Theme Of Social Norms In The Tempest - 1520 Words

Whether one realizes it or not, the world we live in is governed by certain expectations and unwritten rules that our society creates. These expected behaviors are called norms. When one establishes the role that they play in society, they are governed by the expectations that society places on that specific role. Norms give order to a society, but is that enough to say that they are good for citizens? Are these norms needed to govern our behavior in a way that our government cannot? Social norms and the effect that they can have on a person or group of people is shown through Shakespeares The Tempest. The characters in The Tempest are negatively affected by the unwritten social norms that they are expected to follow, and today these†¦show more content†¦He encouraged two other men to join him, Stephano, a butler, and Trinculo, a jester. All three of these men shared one thing in common: a low place in society. In an effort to free themselves from society’s pressure, the men plotted to murder Prospero. Stephano says, â€Å"Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen, save our graces! and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys† (Act 3 Scene 2 Lines 106-108). Before they got the chance to kill, Prospero caught them, proving society’s power, once again, to be too strong. Many times, Stephano and Trinculo talked about how they would break from their low place in society. At the end of the story, however, they find themselves stuck under King Alonso’s power, just as they were before the shipwreck. Despite all of their efforts, Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban all were stuck in their low place in society. In the same fashion, Prospero had also been told by society that the only way he could live a good and prosperous life was to get his dukedom back. Without this fancy title, society convinced Prospero that he was unimportant. Prospero had the whole island to himself, a slave, a magical spirit, and his daughter, but yet, society tells Prospero that this was not enough. During the play Prospero said, â€Å"Now my charms are all oerthrown, And what strength I have’s mine own, Which is most faint† (Act 4 Scene 1 lines 320-322). This quote shows the incredible heights Prospero went to in order to get hisShow MoreRelated Cultural Diversity in The Tempest Essay1654 Words   |  7 PagesCultural Diversity in The Tempest      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If we look at Shakespeares atypically short play The Tempest, the character of Caliban represents a noble savage who is enslaved, exploited, and endowed with low-self esteem due to the ethnocentric views of those who encounter him.   In much the same way as the British originally exploited the Hindus or Americans exploited Native Americans, Caliban is considered the property of those who encounter him, solely because he is not of the same heritageRead MoreThe Presentation of Authority and Inferiority in The Tempest Essay examples997 Words   |  4 PagesThe Presentation of Authority and Inferiority in The Tempest Shakespeare has staged a play that explores the human hierarchy of the Elizabethan era. 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