SHAKESPEARE AND PSYCHOGNOSIS 241 



Prospero receives from Ariel the report of the shipwreck, and of his disposal of 

 the voyagers. Finding Ariel moody, he speaks harshly to him, reminding him of 

 his slavery to Sycorax, of his torture in the tree, and of his own kindness in freeing 

 him. He threatens him with worse torture, promises him his liberty, and succeeds 

 in asserting his authority satisfactorily. 



Ariel departs, Miranda awakes, or rather is roused by the magician. The father 

 and daughter visit Caliban. Caliban is also rebellious and anxious to regain his 

 liberty. Prospero treats him most harshly and successfully asserts his control. 



When Ariel leads in Ferdinand, enchanted by his songs, Prospero meets them 

 with Miranda, and takes the deepest satisfaction upon seeing that the meeting results 

 in love at first sight. It is made clear that one of Prospero's chief purposes in caus- 

 ing the wreck was to bring about this result. From the romantic point of view, all 

 is going satisfactorily. But romance must be guided by wisdom. Ferdinand is 

 treated with a great show of harshness, for Prospero holds that too light winning 

 makes the prize light, and takes care that the course of true love shall not run smooth. 

 Ferdinand is made to feel the authority of Prospero, and is set at a heavy task of 

 bearing logs. 



This scene contains a large number of facts concerning the life and character 

 of Prospero. First we learn that by right he is a powerful duke, but that through 

 love of learning he has lost his practical interest in, and hold upon, affairs; that the 

 vigilant ambition of his brother has seized the opportunity this offered to usurp his 

 power; and that Prospero's studies having fully succeeded, and more than restored 

 the power they had robbed him of, he will now, fortune being favorable, proceed to 

 reassert his right to rule and depose the usurper; his plan extends not only to the 

 reconquest of Milan, but, through an alliance with Ferdinand and the imprison- 

 ment of Alonso, to the inheritance of the larger world of Naples. Prospero's life 

 falls into three parts: the past, in which he ruled successfully, just and beloved by 

 his subjects; the present, in which he is banished and his rule is divided among sel- 

 fish egoists, held in check by the mild Gonzalo; the future when Prospero shall rule 

 again with justice, vigor, and the knowledge that is power. ' 



Prospero, through the knowledge derived from the books saved from his ancient 

 library and derived from his own researches, raises a storm which brings the "three 

 men of sin" within his power. But his motive is not revenge; he desires to secure 

 the rights of his daughter, in whom all his hopes of the future are centered. Her 

 learning and characte. are a guarantee that the state unparalleled for the liberal arts 

 will continue to be great and renowned. 



Prospero is one who has risked all in the pursuit of tnie knowledge, and, having 

 lost all, is about to win back more than he had lost, after having acquired all the 

 power that knowledge can give.* 



» The Greek idea of the philosopher as king. 



' Cf. Bacon's favorite theme of knowledge as control. 



