Lydia's Essay 10

Lydia Schulz
Mr. H Salsich
9 English
8 January 2009

          This passage displays a couple different themes, both revolving around Antonio’s betrayal. To understand the significance of these motifs, we need to see the big picture of this passage. When telling his daughter about her uncle, Antonio, Prospero accuses his brother of taking advantage of Prospero’s immersion in his studies to take greater control of his state. Antonio eventually banished Prospero and his daughter after gaining almost total control of the land Prospero was in charge of. The first theme I see in this passage is to respect those of higher stature and power than you. Antonio wrongly ignored the fact that Prospero was the duke and overthrew him, making Prospero think of his brother as “perfidious.” Antonio obviously shouldn’t have done this, and the story is telling us that mutiny is never the way to go. However, perhaps another theme is that we cannot be totally engrossed in something, but must instead balance our interests and responsibilities. Prospero got so wrapped up in his studies that he didn’t even realize that his brother was slowly overpowering him. In a way, he brought this mutiny upon himself when he became “transported and rapt in secret studies.” Either way you look at it, this short passage contains numerous meanings and motifs.