shakespeare created an entire reality of his own on the stage, Prospero has dominion over the island to which he has been exiled.

It is on this island that Prospero surreptitiously strands his brother and the men who wronged him over twelve years ago as they pass on the way back to Naples. Once trapped on the island, a harpy condemns them as sinners saying "...that you three / From Milan did supplant good Prospero...which foul deed..." (3.3.87-90). Prospero uses this display of theatrics acted out by Ariel to make a case against Antonio and Alonso and explain his idea of justice much in the same way Shakespeare employed thespians to act out social commentary about imperialism and power through this specific play. Prospero's own daughter is also a pawn in his plot to his own happy ending. Once Miranda has seen Ferdinand and they have fallen in love, Prospero plans to "uneasy make, lest too light winning / Make the prize light" (1.2.544-45) so that he will have leverage against Ferdinand's father once they are in love. Shakespeare as the author of the play is also in control in the plot of events in the more literal sense and has the responsibility of bringing the play to a concise resolution. Once the play has come to a close, Prospero speaks to the audience directly begging for them to "Let your indulgence set me free" (5.1.20). Shakespeare in this case, is speaking through Prospero to the audience while Prospero asks for forgiveness, Shakespeare asks for endless patronage.

Being indirectly in control of the action of the story, Prospero symbolizes Shakespeare himself. Both Shakespeare and Prospero use language, storytelling, and theatrics to control the events of the play. On the highest level, Prospero serves as a proxy for Shakespere.