Defending Prospero in The Tempest In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, the character of Prospero gives rise to many debates. Modern literary critics are quick to use it as a model for English colonial practice in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many see him as a person who desires complete control of everything around him, from the fish-like monster Caliban, to his spirit servant Ariel, to his own daughter Miranda. Others believe that Prospero's only goal is to take revenge on his brother Antonio and the established power associates in Naples and Milan. Taken out of context, these conclusions are reasonable. However, in the development of the play it is clear that these criticisms are wrong. Shakespeare does not use Prospero as a symbol of European westward expansion, and although Prospero is quite powerful, he is not a power-hungry egomaniac. Instead, Prospero is the very figure of a noble father. He loves his daughter so much that he sacrifices everything to give her the best opportunities to live a good life. He is a slave to duty, working for the good of his people. His desire for revenge is clearly not a motivation either since he finds the strength to forgive his brother at the end of the play. So it seems that Shakespeare's character is not used to show the dark side of humanity, but rather the nobility of humanity and the role model of a 17th century father. When it comes to Miranda, Prospero can never do enough for her. Prospero's second lines state: "I have only cared for you, for you, my beloved, you, my daughter" (Prospero, I, ii, 19-20). Although this line can be interpreted in many ways, even as an outright lie, the assumption must be...... middle of article ...... Critical study. " 336-82. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1991. Curry, Walter C. “The Characters of Shakespeare's The Tempest,” Early Early Modern Literary Studies. Vers. 5.1. May 1999. Dzelzainis, Martin. “Shakespeare and Political Thought A Companion to Shakespeare Ed. David Scott Kastan. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 1999. Gervinus, GG “A Review of The Tempest” (1877): 304-307. Sacks, David Harris “Culture. Politics.” A Companion to Shakespeare Ed. David Scott Kastan. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 100-116. Shakespeare, William The Tempest. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1995. Snider, Denton J. “A Review of The Tempest.” Shakespearean drama: comedies (1890).. 320-324.