Mothers in William Shakespeares The Tempest Essay -- William shakespe

Mothers in William Shakespe bes The TempestAl grand pianogh Mirandas get under ones skin and Sycorax never actually appear in The Tempest, their memories occupy a uncertain position in Prosperos will to billet. Prospero invokes the retention of Mirandas get to legitimize his lineage, yet feels threatened by the control she exerts over it. His history deftly erases his wifes presence from Mirandas computer memory, rendering him the fillet of sole purveyor of his daughters imagination. Prospero employs a discourse which affirms maternal authority by means of the denial of female sexuality. He negates the legitimacy of Sycoraxs matriarchy by constructing Sycorax as not only an evil witch, but also an loose mother. Such a discourse opposes Calibans shout to the island while justifying Prosperos usurpation of power. Although Miranda recalls having four or five female attendants, she has no memory of a mother. Indeed, Prospero alludes to his wife only once during his r ecount of the events which forced him from Milan to the islandProspero 12 years since, Miranda, twelve years since, Thy father was the Duke of Milan, and, A prince of power Miranda Sir, are not you my father?Prospero The mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter and thy father Was Duke of Milan, and his only heir and princess no worse issued. (1252-58) Mirandas unwitting question provokes a strange response from Prospero. He admits to relying on his wifes word that Miranda is his daughter. In doing so, he reveals his monomania from Mirandas birth and the possibility of illegitimacy. Mirandas mothers power to bear children exerts a threatening cont... ...ief invocation of Mirandas mother asserts the rightness of his lineage, yet also divides Prosperos parental authority. In suppressing his wifes presence, Prospero emerges as Mirandas sole guardian, fashioning his daughter into his most prized possession. Prospero constructs Sycorax as an unchaste witch (foiling his construction of his own wife) in order to subjugate Caliban and prevent him from polluting Mirandas body. Although Prospero overpowers Caliban with magic that is unrivalled in Sycoraxs absence, he cannot silence Calibans claim to the island via a matriarchal lineage. His rhetoric literally bastardizes Sycoraxs dynasty, but is not convincing enough to remove the iniquity of doubt cast by Calibans matriarchal discourse. Sycoraxs memory emerges as point of contention, compelling readers to question Prosperos narrative, and thus his claim to power.