Exploring Prospero's power over Miranda in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
I can understand and consider the power dynamics between Prospero and Miranda in relation to contemporary patriarchal society.
Exploring Prospero's power over Miranda in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
I can understand and consider the power dynamics between Prospero and Miranda in relation to contemporary patriarchal society.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In Shakespeare’s time, daughters were expected to obey their fathers.
- Prospero hides Miranda’s backstory from her which shows how controlling he is.
- Prospero intends for Ferdinand and Miranda to fall in love.
- While Miranda seems to disobey Prospero to fight for Ferdinand, she is actually unwittingly following Prospero’s plan.
Keywords
Power - Having power is having the ability to influence people or events.
Obedient - Being obedient means doing, or being willing to do, what someone tells you to do.
Subversive - Being subversive means actively going against an established system.
Patriarchal - A patriarchal society is one where men hold positions of authority and women are seen as inferior.
Common misconception
Students often think that women in Shakespeare's time always obeyed the male figures in their life.
There are many examples of women being disobedient and not following the rules of the male figures in their life.
Equipment
You may want a copy of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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