Slave With A Perceived Future Expectation example essay topic

Throughout the play The Tempest there is a relationship that pits master and slave in a harmony that benefits both parties. Though it may sound strange, these slaves sometimes have a goal or expectation that they hope to have fulfilled. Although rarely realized by its by its participants, the Master -- Slave, Slave -- Master relationship is a balance of expectation and fear by the slaves to the master; and a perceived since of power by that of the master over the slaves. The relationship between the slave and master is one of expectation and perceived fear. Expectation in a sense that a slave with a perceived future expectation will tend to work harder and more diligently for their master then a slave that does not have these expectations for hope of reaching their ultimate goal.

For instance Ariel is more willing to do Prospero's bidding for he believes that are some future date he will be set free, and will not longer have to serve as a slave to prosper o. For instance in this passage we are confronted with this expectation of freedom: Prospero: ... What is't thou canst demand Ariel: My Liberty Prospero: Before the time be out? No more Ariel: I prithee, remember I have done thee worthy service, told thee no lies, made no mistaking's, served without grudge or grumbling. Thou did promise to bate me a full year (Act I, Scene II, 245-249) Showing that the slave, Ariel, is willing to do what ever is asked of him in the hope that in due time he will be set free, and to serve no one any longer. However, this expectation is one sided; since, the expectation of freedom I dependent on how prosper o perceives the tasks that have been completed and those that are to be done.

Thus, Ariel may never be set free if prosper o never feels satisfied. On the other hand, if there is no expectation by a slave of future rewards then the future expectation of rewards is removed and the slave feels only oppression from the master, nothing more. For Caliban is a prime example. Caliban is not expecting to be set free or have his land restored to him.

So Caliban has an extreme hatred for his master, Prospero, which all he can do is curse the man that made him this way, and hope for his demise. "All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall, and make him by inchmeal a disease... His spirits hear me, and yet I needs must curse" (Act II, Scene II, 1-5). Caliban having no other recourse can only wish bad things onto Prospero. Hoping that he will die for that is the only thing that can set Caliban free. Also, for with no expectation of future gains, Caliban's work is also subpar for he knows that for better or for worse he will always be a slave to Prospero.

Second among the slave-master relationship is a fear factor that links a fear that Prospero's slaves. For that if they are not doing of what is expected by Prospero, they can and will be easily destroyed by his mighty powers. For this fear is real and keeps Ariel and Caliban from coming together and staging a coo to overthrow Prospero and his powers. To reaffirm his power Prospero tells Ariel, "If thou more mum ur " st, I will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howled away twelve winters" (Act I, Scene II, 295-297).

Thus Ariel is pressured to do what is asked of him, or face a horrible demise that should not be wished upon no one. This fear also reminds Ariel that though he is powerful Prospero is even more powerful. Making it hard for him to try and escape. Whereas, Caliban fears that Prospero is willing and able to end his life at any time, since at every meeting he threatens Caliban with the bad things that he can do to him if he is not pleased with his work. "Fetch us in fuel, and be quick, thou " rt best, to answer other business-shrug " st thou malice? If thou neglect " st or dost unwillingly what I command, I'll rock thee with old cramps, fall all they bones with aches, make thee roar, that beasts shall tremble at thy din" (Act I, Scene II, 366-369).

Caliban fearing for his life has no other recourse to do what is told of him, or die a terrible, terrible death. Continuing, the slave-master relationship was based on expectation and fear, the master-slave relationship is based solely on the perceived fact that the master has the power to command those around him, or has assumed these powers. Throughout the play, Prospero perceives that he has done great things for his slaves, and for these reasons has sole power over them. For Ariel he freed him from a tree of despair giving him the right to ask Ariel of the simple things that will make his life easier. Prospero considering that he did not have to set Ariel free from the tree. However, Caliban was originally treated as more of a novelty then a slave when Prospero first landed on the island.

But, when he violated the pureness of his daughter Prospero felt that he should have this control over Caliban as a slave for he did not kill him as a rapist. "Thou most lying slave, whom stripes may move, not kindness I have used thee-filth as thou are-with humane care, and lodged their in mine own cell, till thou did " st seek to violate the honour of my child" (Act I, Scene II, 343-348). Prospero believed that Caliban had this coming to him, and should he had been a vengeful man could have killed him. From these examples we see that Prospero perceives his power over all since he had spared them from horrible existences and given then a taste of the civilized world.

Lastly, Prospero believed so deeply that since he was the first noble to set foot on the island that it was his right to claim it as his own. For before him this isle was nothing till he brought his language, education, and culture to it. For there is a delicate balance between the master-slave relationship, and the slave-master relationship. Neither can exist without the other.

The master laying claim to all that he can survey, and bringing order to those around him as Prospero did for his ailing people. The slave fearing for life, or an expectation that one-day he shall be free to do as he pleases. For this delicate balance cannot be maintained without the two groups co-existing in a state where one need the other for ultimate survival.